Ace Grading Grading Scale

Ace Grading prides itself on the grading expertise and accuracy that has been developed with a team of professional card graders. Cards are authenticated and checked for alteration using multiple technological methods to make sure that grading can take place.

During this process, cards are also given a centering score which is calculated using 1/1000th of a millimeter accuracy measurements to gain an incredibly accurate centering score. We then use these measurements to determine a percentage for Left, Right, Top and Bottom centering for both the front and back of the card.

After this, graders get to scrutinise the card under ideal conditions, for 3 key areas:

Corners

Corners of cards are one of the areas easiest damaged, from pulling a card fresh from a pack through to storing the cards. The grading team checks for corner sharpness, damage and integrity.

Edges

Edges are also very commonly damaged areas of a card, and the damage can vary from chipping, to kinks, to splitting. Edges are scrutinised for colouration, damage, sharpness and integrity.

Surfaces

Foil and holographic cards are usually the most easily scratched or damaged. There are many different issues that can detract from surfaces, from print defects, rubbing, scratches and dents, and are inspected for all of this and more to give a surfaces grade.

Grades

10.

Gem Mint

An Ace Gem Mint 10 is a card that has four undamaged corners, sharp edges and a beautiful surface. An Ace 10 will not be marked, stained or damaged, and will have centering that is less than a 60/40 split. There may be very minor defects that do not detract from the eye appeal of the card as a whole.

9.

Mint

An Ace Mint 9 is a card that exhibits nearly identical quality to that of a Gem Mint 10 card, however may suffer from a minor imperfection, either in the corners, the edges or the surface. The centering for a card must be greater than 65/35 for any opposite pair on the front, and 70/30 for any opposite pair on the rear of the card.

8.

Near Mint - Mint

An Ace Near Mint - Mint 8 card will closely resemble the Ace 9, however may suffer from a few minor imperfections, such as whitening, either in the corners, the edges or the surface, or a combination of any of these areas. The centering for a card must be greater than 70/30 for any opposite pair on the front, and 75/25 for any opposite pair on the rear of the card.

7.

Near Mint

An Ace Near Mint 7 is a card that has slight wear which is more visible than the Near Mint - Mint 8, including more noticeable damage on edges, corners or surfaces, such as whitening. This may include more perceptible printing defects, and the centering for a card must be greater than 75/25 for any opposite pair on the front, and 80/20 for any opposite pair on the rear of the card.

6.

Excellent - Mint

An Ace Excellent - Mint 6 card may have more noticeable damage or printing defects. There may be more than one area of whitening on the corners or edges, and these areas may not be sharp. The centering for a card must be greater than 80/20 for any opposite pair on the front, and 80/20 for any opposite pair on the rear of the card.

5.

Excellent

An Ace Excellent 5 may show more visible printing defects and damage. Corners may be misshapen and whitening / fraying and edges may be more noticeable. Scratches may be obstructing the focal points of a card, including the artwork or text. The centering for a card must be greater than 80/20 for any opposite pair on the front, and 80/20 for any opposite pair on the rear of the card.

4.

Very Good

An Ace Very Good 4 card may be starting to lose integrity of the card in a single area. This card may exhibit moderate scratching throughout key focal points of the card, for example the artwork or text. Corners may be misshapen and edges may be warped, or not sharp. The centering for a card must be greater than 80/20 for any opposite pair on the front, and 80/20 for any opposite pair on the rear of the card.

3.

Good

An Ace Good 3 card may be starting to lose integrity of the card in multiple areas. This card may exhibit moderate scratching throughout key focal points of the card, for example the artwork or text. Corners may be misshapen and edges may be warped, or not sharp. There may be very obvious defects to any of the key areas of the card. The centering for a card must be greater than 85/15 for any opposite pair on the front, and 85/15 for any opposite pair on the rear of the card.

2.

Fair

An Ace Fair 2 card may have lost integrity in the card in any one area. This card may exhibit heavy scratching throughout key focal points of the card, for example the artwork or text. Corners may be misshapen and edges may be warped, or not sharp. There may be very obvious defects to any of the key areas of the card. The centering for a card must be greater than 85/15 for any opposite pair on the front, and 85/15 for any opposite pair on the rear of the card.

1.

Poor

An Ace Poor 1 card may have lost integrity in the card in multiple areas. This card may exhibit heavy scratching throughout key focal points of the card, for example the artwork or text. Corners may be misshapen and edges may be warped, or not sharp. There may be very obvious defects to any of the key areas of the card. The centering for a card must be greater than 85/15 for any opposite pair on the front, and 85/15 for any opposite pair on the rear of the card.

Qualifiers

MC.

Miscut

A manufacturing error that has led the card to be cut incorrectly. Easy tells for miscut cards are visible alignment dots, severely rotated cards or cards that are the wrong shape as to normal cards. Sometimes a miscut card can not fit in the Ace slab. If it's the case that a card cannot be encapsulated due to a miscut, we will not charge for this card, and it will be sent back raw.

OC.

Off-Center

The Off-Center modifier is given to a card where the grade for centering is 2 grades or more below the overall card grade. The Off-Center qualifier means that the overall grade isn't affected as much, instead appending OC to the grade.

A.

Altered

If we believe a card to be recoloured, reshaped, restored or modified in any way to make it different from the original card, then the card will receive the Altered grade. Altered cards will be charged in full, however, will not be added to our certification database or pop report. The card will not be encapsulated and will be returned raw.

C.

Counterfeit

If a card fails the Ace Grading authenticity checks, we will give the card the Counterfeit grade. Counterfeit cards will be charged in full, however, will not be added to our certification database or pop report. The card will not be encapsulated and will be returned raw.

QA.

Questionable Authenticity

If a card's authenticity can not be verified, we will give the card the Questionable Authenticity grade. This grade does not invoke a charge, however, the card is also not added to our certification database or pop report. The card will not be encapsulated and will be returned raw.