EXQUISITE CARD GRADING
We are an alternative grading choice where you don’t have to sacrifice the quality of the grading or the look of your slabs. Consistency and accuracy of the grading is our first priority. Waiting a year for a card to be graded is not realistic. We were tired of waiting so we started XCG.Â
We customize and protect your cards by enclosing them in an airtight, beautifully styled plastic enclosure.
Cards are graded on a 10 point scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being Gem
Mint. Grades are based on established industry standards
emphasizing Centering, Surface and Corner Wear.
At XCG, Our graders have been in the Trading Card industry since 1985. Over those years we've established a proven track record for quality service and sales.
WHAT WE GRADE
Even though card grading is somewhat subjective and varies between grading companies, XCG adheres strictly to our own very specific grading criteria. We guarantee an accurate grade and a fantastic finished product. However, we do not guarantee a matching cross grade with another company. Just as cards vary, so do individual graders, and we can't guarantee that those other guys will follow the same detailed grading criteria.
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We maintain the highest standards of integrity and authenticity. CUSTOM MADE CARDS, REPRINTS OR OTHER COUNTERFEIT CARDS will not be graded. They will be returned to you ungraded and not encased. We will not grade anything other than authentic cards.
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We do not grade jersey cards at this time.
GRADING SCALE
10 - GEM MINT
A NEARLY PERFECT CARD.
Imperfections not visible unless under magnification. No visible wear. No creasing. Sharp corners intact. Perfect print gloss. No surface flaws.
9.5 - MINT+
NEARLY PERFECT WITH BARELY NOTICEABLE TINY FLAW.
No creasing. Four sharp corners. Clean gloss and no scratches.
9.0 - MINT
FOUR SHARP CORNERS.
Slight nick or small surface scratch. Color and gloss intact. Very minor imperfection (centering, corners, edges, or surface).
8.5 - NEAR MINT+
BARELY PERCEPTIBLE SIGNS OF HANDLING.
Very minor wear. Slight corner nicks or imperfections. Subtle color flaws. No creases. Minor hint of aging.
8.0 - NEAR MINT
WELL PRINTED AND WELL PRESERVED.
Minor wear. Corners and edges no longer razor sharp though not noticeably rounded. Small flaws such as limited wear to one corner, subtle lack of gloss, or slight image imperfection.
7.5 - NEAR MINT+
HIGHER-END QUALITY WITH A TOUCH OF WEAR.
Slight image or color imperfection. Minor wear on corners. No creasing. Gloss mostly intact. Modest speckling.
7.0 - NEAR MINT
BORDERING ON NEAR MINT+.
Slight wear on corners. Some front-of-card surface degradation. Some image imperfection. Slight back-of-card wax staining.
6.0 - EXCELLENT/NEAR MINT
CLEARLY FRAYED OR FUZZY CORNERS. DETECTABLE SCRATCH.
Photo register may be misaligned. Some gloss still evident. Possible notching of borders.
5.0 - EXCELLENT
TWO OR MORE EVIDENT CORNER FLAWS.
Evident edge chipping. Noticeable color imperfections. Limited gloss. Significant surface wear.
4.0 - VERY GOOD/EXCELLENT
SERIOUS SURFACE ISSUES.
Intact card but significant issues, including miscut corners in addition to rounding and edging, discoloration, creases, or surface break.
3.0 - VERY GOOD
YELLOWING, DISCOLORATION, OUT OF FOCUS.
Significantly noticeable staining. Rounded corners. Pronounced handling. Scruff and scratches.
2.0 - GOOD
BADLY SCUFFED, STAINED, OR SCRATCHED.
Serious surface damage, including writing on front or back or card and creases across the card. Possible thumb tack holes. Heavy surface wear.
1.0 - POOR
SMALL PORTIONS OF CARD MAY BE MISSING. CARD MIGHT BE TORN. DIRTY AND MISCOLORED. ABUSED BY UNKNOWN SUBSTANCES.
Small portions of card may be missing. Card might be torn. Dirty and miscolored. Abused by unknown substances.