Collector education

Grading, Decoded

Grade is the single largest driver of a modern card's value. Here's how the scales work and what to look for before you buy.

The scale

10Gem Mint / PristinePerfect centering, razor corners, flawless surface. Includes PSA 10 Gem Mint, BGS 10 Pristine, and the ultimate Black Label 10.

9.5Gem Mint (BGS/CGC 9.5)Near-perfect with one sub-grade at 9. Frequently trades close to a 10.

9MintOne minor flaw visible under close inspection. Strong investment tier.

8Near Mint-MintSlight edge or centering deviation. Excellent value entry point.

RawUngradedNever submitted. Priced for the upside of a future grade.

The graders

PSA

The volume leader and most liquid market. Whole-number scale to 10, no sub-grades on the label.

BGS

Four sub-grades (centering, corners, edges, surface) plus half-point tiers and the coveted Black Label 10.

CGC

Fast-growing grader with detailed sub-grades and strong reputation on modern refractors and autos.

Every vault graded card is cert-verified

We check each certificate against the grader's public registry on intake and re-scan before dispatch, so the label on the slab always matches the listing.

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