Grading Standards

Gem Mint

A GLG Gem Mint 10 is the ideal perfect card, and all sub ratings are 100.

The card will exhibit edges and corners that are sharp and intact with no visible signs of wear. The image coloring will be the same as when it was printed with no signs of aging present. The centering of the card will be near 50/50 with minor tolerances allowed, 55/45 for front and 65/35 for back. *Card without a top or bottom border are allowed an increased tolerance to 60/40 as long as the card still looks overall centered.

Mint+ or Mint

A GLG Mint+/Mint will have an average sub rating between 99-95 and 94-90.

The card will exhibit edges and corners that are sharp and intact with a up to a minor imperfection visible. The image may have minor imperfections in the printing process. The surface of the card may have a small nick or scratch that does not impede the overall image. The centering of the card maybe off outside the allowed tolerance range of a Gem Mint 10 down to 60/40 on front and 70/30 back.  Additionally, the centering maybe tilted even though it is inside allowable ranges for a Gem Mint 10 rating.

NM+ or NM

A GLG NM+/NM will have an average sub rating between 89-85 and 84-80.

The card will have fraying on an edge or corner. The image may have minor imperfections in the printing process. The surface will have a more noticeable nick or scratch. The centering of the card is 70/30 or better on front and back is 85/15 or better.

NM- or EX+

A GLG NM-/EX+ will have an average sub rating between 79-75 and 74-70.

The card will have noticeable wear on an edges or corners. The image may have imperfections in the printing process. The surface will have noticeable nicks or scratches. The centering of the card is 70/30 or better on front and back is 90/10 or better.

EX or EX-

A GLG EX/EX- will have an average sub rating between 69-65 and 64-60.

The card will have noticeable wear on edges or corners. The image may have imperfections in the printing process and shows minor loss of gloss or off-whiteness on borders. The surface will have noticeable nicks or scratches, but no creasing. The centering of the card is 80/20 or better on the front and back is 90/10 or better.

VG+

A GLG VG+ will have an average sub rating between 59-55 and 54-50.

The card will have noticeable wear on edges and more rounding of corners. The image has imperfections in the printing process and shows loss of gloss or off-whiteness on borders. The surface will have noticeable nicks or scratches and a minor crease maybe evident. The centering of the card is 90/10 or better on both sides.

VG to VG-

A GLG VG/VG- will have an average sub rating between 49-45 and 44-40.

The card will have noticeable wear or a mis-cut on an edges and corners with significant rounding. The image has discolorations present or off-whiteness on borders or staining. The surface will have nicks or scratches and a spider crease maybe evident. The centering of the card is 95/5 or better on both sides.

Good+ to Good

 

A GLG Good+/Good will have an average sub rating between 39-35 and 34-30.

The card will have excessive wear or miscut on any edges and corners with significant rounding. The image has discolorations present or off-whiteness on borders or staining. The surface scuffs or cuts and a spider crease maybe evident.  

Good-/Fair/Poor

A GLG Good-/Fair/Poor will have an average sub rating between 29-0.

A card has significant flaws on all levels of grading. The card may have cuts, holes, missing portions of the card. Stains and other discolorations are present. Very few cards are sent in unless they have significant value at this level as they are too poor to be sought after by the average collector.

 

100 point scale that meets industry standards visually.

We use software to assist our in our grading process.  Our centering is 100% software define and is on a 100-point scale.  (Example: A card that is 57/43 on centering will rate a 96 on centering).  The other three subgrades: Corners, Surface, and Edges are on a 5-point degradation scale. (Example: 95, 90, 85, etc)

Highest Rating Issued.

We understand that with a 100-point scale a 100, 100, 100, and an 80 would equate to an overall grade to 95, thus meeeting the standard for a 9.5 Mint+ rating.  We find issuing such a large difference doesn’t encompass a card actual grade and have capped are gradings at a +10 of the lowest grade issued.  The card shown to the side would be issued either a 7.5 or 8.0 not an 8.5.

The highest grading a card may receive is +10 from the lowest issued subgrade on a card.

No upscaling to a Gem Mint 10.

 

Our 10 is a 10.

When you are looking to purchase a Gem Mint 10 as a collector, you want a real Gem Mint 10.  Not one that has a subgrade less than 100 or centering that is off to the naked eye on the front of a card.  After speaking with vendors at chard shows, with store owners, and collectors like yourself it came up many times on why you didn’t a purchase a Gem Mint 10.  The reason given when price wasn’t the issue?

It wasn’t a 10 in all aspects.  Rest assured our Gem Mint 10’s are really a Gem Mint 10.