Below is a list of the CPC Grading scale. These grade descriptions are guidelines, designed to outline the evaluation standards of VCG 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  Mint 10 card’s attributes include 50/50 or better centering, sharp focus, sharp tight corners, no marks or stains stains, no breaks in surface gloss, and no visible wear.  

MT-Gem 9.5: A Mint 9.5 card’s attributes include 60/40 or better centering, no creases, all sharp corners, no surface scratche, and sharp

MINT 9: A Mint 9 card’s attributes include 60/40 or better centering, sharp focus, and sharp corners. Minor flaws may exist upon exam.  Very minor imperfection may be seen such as a flight small scratch in one corner, slight surface scratch, small print defect.

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 imprefection. 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 surface scratch of gloss imperfection, a print spot, or a color imperfection.

NM+ 7.5: This is a card with 70/30 or better centering, a few small flaws are noticable.  A small flaw may be seen such as minor wear on one or two of the corners, a gloss imperfection  or surface scratch, a print line or refractor line, a focus or color imperfection, but no more than two spots.

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, image imperfections, minor stain, print lines, edges are slightly rough, or slight card degrading. 

EX-NM+ 6.5: This is a card with 75/25 or better centering, slight wear on some corners, minor scratching, some print spots, corners or edge only two maybe frayed or slightly creased.  

EX/NM 6: A 6 graded card is a card with 75/25 or better centering, corners or edges include chipping or fraying, slight fuzzing of corners may be evident, print lines, card slightly unfocused, print imperfections may exist.

EX+ 5.5: A 5.5  card with 80/20 or better centering, edge or corners slight fuzzing or creasing, very minor chipping, tiny scratches, print lines, card slightly unfocused, print imperfections may exist.

EX 5: An Excellent card is a card with 80/20 or better centering, minor edges or corners fraying or fuzzing, roughness or chipping along an edge, one slight surface crease may be present on one side of the card, gloss may be dull from the surface with some scratching and imperfections, minor discoloration no major stains.

VG-EX+ 4.5: A 4.5 card is a card with no major damage although cards in all corners of edges  are now rounded and more creases are noticeable.  Some small marks, stains, or ink might be present on the front or back of card.  

Very Good / Excellent 4: A 4 graded card is a card with four corners that are slightly rounded with modest surface wear, edge nick or crease, poor and discoloration,  slight crease may be shown on one or both sides, and a light tear or surface break may exist. minor marks or slight tearing. 

VG+ 3.5: A 3.5 graded card is a  card with four corners that are now rounded with surface wear, edge nicks, poor and discoloration, minor creases may be shown on one or both sides, a light tear or surface break may exist, some marks cuffs or ink present, or slight tearing. 

VG 3: A Very Good card is a card with 85/15 or better centering, now rounded with surface wear, edge nicks, poor and discoloration, minor creases may be shown on one or both sides, a surface break may exist, noticeable print spots, some marks cuffs or ink present, slight tearing, and staining. 

GOOD+ 2.5: A 2.5 graded card is now heavily rounded with surface wear, several edge nicks, poor and discoloration, more creases may be shown on one or both sides, a light tear or surface break may exist,  more marks cuffs or ink present, or slight tearing. 

GOOD 2: A 2 graded card is now heavily rounded with more surface wear, several edge nicks and chips, poor and discoloration, major creases may be shown on one or both sides, a small tear or surface break may exist,  more marks cuffs or ink present, or slight hole. 

FAIR+ 1.5: A Fair card is a card centered 90/10 or better, card in bad shape, now heavily rounded with major surface wear, edge nicks and chips all around card, miscut card, poor and discoloration, major creases may be shown on one or both sides, a tear or surface break exists,  more marks cuffs or ink present, or slight hole. 

FAIR 1: A Fair card is in bad shape, now heavily rounded with major surface wear, edge nicks and chips all around card, miscut card, poor and discoloration, major creases may be shown on one or both sides, a tear or surface break exists,  more marks cuffs or ink present, slight hole, torn card, dirty and major discoloration all over card.

*Altered: This label is given if the card has been deemed as altered, cleaned, colored,  or has a foreign substance on the card.  Examples: ( Trimmed, Colored, waxed, Pen or Pencil marks,  writing alteration , glue etc…)

Reprints:  We label cards as Reprints if they are licensed or unlicensed replicas of previously printed cards. 

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.