The
following is a guide. Each graded card is unique. Therefore, there may be
exceptions to the following criteria when giving a card a certain grade.
|
Grade
|
Condition
|
Criteria for Grading
|
|
10
|
GEM MINT
(GM)
|
A perfect card in every respect;
centering 50/50 top to bottom and side to side and no worse than 60/40
on the back, sharp corners and edges, bright colour, glossy surface,
good picture focus and registration. |
|
9.5
|
NEAR GEM MINT
(NGM)
|
Has all the qualities of the above card,
centering should be 50/50 top to bottom or side to side or better than
55/45, this card will have one minor imperfection. |
|
9
|
MINT (MT)
|
This card has similar characteristics to
the cards mentioned above, centering is 55/45 or better on the front and
better than 70/30 on the back, it will have one minor flaw, ex - a
printing imperfection or a slightly rough edge (O-Pee-Chee cut) |
|
8.5
|
NEAR MINT TO MINT+
(NMM+)
|
Similar to the 9 Mint card with centering
better than 60/40 on the front and 90/10 or better on the back, may have
a corner with a slight tick of white showing, one or two minor flaws
such as printing imperfections which could be a print line on the back
of the card or a hard to see surface scratch, or a slight chip on an
edge. |
|
8
|
NEAR MINT TO MINT
(NMM)
|
This is a card centered no worse than
60/40 on the front and 90/10 or better on reverse, it may have one or 2
corners with a slight touch of wear, possibly a wax mark or even hard to
see surface marks, these may be part of the 2 or three minor
imperfections of this card, colour, borders, edges, picture quality and
registration are near perfect. |
|
7.5
|
NEAR MINT+
(NM+)
|
Similar to the 8-NMM card with centering
65/35 or better on the front, one or 2 corners will show slight fraying
and it may be angle cut. |
|
7
|
NEAR MINT
(NM)
|
Centering is no worse than 70/30 on the
front of the card, two or 3 corners will show slight wear, there may be
surface scratches some which are visible, there will be 2 or 3 other
minor imperfections with the edges, colour borders, picture quality and
registration of this card. |
|
6.5
|
EXCELLENT TO NEAR MINT + (ENM+)
|
Centering is 80/20 or better, 3 corners
may be showing slight wear, there might be slight surface wear, printing
specs, a small wrinkle on one side, a wax mark, stain or slight surface
scratches. |
|
6
|
EXCELLENT TO NEAR MINT
(ENM)
|
This card is similar to the 6.5 -ENM+
card in most ways, some differences include centering 90/10 on the cards
front, 3 or 4 corners showing slight wear, there may be some surface
wear, light scratches or a wrinkle on one side only. |
|
5
|
EXCELLENT
(EX)
|
This is a card that is slightly used
and/or major off-centered. Corners are fuzzy or slightly round. There is
surface wear and edges may be chipped, there is a loss of original gloss
and the card may have scratches, borders may be off colour, and there
may be a slight crease on one side of the card but not completely
through, the picture focus, colour and registration may also have
imperfections. |
|
4
|
VERY GOOD TO EXCELLENT
(VGE)
|
Similar to a 5-EX card except the corners
are more rounded and the card may show more wear, there may be a crease
on the front or the back of the card, card may show a stain. |
|
3
|
VERY GOOD
(VG)
|
Corners are round, surface wear of up to
half the card which may include scuffing and scratches, may have more
than one crease on the front and back of the card, major loss of gloss
and stains, edge wear and discolouration are more noticeable. |
|
2
|
GOOD
(G)
|
Similar to a 3-VG card with more obvious
wear and numerous creases, there may be scratches, discoloration, light
stains, and graffiti. |
|
1
|
FAIR TO POOR
(FP)
|
This card shows extreme wear and heavy
creases, major round corners and other damage could include scuffing,
staining, chipped edges, graffiti and discolouration, the card may be
missing small pieces from the card. |
