What to know when getting a card graded
When you send your card to be graded, grades are determined by various different criteria such as
Centering of the image on the card itself
Surfaces and how the quality is reflected
Corners and edges - how crisp and sharp the edges of of the card are
After being assessed on the above criteria, the cards are given a numerical score, generally a numerical score between one and ten. The higher the grade, the better for your card and your collection.
PSA Card Grading - The different grades
GEM-MT 10: GEM Mint
A PSA 10 Gem Mint 10 Card is virtually the perfect card
When a card is assigned this numerical grade it includes the below attributes:
- Four perfectly sharp corners
- Sharp focus and full original gloss
- Free of staining of any kind; however an allowance can be made if there is a slight printing imperfection, if it doesn’t impair the overall appeal of the card.
- The image must be centred within a tolerance not to exceed approximately the ratio 55/45 to 60/40 percent on the front and 75/25 on the reverse.
Mint 9: Mint
A PSA Mint 9 is a superb condition card that exhibits only one of the following minor flaws:
- A very slight wax stain on the reverse
- A minor printing imperfection of slightly off white-borders/
- Centring must be approximately in the ratio 60/40 to 65/35 percent or better on the front and 90/10 percent or better on the reverse
NM-MT 8: Near Mint-Mint
A PSA NM-MT 8 is super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection the card can exhibit the following:
- A very slight wax stain on the reverse
- Slightest fraying at one or two corners
- A minor printing imperfection and/or slightly off-white borders
- Centring must be approximately in the ratio 65/35 percent to 70/30 percent or better on the front and 90/10 percent on the reverse
NM 7: Near
A PSA NM 7 is a card with just a slight surface wear visible upon close inspection with also the following:
- Slight fraying on some of the corners of the card
- Picture focus maybe slightly out of register
- Minor printing blemish, however this can be acceptable
- Slight wax staining is acceptable but only on the back of the card
- Most of the original gloss is retained
- Centring must be approximately in the ratio 70/30 percent to 75/25 percent or better on the front and 90/10 percent or better on the back
EX-MT 6: Excellent-Mint
A PSA EX-MT 6 card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect which does not detract from its overall appeal.
- A very slight scratch may be detected on the close inspection
- Corners have slight fraying
- Picture focus may be slightly out of register
- Reveals some loss of original gloss
- Potential minor wax stain on the reverse of the card
EX 5: Excellent
On PSA EX-5 cards, very minor rounding of the corners is becoming evident as well as the below:
- Surface wear or printing defects are more visible
- Potential minor chipping on edges
- Loss of original gloss will be more apparent
- Focus of picture may be slightly out of register
- Several light scratches may be visible upon close inspection
- Card may show some whiteness of borders
- Centring must be approximately in the ratio of 85/15 percent or better on the front and 90/10 percent or better on the back
VG-EX 4: Very Good-Excellent
- Corners may be slightly rounded
- Surface wear is noticeable but modest.
- The card may have light-scuffing or light scratches
- Some original gloss will be retained
- Borders may be slightly off-white and may have a crease visible
- Centring must be 85/15 percent or better on the front and 90/10 percent or better on the back
VG3: Very Good
- Reflects some rounding of the corners but not extreme
- Some surface wear is apparent with possible light scuffing or light scratches
- Focus may be off register
- Much but not all of the cards original gloss will be lost
- Borders may be yellowed and/or discoloured
- Slight stain may show on observe and wax staining on reverse may be more prominent
- Centring must be in the ratio 90/10 percent or better on the front and back
Good 2: Good
- The cards corners show accelerate rounding
- Surface wear is obvious
- Has obvious scratching, light staining or chipping of enamel
- Original gloss maybe completely absent
- Card may have considerable discoloration
FR 1.5: Fair
- Corners show extreme wear
- The surface of the card shows scuffing, scratching and staining
- One or more heavy creases
- Card must be fully intact and not missing any pieces of have any major tears, this would include damage such as removal of the back layer of the card or an entire corner
PR 1: Poor
A PSA Poor 1 will exhibit many of the same qualities of a PSA Fair 1.5 but the defects may have advanced to such a serious stage that the eye appeal of the card has nearly vanished in its entirety.
A poor card may be missing one or two small pieces, exhibit major creasing that nearly breaks through all the layers of cardboard or it may contain extreme discoloration or dirtiness throughout that may make it difficult to identify the issue or content of the card on either the front or back. A card of this nature may also show noticeable warping or another type of destructive defect.
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