What Goes into a Grade?
We start with the basics Corners, Centering, Surface, and the Edges. Eye appeal does play a role in our judgement, as well as the often forgotten back of the card. All these factors contribute to the overall grade.
Corners are the first thing most collectors look at. They must be sharp to attain the higher grades. A slight imperfection in one of the corners can move that card down the scale. We will see the lower graded cards with rounded corners. Obviously centering plays a factor in the overall grade, as well as worth of the card. We routinely see cards of the same grade, and one off centered will not sell as high as the centered card. As mentioned earlier the back of the card matters too.
Now that Sub-Grades have been introduced it is not a straight forth calculation of the 4 sub-grades divded by 4 equals the grade. There is more that goes in to determiningt if a card my grade up or done for that matter. A 10 Flawless will be that Flawless, and a card will have graded a 10 in each of the four sub-catgories. A 10 Crown Mint will be a card with 3 10s and a 9+.
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Grade 10: Flawless
Flawless (FL). Centering is perfect, and corners are sharp. The card is Scratch free, and stands out, it really pops. Edges are mint to the naked eye. No issue with surface, or gloss. This is the grade we all strive for, it is the Holy Grail Grade, the grade we all want for. In life you can’t always get what you want.
A 10 Flawless card will be Flawless grading a 10 in each of the four Sub-Categories: Centering, Corners, Edges, Surface.
Grade 10: Crown Mint
A crown Mint is a Card which is not flawless but considered a 10 or Crown Mint card. The Sub-Grades 1ill be 3 10s and a 9+ in a Category or 2 10s, and 2 9.5's
Grade 9.5: Gem Mint
The centering may be slightly off (55/45), front and back. The corners are sharp. Edges mint to naked eye. Minute flaws upon detailed inspection.
Grade 9: Mint
Centering is 55/45 front, slightly off on back 60/40. Corners appear sharp, but under magnification slight imperfection in one. Slight surface issue, or scratch barely noticeable. Minor print spots or imperfections which do not take away from overall appearance of card.
Grade 8.5: NM-MT +
Centering 60/40 front, 65/35 back. Corners appear sharp, under magnification slight fraying or nick to one of the corners. Print line, spot, or surface break.
Grade 8: NM-MT
The front centering is 65/35, Rear 70/30. You may notice that there are mild imperfections in 1-2 corners, one corner may even have a speck of white. Edge may have mild cracks or fraying.
GRADE 7.5: NM +
The front centering is 70/30, back is 75/25. Here we start to see some wear of the corners with some fraying. Surface breaks or speckling, focus issues, color imperfections, as well as print lines. There may be edge speckling or warping.
GRADE 7: NM
The front centering is 75/25, back is 80/20. Three of the corners may be impacted by fraying. Speckling on edges, or surface. Overall roughness in look and feel of card. Nicks, or scratches more visible, and take away from overall quality of card. There may also be mild but noticeable crease of an edge, or especially around material.
GRADE 6.5: EX-NM+
The front centering is 80/20, rear is 85/15. Corners are not sharp, may has a ding. Noticeable flaws, such as nicks, scratches, edge issues, and creases.
GRADE 6: Ex-NM
The front centering is 85/15, rear is 90/10. 2-3 of the corners show wear, or dings. There may be slight rounding to the corners. Tears, and surface breaks. Superficial crease on one side which may extend across the surface and may be visible on the other side of the card.
GRADE 5.5: Excellent +
The front centering is 75/25, back is 80/20. Three of the corners may be impacted by fraying. Speckling on edges, or surface. Overall roughness in look and feel of card. Nicks, or scratches more visible, and take away from overall quality of card. There may also be mild but noticeable crease of an edge, or especially around material.
GRADE 5: Excellent
The front centering is 80/20, rear is 85/15. Corners are not sharp, may has a ding. Noticeable flaws, such as nicks, scratches, edge issues, and creases.
GRADE 4.5: VG-EX+
The front centering is 85/15, rear is 90/10. 2-3 of the corners show wear, or dings. There may be slight rounding to the corners. Tears, and surface breaks. Superficial crease on one side which may extend across the surface and may be visible on the other side of the card.
GRADE 4: VG-EX
The front centering is 85/15, rear is 90/10. 2-3 of the corners show wear, or dings. There may be slight rounding to the corners. Tears, and surface breaks. Superficial crease on one side which may extend across the surface and may be visible on the other side of the card.
GRADE 3.5: VG +
The front, and back centering are 90/10. Corner wear, dents, dings, and frays are noticeable. Staining, or surface notches. Creasing is more noticeable. Tears can be seen. Overall increase in all imperfections across the board.
GRADE 3: Very Good
The front, and back centering are 90/10. Corner wear, dents, dings, and frays are noticeable. Staining, or surface notches. Creasing is more noticeable. Tears can be seen. Overall increase in all imperfections across the board.
GRADE 2.5: Good+
The front, and back centering are 90/10. Rounded corners. Original shine is gone. Creases, Ink, or pencil markings.
GRADE 2: Good
The front, and back centering are 90/10. Rounded corners. Original shine is gone. Creases, Ink, or pencil markings.
GRADE 1.5: Fair
The front centering is 90/10, back is any. Corners all have issues. Discoloration, tears, with missing pieces of the card. Ink, and pencil markings.
GRADE 1: Poor
Overall, the card is in bad condition that the centering does not really matter. Corners are rounded, ripped, or torn. Overall appearance of the card is poor.
A: Authentic/ Authenticated
AA: Authentic Altered
R: Replica
Coins: MS60-MS70
SUB Grades now Available!!!
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Professional Card Garding Service
At 3D Grading LLC we treat each card as if it were our own. From start to finish we take pride in the process. We started the company with the belief that anyone should be able to afford to get a card graded whether it is a favorite player or an expensive collectible card. We do not base our service on how much your card may be worth, rather it is our job to grade whatever you present to us. There is no additional charges for any card no matter what the card value may be.