Our Grading Scale
ECA takes pride in the grading competence and accuracy that our team of professional card graders has created. To ensure that grading can take place, cards are validated and examined for tampering using our custom made tech.
Graders examine the card under ideal settings for four essential areas:
CENTERING:
Each Card is evaluated based on the percentage of the border on each side.
Cards are given a centering score during this procedure. Better centering results in a higher score.
SURFACES:
The most readily scratched or damaged cards are foil and holographic cards. There are a variety of flaws that might detract from surfaces, including print defects, rubbing, scratches, and dents, which are all assessed for when a surface grade is assigned.
EDGES:
Edges of a card are also frequently harmed, and the damage can range from chipping to kinks to splitting. Coloration, damage, sharpness, and integrity are all checked on the edges.
CORNERS:
From pulling a card fresh from a pack to storing the cards, the corners of the cards are one of the most easily damaged areas. The grading team examines the corners for sharpness, damage, and structural integrity.
GRADES AND WHAT THEY MEAN:
The card’s overall condition will be examined thoroughly by our team.
After this delicate process the card will receive a rating based on its condition on a scale from one to ten.
A (AUTHENTIC) – The card is authentic, but highly worn, with significant creases, extreme corner and edge damage, and less than 95% of the card intact.
1 (POOR) – The card is still intact, but there is excessive wear and tear on the corners and edges. Excessive whitening and silvering, severe surface damage, and several deep cuts or wrinkles are among the issues
2 (GOOD) – Excessive wear and tear, particularly severely damaged corners and edges. Clear and strongly present whitening and silvering. Multiple deep creases, deep scratches on the holographic part of the card, and/or extensive surface damage with at least 90/10 centering.
3 (VERY GOOD) – Excessive flaws, such as extreme whitening and silvering on all corners and edges. Surface damage, including deep wrinkles, and heavy scratches on the holographic part of the card with at least 90/10 centering.
4 (VERY GOOD-EXCELLENT) – Significant flaws, such as extreme bleaching and silvering on all corners and edges. Surface damage, including many folds, and heavy scratches on the holographic part of the card with at least 85/15 centering.
5 (EXCELLENT) – Heavy bleaching and silvering on all corners and edges are major flaws. Several holographic scratches, as well as more serious surface damage, including several creases with at least 85/15 centering.
6 (EXCELLENT-MINT) – Significant imperfections, such as bleaching and silvering on all corners and edges. Increased holographic scratches and more significant surface damage, such as a single fold with at least 80/20 centering.
7 (NEAR MINT) – Moderate imperfections, including whitening and silvering on corners/edges. Light holographic and surface damage with at least 75/25 centering.
8 (NEAR MINT-MINT) – Minor imperfections, including some whitening on the corners/edges. Light surface damage/print lines with at least 70/30 centering.
9 (MINT) – Minor imperfection only noticeable under close inspection. Minor imperfections include: slightly off-white borders or a slight nick to one of the corners, minor print line, with at least 60/40 centering.
10 (GEM MINT) – No damage or any sort of imperfections on the card with a centering of at least 55/45.