PSA Grading Standards for Trading Cards
When it comes to collecting trading cards, whether they be sports, Pokémon, or other popular series, the condition of a card significantly impacts its value. This is where Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) grading comes into play; PSA grading provides a standardised assessment of a card's condition, helping collectors understand the true worth of their treasures. This article delves into PSA grading standards, explaining how they work and why they are essential for collectors.
PSA Grading Standards: What Are They, and Why Are They Important?
PSA is one of the most reputable and widely recognised grading services in the world of trading cards. Founded in 1991 by David Hall, PSA has set the benchmark for grading standards, ensuring consistency and reliability in the card grading process. PSA’s services include not only the grading of trading cards but also event tickets, Funko Pop figures, autographs, packs, photographs, and other memorabilia, leading to over 65 million items worldwide becoming PSA-certified!
PSA Grading Standards are essential for both buyers and sellers, particularly when it comes to auctions, as all collectors want to ensure items are authentic and of high quality. Items that are PSA-graded offer greater credibility, leading to smoother transactions, since questions over authenticity are no longer needed. PSA-graded items usually outsell non-graded items at auction, and high PSA grades can often add scarcity and value.
To get a trading card graded by PSA, you must fill out an assessment form and post this alongside the card(s) you want to have graded. PSA has written an online shipping guide which offers packaging information and professional tips to reduce the risk of shipping delays or damage to the card.
Grade Definitions
PSA uses certain criteria to measure the quality of a trading card or any other graded item. This criteria will produce the abbreviated codes which you may have seen on certain items at auctions or sites such as eBay. Here is a breakdown of each grade:
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Gem Mint 10 (GM-MT)
A virtually perfect card. It exhibits four sharp corners, no staining, a perfectly centred image, and no visible flaws. Under magnification, the card must display only a tiny amount of allowable imperfections, such as a slight print dot. The image must be centred on the card, not to exceed 55/45 to 60/40 on the front, and 70/25 on the reverse.
Image credit: psacard.com
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Mint 9 (MINT)
A superb condition card that might have one minor flaw visible upon closer inspection, such as a tiny scratch, a very slight wax stain on the reverse, or a slight centring imperfection. The corners are sharp, and the centring must be 60/40 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.
Image credit: psacard.com
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Near Mint-Mint 8 (NM-MT)
The card shows minimal wear with sharp corners. There might be slight fraying or a small amount of white showing on the edges, with a centring of 65/35 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back. Minor printing imperfections may be present, and/or slightly off-white bordering.
Image credit: psacard.com
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Near Mint 7 (NM)
The card shows minor wear, visible to the naked eye, for example, minor fraying on the corners, a picture focus which is slightly out-of-register, or some surface wear. The centring is still strong, with 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.
Image credit: psacard.com
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Excellent-Mint 6 (EX-MT)
Some visible surface wear, with minor rounding on the corners, but nothing that detracts from the card’s overall appeal. Centring must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. Minor wax stains may be present on the reverse.
Image credit: psacard.com
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Excellent 5 (EX)
The card may show some surface wear and have minor print defects. The corners can be slightly rounded, and the centring must be 85/15 or better on the front. The focus of the picture may be slightly out-of-register, and the loss of original gloss may be slightly evident.
Image credit: psacard.com
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Very Good-Excellent 4 (VG-EX)
Noticeable wear on edges and corners, with some light scratching or scuffing on the surface, but nothing too significant. The borders may be slightly off-white. Centring can be 85/15 or better on the front.
Image credit: psacard.com
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Very Good 3 (VG)
More significant wear and slightly rounded corners. The card might have some creases and significant surface wear, such as significant original gloss loss (but not all). Centring must be 90/10 or better on both sides.
Image credit: psacard.com
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Good 2 (GOOD)
The card has substantial wear, including rounded corners, creases, and surface issues. The original gloss may be completely absent, and considerable discolouration may be present. Centring must be 90/10 or better on both sides.
Image credit: psacard.com
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Fair 1.5 (FR)
The card has a large amount of substantial wear such as scuffing, scratching, chipping or staining, possibly affecting the framing of the picture. The card must be fully intact, even though it is heavily worn.
Image credit: psacard.com
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Poor 1 (PR)
The card is heavily worn, with severe damage, including tears, creases, and even missing parts. Extreme discolouration may be present, making card content more difficult to identify. The card may also show noticeable signs of warping.
Image credit: psacard.com
Qualifiers for Grading
To determine each PSA grade, there is a selection of qualifiers by which an item is checked. For example, a trading card that “ticks every box” would be graded GM-MT, whereas a card which is poor in each qualifier would be graded low, such as FR or PR. Here’s a detailed look at the different qualifiers PSA uses and what they mean:
- Off-Center (OC): This qualifier indicates that the card's image is not perfectly centred. While the card might have received a higher grade based on other factors, significant centring issues warrant the OC qualifier.
- Staining (ST): Cards with visible stains receive this qualifier. The staining might affect only a small part of the card, but it is enough to receive this qualifier.
- Print Defect (PD): This qualifier is used for cards with noticeable print defects, such as print lines, smudges, or other imperfections, caused during the printing process.
- Out of Focus (OF): Cards that are not sharply printed and appear blurry or out of focus will receive this qualifier.
- Marks (MK): Cards with writing, ink marks, or other marks that were not part of the original card would receive the MK qualifier.
- Miscut (MC): This qualifier is for cards that were not cut correctly during the manufacturing process. The card might have parts of another card on the edge or a significantly uneven border.
- No Qualifier (NQ): This indicates that the card has been graded without applying any qualifiers. Collectors sometimes request no qualifiers for a more straightforward grade.
The Most Expensive PSA-10 Trading Card Sales
PSA-10 GM-MT trading cards are the most desirable for collectors since this grade demonstrates exceptional quality and authenticity. Therefore, it is no surprise that there have been many notable “high-value” sales for PSA-10 graded cards. Let’s take a look at three particularly expensive sales:
- Considered the most expensive trading card of all time, in 2023, the PSA-10 1998 Pokémon Illustrator "Pikachu" card sold for $5.275 million (just over £3.85 million). This CoroCoro Comics edition of the card was purchased by YouTuber Logan Paul at a private sale.
- Another staggeringly high-priced card which also sold in 2023 was the PSA-10 1993 Magic The Gathering “Black Lotus” card which fetched an almighty $540,000 (£428,000) at auction. The card is banned from competitive play, so it is there solely for bragging rights.
- Third on our list is the PSA-10 1998 Pokémon Trainer “Pikachu” card (Japanese Promo Silver 2nd Tournament edition). Also in 2023, this card sold for $444,000 (£347,300). It seems like 2023 was the year for sky-high trading card prices!
FAQs
Should I grade my trading card before selling it at auction?
Yes, grading your trading card before selling it at auction can enhance its value and appeal. PSA grading provides a trusted assessment of the card's condition and authenticity, attracting serious buyers and potentially fetching a higher price.
How much does PSA grading cost?
The cost varies, based on the service level and the declared value of the card. PSA offers different pricing tiers to accommodate various needs, such as trading card bulk grading.
How can I verify a PSA grade?
You can verify a PSA grade by entering the certification number on the PSA website, which will provide details about the graded card.
Can PSA-graded cards be re-graded?
Yes, you can submit a PSA-graded card for re-evaluation if you believe it was under-graded. The card will go through the grading process again.
Looking to Buy or Sell Trading Cards at Auction?
If you’re looking to buy or sell a collection of trading cards from numerous popular trading card games (TCGs), look no further than Cullens of Surrey. For any questions about our upcoming auctions, please contact us today.
