Below is a list of the GMA Grading scale. These grade descriptions are guidelines, designed to outline the evaluation standards of GMA Grading Service. Other factors that are not overtly stated in this description could exist that might affect the grade a card receives. These descriptions are used to describe the card or cards that are being graded and not to assess a monetary value. When cards are graded, they are graded based on these listed guidelines, and the production of the cards produced by the card companies is taken into consideration.

GEM-MT 10: A Gem Mint 10 card’s attributes include 60/40 or better centering, sharp focus, sharp corners, free of stains, no breaks in surface gloss, and little visible wear. A slight printing imperfection or surface scratch is allowable if it does not detract from the aesthetics of the card. The overall look of the card is calculated in the grade.

MINT 9: A Mint 9 card’s attributes include 60/40 or better centering, sharp focus, and sharp corners. Minor flaws may exist upon close examination. Minor flaws may be, but are not limited to: a slight nick to one corner, a small gloss break or surface scratch, a minor print line or minor refractor line, a minor focus or color imperfection, or a small print spot.

NM-MT+ 8.5: A Near Mint/ Mint+ is a card with 65/35 or better centering and sharp corners. A few minor flaws may exist upon close examination. A minor flaw may be, but is not limited to: a slight nick to one corner, a small gloss break or surface scratch, a minor print line or minor refractor line, a minor focus or color imperfection, or a small print spot.

NM-MT 8: A Near Mint/ Mint 8 is a card with 70/30 or better centering, corners sharp to the naked eye, but may exhibit slight wear under closer examination. A few small flaws may exist upon close examination. A small flaw may be but is not limited to: minor wear on one corner, a gloss break or surface scratch, a print line or refractor line, a focus or color imperfection, or a print spot.

NM+ 7.5: This is a card with 70/30 or better centering, a few small flaws may exist upon close examination. A small flaw may be but is not limited to: minor wear on one corner, a gloss break or surface scratch, a print line or refractor line, a focus or color imperfection, or a print spot.

NM 7: A Near Mint 7 card’s attributes include 70/30 or better centering, slight wear on some corners, minor scratching, some print spots or speckling, and print lines or refractor lines are acceptable. The card may exhibit a slightly skewed (diamond) cut.

EX-NM+ 6.5: This is a card with 75/25 or better centering, slight wear on some corners, minor scratching, some print spots or speckling, and print lines or refractor lines are acceptable. The card may exhibit a slightly skewed (diamond) cut.

EX/NM 6: An Excellent/ Near Mint is a card with 75/25 or better centering, slight fuzzing of corners may be evident, a skewed cut may be more evident, focus or register may be off, and slight notching of edges may exist.

EX+ 5.5: An EX 5 card with higher grade centering or corners.

EX 5: An Excellent card is a card with 80/20 or better centering, minor rounding or fuzzing of corners, roughness or chipping along an edge (no layering), one VERY slight surface or “spider” crease may exist on one side of the card, gloss may be lost from the surface with some scratching that does not detract from the aesthetics of the card.

VG-EX+ 4.5: A VG-EX 4 with higher grade centering or corners.

VG/EX 4: A Very Good/ Excellent card is a card with 85/15 or better centering, corners are slightly rounded with modest surface wear. A light hairline crease may show on one or both sides. A light tear or surface break may exist.

VG+ 3.5: A VG 3 with higher grade centering or corners.

VG 3: A Very Good card is a card with 90/10 or better centering, corners more rounded–but not excessive, stronger creasing may exist. Poorer focus, registration, and discoloration, and staining are more noticeable.

GOOD+ 2.5: A Good 2 with higher grade centering or corners.

GOOD 2: A Good card is a card centered 90/10 or better. This card usually exhibits one or more of these characteristics: heavy print spots, heavy crease(s), pinhole(s), color or focus imperfections or discoloration, surface scuffing or tear, rounded and/or fraying corners, ink or pencil marking(s), and lack of all or some original gloss.

FAIR+ 1.5: A Fair card is a card centered 90/10 or better. This card usually exhibits several of these characteristics: heavy print spots, heavy crease(s), pinhole(s), color or focus imperfections or discoloration, surface scuffing or tears, rounded and/or fraying corners, ink or pencil marking(s), and lack of all or some original gloss, a small portion of the card may be missing.

FAIR 1: This is a card that usually exhibits many of these characteristics: heavy print spots, heavy crease(s), pinhole(s), color or focus imperfections or discoloration, surface scuffing or tears, rounded and/or fraying corners, ink or pencil marking(s), and lack of all or some original gloss, small portions of the card may be missing.

*Authentic: This grade is given if a card has been altered or has a foreign substance on the card.  Examples: ( Trimmed, Colored, Pen or Pencil marks,  Writing, Glue or foreign substance, Pin Hole, etc…)

Reprints:  We label cards as Reprints if they are licensed or unlicensed replicas of previously printed cards.  This ensures that the end-user (buyer) is aware that they are not buying the original.

ACEO Custom:  Cards labeled as ACEO Custom are non-licensed cards.  These cards can range from art cards to homemade cards made on a home printer.  ACEO custom cards are collectibles that may or may not have long-term value, and buyers of these cards should proceed at their own risk.

Providing authentication is challenging and not guaranteed due to improved computerized printing.  Size requirements for Sports Cards are the standard published size plus or minus 2.5 mm. If the cards fit this criterion, they will be graded.