FGS Grading
CGZ Grading
Below is a list of the CGZ Grading Service scale. The following grade descriptions are guidelines, designed to outline the evaluation standards of CGZ Grading Service. Other factors that are not overtly stated in this description could exist that might affect the grade a card receives.
Here are our general guidelines for CGZ Grading Service. These include: Centering, Edges, Corners, Surface and Durability.
GEM Pristine Perfect10 +
This is a flawless card no imperfections, perfect 50/50 centering, flawless corners, free of stains, no breaks in the surface gloss and no visible wear under magnification.
GEM-MT 9.5
A Mint 9.5 card’s attributes include 60/40 or better centering, sharp focus, and sharp corners. Minor flaws may exist upon close examination. Minor flaws may be, but is not limited to: a slight nick to one corner, a small gloss break or surface scratch, a minor print line or minor refractor line, a minor focus or color imperfection, or a small print spot.
MINT 9
A Mint 9 card’s attributes include 60/40 or better centering, sharp focus, and sharp corners. Minor flaws may exist upon close examination. Minor flaws may be, but is not limited to: a slight nick to one corner, a small gloss break or surface scratch, a minor print line or minor refractor line, a minor focus or color imperfection, or a small print spot.
NM-MT+ 8.5
A Near Mint/ Mint+ is a card with 65/35 or better centering and sharp corners. A few minor flaws may exist upon close examination. A minor flaw may be, but is not limited to: a slight nick to one corner, a small gloss break or surface scratch, a minor print line or minor refractor line, a minor focus or color imperfection, or a small print spot.
NM-MT 8
A Near Mint/ Mint 8 is a card with 70/30 or better centering, corners sharp to the naked eye, but may exhibit slight wear under closer examination. A few small flaws may exist upon close examination. A small flaw may be but is not limited to: minor wear on one corner, a gloss break or surface scratch, a print line or refractor line, a focus or color imperfection, or a print spot.
NM+ 7.5
This is a card with 70/30 or better centering, a few small flaws may exist upon close examination. A small flaw may be but is not limited to: minor wear on one corner, a gloss break or surface scratch, a print line or refractor line, a focus or color imperfection, or a print spot.
NM 7
A Near Mint 7 card’s attributes include 70/30 or better centering, slight wear on some corners, minor scratching, some print spots or speckling, and print lines or refractor lines are acceptable. The card may exhibit a slightly skewed (diamond) cut.
EX-NM+ 6.5
This is a card with 75/25 or better centering, slight wear on some corner, minor scratching, some print spots or speckling, and print lines or refractor lines are acceptable. The card may exhibit a slightly skewed (diamond) cut.
EX/NM 6
An Excellent/ Near Mint is a card with 75/25 or better centering, slight fuzzing of corners may be evident, a skewed cut may be more evident, focus or register may be off, and slight notching of edges may exist.
EX+ 5.5
An EX 5 card with higher grade centering or corners.
EX 5
An Excellent card is a card with 80/20 or better centering, minor rounding or fuzzing of corners, roughness or chipping along an edge (no layering), one VERY slight surface or “spider” crease may exist on one side of the card, gloss may be lost from the surface with some scratching that does not detract from the aesthetics of the card.
VG-EX+ 4.5
A VG-EX 4 with higher grade centering or corners.
VG/EX 4
A Very Good/ Excellent card is a card with 85/15 or better centering, corners are slightly rounded with modest surface wear. A light hairline crease may show on one or both sides. A light tear or surface break may exist.
VG+ 3.5
A VG 3 with higher grade centering or corners.
VG 3
A Very Good card is a card with 90/10 or better centering, corners more rounded–but not excessive, stronger creasing may exist. Poorer focus, registration, and discoloration, and staining are more noticeable.
GOOD+ 2.5
A Good 2 with higher grade centering or corners.
GOOD 2
A Good card is a card centered 90/10 or better. This card usually exhibits one or more of these characteristics: heavy print spots, heavy crease(s), pinhole(s), color or focus imperfections or discoloration, surface scuffing or tear, rounded and/or fraying corners, ink or pencil marking(s), and lack of all or some original gloss.
FAIR+ 1.5
A Fair card is a card centered 90/10 or better. This card usually exhibits several of these characteristics: heavy print spots, heavy crease(s), pinhole(s), color or focus imperfections or discoloration, surface scuffing or tears, rounded and/or fraying corners, ink or pencil marking(s), and lack of all or some original gloss, a small portion of the card may be missing.
FAIR 1
This is a card that usually exhibits many of these characteristics: heavy print spots, heavy crease(s), pinhole(s), color or focus imperfections or discoloration, surface scuffing or tears, rounded and/or fraying corners, ink or pencil marking(s), and lack of all or some original gloss, small portions of the card may be missing.
*Authentic
This grade is given if a card has been altered or has a foreign substance on the card. Examples: (Trimmed, Colored, Pen or Pencil marks, Writing, Glue or foreign substance, Pin Hole, etc…)
CGZ Grading Service grades the quality of a cards paper stock.
Providing authentication is challenging and not guaranteed due to improved computerized printing. Size requirements for Sports Cards are the standard published size plus or minus 2.5 mm. If the cards fit this criterion, they will be graded.