CGC Cards Grading Scale

A Pristine 10 is a virtually flawless card to the naked eye. The centering is 50/50, and the card has flawless color and registration. All cards that merit a CGC Pristine 10 grade will receive a special CGC Cards Pristine 10 label.

A Gem Mint 10 is a card that has received a 10 grade overall; however, one of the grading criteria does not meet the requirements of a Pristine 10. Corners will appear perfect to the naked eye and Mint+ under 10x magnification. The surface is free of print spots and should also display perfect gloss, devoid of any surface flaws. Centering is not to exceed approximately 55/45, and reverse centering is not to exceed 75/25.

A Mint+ 9.5 is a card that displays premium eye appeal for a Mint card. Qualities such as exceptional centering, surface qualities/color or other key elements can elevate a card to a Mint+ grade.

A Mint card has four sharp corners with only minor wear visible. Slight minor flaws on the edges may be visible. The surface must have all original gloss; however, a small number of specks or one minor spot or surface defect is allowed. For TCG cards, cards will have only a few minor manufacturing or handling defects. For sports and non-sports cards, centering must be 60/40 or better for the front of the card, and 90/10 for the back.

A card graded 8.5 has relatively smooth edges with only minor touches of wear. It must have original color borders and gloss. One of the following very minor flaws is allowed: corners are sharp to the naked eye but reveal slight imperfections under magnification; a small amount of minor print spots; subtle focus imperfections of the image. A very slight diamond cut is allowed. TCG cards could show small handing defects.

A card graded 8 must have relatively smooth edges with only minor touches of wear. It must have original color borders and gloss. One of the following very minor flaws is allowed: corners are sharp to the naked eye but reveal slight imperfections under magnification; a small amount of minor print spots; subtle focus imperfections of the image. A very slight diamond cut is allowed. TCG cards could have small-to-moderate handling defects. For sports and non-sports cards, centering must be 65/35 or better.

A card graded 7.5 may also have a touch of wear on two or three corners or slightly rough edges. The image may be slightly out of register. A slight diamond cut is allowed, and very slight wax staining is allowed on the reverse. TCG cards could have a moderate defect or a number of small handling defects. For sports and non-sports cards, 65/35 centering is allowed.

A card graded 7 may also have a touch of wear on three or more corners and/or slightly rough edges. The image may be slightly out of register. A slight diamond cut is allowed, and very slight wax staining is allowed on the reverse. For sports and non-sports cards, centering should be 70/30 or better.

For a grade of 6.5, no more than one slightly “dinged” corner is allowed, or no more than two of the following flaws: two or three fuzzy corners; slightly rough edges; noticeable print spots. A moderate diamond cut is allowed, and light wax staining on the front is acceptable.

For a grade of 6, no more than one “dinged” corner is allowed or no more than two of the following flaws: two or three fuzzy corners; slightly rough edges; noticeable print spots. A moderate diamond cut is allowed, and wax staining on the front is acceptable. For sports and non-sports cards, centering may be no worse than 75/25.

At 5.5, the corners may exhibit light “fuzzyness” and very minor rounding. The corners may come to a point but may have one or two “dinged” corners. There may also be chipping on the edges, minor border discoloration, noticeable print spots and/or color or focus imperfections on the surface.

At 5, the corners may exhibit “fuzzyness” and very minor rounding. The corners may come to a point but may have two to three “dinged” corners. There may also be chipping on the edges, minor border discoloration, noticeable print spots and/or color or focus imperfections on the surface. On cards with scratch-off surfaces, the coating may be removed, but the surface is not damaged.

At 4.5, the corners may display slight rounding. Noticeable surface flaws may include scuffing, scratches or one light crease. While some original surface gloss may be visible, the borders may be off-white, and a small amount of minor staining is allowed. For sports and non-sports cards, the centering is 85/15, and an extremely noticeable diamond cut is allowed.

At 4, corners may display slight rounding. Noticeable surface flaws may include scuffing, scratches and one or more light creases. While some original surface gloss may be visible, borders may be off-white, and some minor staining is allowed. An extremely noticeable diamond cut is allowed.

A Very Good+ card may have 90/10 centering and four rounded corners, but not extreme rounding. The surface may exhibit one moderate crease or more than one light crease, and may also display scuffing or scratches and loss of original gloss. The edges may have moderate wear, and moderate staining of the stock can be visible.

A Very Good card can have four rounded corners, but not extreme rounding. The surface may exhibit one moderate crease or more than one light crease, and may also display scuffing or scratches and loss of original gloss. The edges may have moderate wear, and heavier staining of the stock can be visible on both the front and back of the card.

A card graded Good+ may have heavier creasing, but the creasing does not travel across the surface from edge to edge. The card may also have some surface damage such as one small writing mark on the back. An extremely heavy diamond cut resulting in a near miscut is allowed.

A card graded Good can have heavier creasing that may travel across the surface of the card from edge to edge. The card may also have some surface damage such as a small amount of writing on the front or back. An extremely heavy diamond cut resulting in a near miscut is allowed.

A Fair card can have one catastrophic flaw such as a staple hole, small area of missing surface, severe creasing and/or writing on the surface. The card may be miscut.

A Poor card may suffer from major surface damage such as severe creasing that breaks the surface, and/or it may be missing a small portion of the cardstock itself such as a portion of the corner that has been torn away from the card. The card will have multiple catastrophic flaws.

The Authentic designation is used for cards that are authentic and unaltered but cannot receive a numeric grade. An example is a card with a missing portion of stock, such as when a card that was meant to be hand cut falls below the published measurement tolerance, like an early 20th century strip card. Authentic will also be used if a card is below the minimum size requirements.

CGC Cards will print Authentic Altered in the grade box if a card is authentic but has been altered. Examples of alterations include recoloring and trimming.

A 10 is a flawless autograph. Characteristics include prominent pen pressure throughout, and no streaking or smudging of any kind. The autograph location is perfectly placed outside of any dark area and doesn’t run off of the item.

The eye appeal of the signature is nearly perfect; however, very slight imperfections exist in the boldness. Very minor ink welling and bleeding may be evident.

Some imperfections are noticeable, but the signature is still strongly displayed on the item. Slight smearing and/or smudging may exist and a small tip of the signature may run off the item.

Although a strong signature, there are multiple minor flaws throughout including fading, smudging and/or blemishes or wear of the autograph. A portion of the autograph may run off the item.

The signature is still complete and visible; however, apparent imperfections are noticeable. Several letters of the autograph may run off of the item, and imperfections are clearly visible.

The signature exhibits heavy aging where less than a quarter of the signature might be missing entirely.

The Authentic designation is used for autographs that are authentic but not numerically graded. Submitters can choose to have an autograph graded or not graded, but if it is deemed below an autograph grade of 5, the autograph grade will default to the Authentic designation.

A Pristine 10 is a virtually flawless telephone card to the naked eye. The edges and corners are free of wear and white spots. The telephone card perfectly retains its original color and gloss, with a clear and fully centered print pattern. On the reverse, the card’s magnetic powder is evenly distributed, the text is fully centered and there is no trace of topping up. Both the front and the back of the telephone card have no post-production imperfections visible under 5x magnification.

A Gem Mint 10 card is a card that has received a 10 grade overall; however, one of the grading criteria does not meet the requirements of a Pristine 10. The edges and corners are free of wear and white spots. The telephone card perfectly retains its original color and gloss with clear and fully centered printed pattern. On the reverse, the card’s magnetic powder is evenly distributed, and the text will appear fully centered.

A Mint+ 9.5 is a telephone card that is nearly indistinguishable from one with a 10 grade. There may be slight minor printing defects on the surface of the card, or the pattern on the front might be very slightly off center. The edges and corners of the telephone card may have very minor white spots, or there may be slight traces of topping up on the reverse.

A Mint 9 telephone card may have only one of the following small imperfections: slight minor wear visible on the edges and corners, very minor scratches on the surface, a slightly off-center print pattern, slight traces of topping up on the reverse or very few stains on the surface.

A telephone card graded 8.5 might have slight wear on some of the edges and corners. Minor blemishes on the surface may be visible,or the print pattern may be off center. The reverse side of the card should only have slight traces of topping up or very minor stains visible.

A telephone card graded 8 must have only minor wear or printing defects, but they should not affect the overall appearance of the card. Upon closer inspection, the surface of the card may have slight scratches and white spots, along with wear on the edges and corners. Traces of topping up or stains may be visible on the card's reverse.

A telephone card graded 7 will have slightly visible wear on some edges and corners. The card should retain most of its original color and gloss, though the print pattern may be fuzzy. Visible wear or printing defects may be present on the card’s surface, along with traces of topping up or stains on the reverse. The telephone card will have moderate centering.

A telephone card graded CGC 6 will have visible wear or printing defects on the card surface with a slightly fuzzy pattern. The card’s surface may have slight scratches and white spots, and it may lose some of its original gloss. The card’s edges and corners may be worn and the print pattern is off center. Meanwhile, there will be traces of topping up or stains on the reverse.

In addition to visible wear and printing defects, a telephone card graded CGC 5 will have lost its original gloss with a slightly fuzzy pattern. Edges and corners may be worn, and there may be white spots and scratches on the surface. Corners may be worn and the print pattern is off center. Meanwhile, there may be evident traces of topping up and moderate to severe stains on the card’s reverse.

A telephone card graded 4 will display obvious wear — such as scuffing or scratches — along with visible wear on the edges and corners. While some original surface gloss may be visible, the card’s print pattern will be slightly off center. On the card’s reverse, there will be evident traces of topping up or moderately severe stains.

A telephone card graded 3 will display obvious wear on its surface, including scuffs, scratches and a loss of gloss. The card may also display some yellowing or discoloration. The card’s print pattern may be slightly off center, and there may be visible wear on the edges and corners.. The card’s print pattern is slightly off center, and there is evident traces of topping up or severe stains on the reverse.

A telephone card graded 2 displays clearly visible wear or multiple scratches, along with visible wear on the edges and corners. The surface may have lost its original color and gloss, or have significant discoloration. The print pattern is obviously off center. There is evident trace of topping up or severe stains on the reverse.

For a grade of 1, the edges and corners of the telephone card are severely worn with more severe wear visible on the surface, including scuffing, scratches, dents, creases and stains. The print pattern is extremely fuzzy and severely off center. The card’s reverse has significant stains.

Most telephone cards have the same defects as those that receive grades of 1. However, the degree of defects could be even more severe, resulting in a nearly complete loss of their visual aesthetics. Cards of this level of defects will receive a non-numeric grade.
For a non-numeric grade, the surface of the telephone card may have missing contents, nearly broken creases or severe discoloration and stains, making it difficult to identify the actual contents of the card. There may also be obvious warping or other serious defects. Additionally, telephone cards that have been tampered with — either intentionally or otherwise — will receive a non-numeric grade.