Every card is graded across four key attributes — centering, corners, edges, and surface — then assigned a final numeric grade from 1 to 10.
10Gem Mint
9Mint
8NM-MT
7Near Mint
6EX-MT
5Excellent
4VG-EX
3Very Good
2Good
1.5Fair
1Poor
Centering
Measured front and back. Expressed as a ratio of border width side-to-side and top-to-bottom.
Corners
All four corners examined under magnification for wear, fraying, rounding, or bending.
Edges
All four edges checked for chips, nicks, roughness, and printing irregularities.
Surface
Front and back inspected for scratches, print spots, stains, creases, and loss of gloss.
10Gem Mint
Gem Mint
GEM MT 10
A virtually perfect card. Four perfectly sharp corners with no wear whatsoever. Edges are clean with no nicks. Surface is free of any scratches, print spots, or stains. Centering must be 60/40 or better on both front and back.
A superb card showing only one minor printing defect or one very slightly fuzzy corner. Centering must be 65/35 or better. Edges remain sharp and surface retains original gloss.
Centering: 65/35Corners: 1 minor flawEdges: SharpSurface: Original gloss
8NM-MT
Near Mint – Mint
NM-MT 8
A card with one corner showing slight wear, or two to three minor print spots. Centering up to 65/35. Edges are clean. Surface retains most of its original gloss with no creasing.
Centering: 65/35Corners: 1 slight wearEdges: CleanSurface: Minor print spots
7Near Mint
Near Mint
NM 7
A card with slight surface wear visible on close inspection. Up to two corners may show very slight fraying. Centering up to 70/30. Edges remain crisp with no major chipping.
Up to two corners may show slight rounding. One or two light surface scratches visible. Centering up to 75/25. Edges show very minor wear. Card retains some of its original gloss.
Centering: 75/25Corners: Slight roundingEdges: Minor wearSurface: Light scratches
5Excellent
Excellent
EX 5
Corner wear visible on all four corners. Some loss of original gloss. Centering up to 80/20. Edges show slight chipping. Surface scratches are visible without magnification but no creasing.
Centering: 80/20Corners: All 4 show wearEdges: Slight chippingSurface: Visible scratches
4VG-EX
Very Good – Excellent
VG-EX 4
Corners show moderate rounding and fraying. Noticeable surface wear and loss of luster. Centering up to 85/15. Edges show notching. No creases but significant surface scuffing.
Centering: 85/15Corners: Moderate roundingEdges: Notching visibleSurface: Heavy scuffing
3Very Good
Very Good
VG 3
Corners are rounded with apparent fraying. Some light creasing may be present. Edges show heavy chipping. Surface has significant scratching and loss of original gloss. Card is still presentable.
Corners: Rounded & frayedEdges: Heavy chippingSurface: Significant scratchesCreases: Minor possible
2Good
Good
GD 2
Heavy wear on corners, edges, and surface throughout. Creases may be present. Card has clearly been heavily handled but the image remains intact. Heavy scratching and discoloration.
Corners: Heavy wearEdges: Heavy chippingSurface: Creases possible
1.5Fair
Fair
FR 1.5
Heavily worn throughout with visible creases, staining, or markings. Card is still fully intact with all four corners present. The card’s image and text are still identifiable.
Heavy creasingStaining or marksCorners: Severely rounded
1Poor
Poor
PR 1
A card that has been severely mistreated. May have writing, holes, tape, tearing, or extreme soiling. Card is still intact enough to be identified. Assigned only when no lower classification applies.
Extreme damageWriting / holes / tapeCard still identifiable
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