At MCG, we’ve always been consistent with our grading. Below is our grading scale to evaluate your sports cards.
An MCG GEM-MT is a stunning condition with the slightest of any imperfection that exhibits only one of the following minor flaws: a printing imperfection or slightly off-white borders. The centering must be approximately 60/40 or better.
An MCG MINT is a super high-end card that appears Mint 10 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the card can exhibit the following: a very slight wax stain on reverse, slightest fraying at one or two corners, minor printing imperfections, and/or slightly off-white borders. The centering must be approximately 65/35 to 70/30 or better.
An MCG NM-MT is a card with just slight surface wear visible upon close inspection. There may be slight fraying on some corners and/or printing imperfections. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. A minor printing blemish is acceptable. It can exhibit the slightest bend, similar to a warping with no creasing and does not detract from the appeal of the card. Slight wax staining is acceptable on the back of the card only. Most of the original gloss is retained. The centering must be approximately 75/25 to 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.
An MCG NM card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect, which does not detract from its overall appeal. A very light scratch may be detected only upon close inspection. Corners may have slightly graduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. The card may show some loss of original gloss, may have a minor wax stain on reverse, may exhibit very slight notching on edges, and may also show some off-whiteness on borders. It can exhibit a graduated bend, similar to a warping with no creasing. The centering must be 85/15 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.
On MCG EX-MT cards, there are NO CREASES. A minor rounding of the corners is becoming evident. Surface wear or printing defects are more visible. There may be minor chipping on the edges. Loss of original gloss will be more apparent. The focus of the picture may be slightly out-of-register. Several light scratches may be visible upon close inspection but do not detract from the appeal of the card. The card may show some off-whiteness of borders. The centering must be 85/15 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.
An MCG EX card's 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. A light crease may be visible. The centering must be 85/15 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.
An MCG VG-EX card reveals some rounding of the corners, though not extreme. Some surface wear will be apparent, along with possible light scuffing or light scratches. Focus may be somewhat off-register and the edges may exhibit noticeable wear. Much, but not all, of the card's original gloss will be lost. Its borders may be somewhat yellowed and/or discolored. A crease may be visible and printing defects are possible. Slight stains may show on the obverse and wax staining on the reverse may be more prominent. The centering must be 90/10 or better on the front and back.
An MCG VG card's corners show accelerated rounding and surface wear is starting to become obvious. A good card may have scratching, scuffing, light staining, or chipping of enamel on the obverse. There may be several creases, and the original gloss may be completely absent. The card may show considerable discoloration. The centering must be 90/10 or better on the front and back.
An MCG GOOD card's corners will show extreme wear, possibly affecting the framing of the picture. The surface of the card will show advanced stages of wear, including scuffing, scratching, pitting, chipping, and staining. The picture will possibly be quite out-of-register and the borders may have become brown and dirty. The card may have one or more heavy creases. In order to achieve a Fair grade, a card must be fully intact. Even though the card may be heavily worn, it cannot achieve this grade if it is missing solid pieces as a result of a major tear, etc. This would include damage such as the removal of the back layer of the card or an entire corner. The centering must be approximately 90/10 or better on the front and back.
An MCG POOR will exhibit many of the same qualities of a MCG C, 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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