The Collectible Card Grading (CCG) grading scale is a guide for evaluating card conditions. It considers centering, corners, surface quality, and potential printing imperfections. While these descriptions influence grading, card manufacturer variations are also considered.
GEM-MT 10
Nearly flawless card with perfect centering, sharp focus/corners, and no stains/wear (minor printing imperfection possible).
MinT+ 9.5
Nearly perfect centering (better than MINT 9), sharp focus/corners, with minimal, barely noticeable flaws.
MINT 9
Excellent condition card with 60/40+ centering, sharp focus/corners, and minor flaws upon close inspection (e.g. slight nick on corner).
NM-MT 8.5/NM-MT 8/NM+ 7.5
Cards with progressively worse centering (65/35 to 70/30) and minor flaws (e.g. corner wear, scratches).
NM 7
Near Mint card with acceptable centering (70/30+), slight corner wear, minor scratching, and printing imperfections.
EX-NM+ 6.5/EX/NM 6
Cards with acceptable centering (75/25+), corner wear, minor scratches, printing imperfections, and possible skewed cuts.
EX+ 5.5/EX 5
Cards with progressively worse centering (80/20+), rounded corners, edge roughness/chipping, minor surface creases, and gloss loss.
VG-EX+ 4.5/VG/EX 4
Cards with worse centering (85/15+), rounded corners, surface wear, light crease/tear, and possible staining.
VG+ 3.5/VG 3
Cards with even worse centering (90/10+), more rounded corners, stronger creases, and noticeable imperfections.
GOOD+ 2.5/GOOD 2
Poorly centered cards (90/10+) with heavy imperfections (printing errors, creases, tears, rounded corners, markings, and gloss loss).
FAIR+ 1.5/FAIR 1
Heavily flawed cards with poor centering (90/10+), multiple printing errors, creases, tears, rounded corners, markings, gloss loss, and possible missing pieces.
Authentic
Altered cards with foreign substances (trimming, coloring, writing, glue, etc.).
Reprints
Licensed or unlicensed replicas of original cards.
ACEO Custom
Non-licensed, collectible cards (art or homemade) with uncertain long-term value.