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Card Grading Scale
GEM-MT: Gem Mint
A Gem Mint card is a virtually perfect card. Attributes include no edge wear and full original gloss. A Gem Mint card must be free of staining of any kind, but an allowance may be made for a slight printing imperfection, if it doesn't impair the overall appeal of the card. The image must be centered on the card within a tolerance not to exceed approximately 55/45 to 60/40 percent on the front, and 75/25 percent on the reverse.
MINT: Mint
A Mint card is a superb condition card that exhibits only one of the following minor flaws: very slight play wear, a minor printing imperfection or slightly discolored borders. Centering must be approximately 60/40 to 65/35 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.
NM-MT: Near Mint-Mint
A Near Mint-Mint card is a super high-end card that appears Mint at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the card can exhibit the following: very slight play wear, the slightest fraying on one or two edges, a minor printing imperfection, and/or slightly discolored borders. Centering must be approximately 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.
NM: Near Mint
A Near Mint card is a card with slight play wear visible upon close inspection. There may be slight fraying on some edges. A minor printing blemish is acceptable. Slight border discoloration is acceptable. Most of the original gloss is retained. Centering must be approximately 70/30 to 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.
EX-MT: Excellent-Near Mint
An Excellent-Near Mint card may have visible play wear or a printing defect which does not detract from its overall appeal. A very light scratch may be detected only upon close inspection. Edges may have slightly graduated fraying. Card may show some loss of original gloss, may have minor border discoloration on reverse, may exhibit very slight nicks on edges and may also show some discoloration on front side borders. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.
EX: Excellent
Excellent cards have very minor wear on the edges becoming evident. Play wear or printing defects are more visible. There may be minor chipping on edges. Loss of original gloss will be more apparent. Several light scratches may be visible upon close inspection, but do not detract from the appeal of the card. Card may show some discoloration in the borders. Centering must be 85/15 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.
VG-EX: Very Good-Excellent
A Very Good-Excellent card's edges may be slightly frayed. 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 discolored. A light crease may be visible. Centering must be 85/15 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.
VG: Very Good
A Very Good card reveals noticeable wear on the edges. Some surface wear will be apparent, along with possible light scuffing or light scratches. Much, but not all, of the card's original gloss will be lost. Borders may be somewhat stained or discolored. A crease may be visible. Printing defects are possible. Slight stain may show on front and staining on reverse may be more prominent. Centering must be 90/10 or better on the front and back.
GOOD: Good
A Good card's edges show accelerated wear and surface wear is starting to become obvious. A good card may have scratching, scuffing, light staining, or chipping of image on obverse. There may be several creases. Original gloss may be completely absent. Card may show considerable discoloration. Centering must be 90/10 or better on the front and back.
FR: Fair
A Fair card's edges will show extreme wear and discoloration. The surface of the card will show advanced stages of wear, including scuffing, scratching, pitting, chipping and staining. 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 of the card 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.
PR: Poor
A Poor card will exhibit many of the same qualities of a Fair card 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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