UNDERSTANDING YOUR GRADE.
Your grade is based on four key elements or "pillars"
- Centering
- Corners
- Edges
- Surface
These pillars determine a card's overall final grade.
In the case of STATS Grading, each pillar is listed on the labels back as subgrades- plus the grader notes, which give insight into the assigned grade.
! IMPORTANT
Creases, wrinkles, paper loss, staining, trimming/alterations, questionable authenticity, and severe miscuts can limit the grade regardless of these four pillars.
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WHAT ARE THE 4 PILLARS OF GRADING?
CENTERING
CENTERING
CENTERING
10 Gem Mint
About 55/45 or better on front; back can be looser in many standards.
9 Mint
About 60/40 or better.
8 NM-Mint
About 65/35 or better.
7 Near Mint
About 70/30 or better.
6 EX-Mint
About 75/25 or better.
5 Excellent
Around 80/20 to 85/15.
4 VG-Excellent
Around 80/20 to 85/15; obvious off-centering.
3 Very Good
Around 90/10, but card mus
10 Gem Mint
About 55/45 or better on front; back can be looser in many standards.
9 Mint
About 60/40 or better.
8 NM-Mint
About 65/35 or better.
7 Near Mint
About 70/30 or better.
6 EX-Mint
About 75/25 or better.
5 Excellent
Around 80/20 to 85/15.
4 VG-Excellent
Around 80/20 to 85/15; obvious off-centering.
3 Very Good
Around 90/10, but card must not be a severe miscut.
2 Good
Around 90/10; extreme off-centering may still limit the grade.
1 Poor
Severe miscut or major presentation problem.
CORNERS
CENTERING
CENTERING
10 Gem Mint
Four perfectly sharp corners.
9 Mint
Sharp corners; only a tiny touch under close inspection.
8 NM-Mint
Corners sharp to the eye but may show slight imperfections under magnification.
7 Near Mint
Slight fraying or light wear on multiple corners.
6 EX-Mint
Fuzzy corners or one slightly dinged corner.
5 Excellent Minor rounding or multipl
10 Gem Mint
Four perfectly sharp corners.
9 Mint
Sharp corners; only a tiny touch under close inspection.
8 NM-Mint
Corners sharp to the eye but may show slight imperfections under magnification.
7 Near Mint
Slight fraying or light wear on multiple corners.
6 EX-Mint
Fuzzy corners or one slightly dinged corner.
5 Excellent Minor rounding or multiple dinged/fuzzy corners.
4 VG-Excellent
Noticeable rounding.
3 Very Good
Four rounded corners, but not completely destroyed.
2 Good
Heavy corner wear and rounding.
1 Poor
Severe wear, missing corner, or catastrophic damage.
EDGES
CENTERING
SURFACE
10 Gem Mint
Clean, sharp edges with no chipping or whitening.
9 Mint
Nearly perfect; maybe one tiny edge flaw.
8 NM-Mint
Minor edge touch or tiny roughness.
7 Near Mint
Slightly rough edges visible under inspection.
6 EX-Mint
Noticeable rough edges or slight notching.
5 Excellent
Minor chipping or visible edge wear.
4 VG-Excellent
Moderate edge
10 Gem Mint
Clean, sharp edges with no chipping or whitening.
9 Mint
Nearly perfect; maybe one tiny edge flaw.
8 NM-Mint
Minor edge touch or tiny roughness.
7 Near Mint
Slightly rough edges visible under inspection.
6 EX-Mint
Noticeable rough edges or slight notching.
5 Excellent
Minor chipping or visible edge wear.
4 VG-Excellent
Moderate edge wear.
3 Very Good
Moderate-to-heavy edge wear.
2 Good Heavy
edge wear, chipping, or paper loss.
1 Poor
Severe edge damage or structural loss.
SURFACE
CENTERING
SURFACE
10 Gem Mint
No stains, no scratches, full gloss, strong print/focus; only the tiniest printing imperfection if eye appeal is not hurt.
9 Mint
One very minor print spot, speck, or surface defect.
8 NM-Mint
Minor print spots, slight focus issue, or very light surface imperfection.
7 Near Mint
Slight surface wear, minor print blemish, slight wax st
10 Gem Mint
No stains, no scratches, full gloss, strong print/focus; only the tiniest printing imperfection if eye appeal is not hurt.
9 Mint
One very minor print spot, speck, or surface defect.
8 NM-Mint
Minor print spots, slight focus issue, or very light surface imperfection.
7 Near Mint
Slight surface wear, minor print blemish, slight wax stain on back.
6 EX-Mint
Visible surface wear, light scratch, wax stain, or print defect that does not destroy eye appeal.
5 Excellent
More visible surface wear, scratches, print defects, or gloss loss.
4 VG-Excellent
Scuffing, scratches, one light crease, off-white borders, or minor staining.
3 Very Good
Moderate crease, scuffing, scratches, gloss loss, staining.
2 Good
Heavy creasing, writing, surface damage.
1 Poor
Severe creasing, missing paper, major surface loss, or multiple catastrophic flaws.