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This page covers the main companies, scales, special designations, verifying cert numbers and how to send a card for grading from Finland. Companies' scales, prices and practices change, so always check current information on the company's own website.
Why grade?
- Authenticity. The company checks that the card is genuine and unaltered.
- A common language. The grade makes a card's condition comparable for buyer and seller.
- Protection. The slab protects the card from damage.
- Value. A top grade can multiply a card's value. Grading costs money, however, and the grade is not guaranteed: a card may get a lower grade than expected, in which case grading does not pay off.
Companies and scales
Most companies use a 1–10 scale. The top grade is rare and expensive.
| Company | Scale and features |
|---|---|
| PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) | Scale 1–10, mostly whole numbers. 10 = Gem Mint, 9 = Mint, 8 = NM-MT. No subgrades. The best-known company; the slab label has a QR code. |
| BGS (Beckett Grading Services) | Scale 1–10 in half points (e.g. 9.5). Four subgrades: Centering, Corners, Edges and Surface. 10 has two tiers, see below. |
| CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) | Scale 1–10 in half points. The top tier is Pristine 10, below which is Gem Mint 10. Strict, clear slabs. |
| SGC | Scale 1–10, half grades also used. Known for its black "tuxedo" label and its history with sports cards, now also Pokémon and other TCG cards. |
| TAG (Technical Authentication & Grading) | Points-based assessment that yields a 1–10 grade. The top tiers are Pristine 10 and Gem Mint 10. A detailed digital report and population data are produced for each card. |
| ACE (ACE Grading) | A European company. Scale 1–10 with subgrades for corners, edges, surface and centering. |
| PCA | A smaller grading company. Scale and slabs vary, so check the company's own practices before buying or selling PCA cards. |
Note: Grades from different companies are not directly comparable. A PSA 10 and a BGS 9.5 may be at a similar level, but the market values the companies differently. Always check completed sales for the same company and the same grade.
Grades: the PSA scale
| Grade | Name |
|---|---|
| 10 | Gem Mint |
| 9 | Mint |
| 8 | Near Mint-Mint |
| 7 | Near Mint |
| 6 | Excellent-Mint |
| 5 | Excellent |
| 4 | Very Good-Excellent |
| 3 | Very Good |
| 2 | Good |
| 1 | Poor |
| A | Authentic (genuine but no grade, e.g. due to damage or alteration) |
BGS: subgrades and Black Label
BGS gives four subgrades (centering, corners, edges, surface) and an overall grade formed from them. The subgrades help you see where a card is strong or weak.
- BGS 9.5 (Gem Mint): a very high level, sometimes comparable in price to a PSA 10.
- BGS 10 Pristine: a nearly perfect card. Usually at least three subgrades are 10 and the fourth 9.5.
- BGS 10 Black Label: all four subgrades are 10. Extremely rare and valuable, and recognised by the black label.
It always pays to check the subgrades, because two 9.5 cards can be of very different quality.
CGC and "Pristine"
CGC's Pristine 10 is the company's top grade, and only a card that is practically perfect, including centering, receives it. Pristine 10 is clearly rarer than Gem Mint 10, so their prices differ. The Pristine designation exists at other companies too (for example TAG and BGS), but the meaning varies from company to company.
Special designations
- Authentic (A): the card is genuine but gets no numerical grade, for example because it has been altered or damaged.
- Qualifiers: older PSA slabs carry markings such as OC (off-center), MK (marks), ST (staining), PD (print defect), OF (out of focus) or MC (miscut), indicating a specific deviation. Such cards usually sell at a lower price.
- Half grades: most companies, such as BGS and CGC, use 0.5-point steps (e.g. 8.5 or 9.5).
Verifying the cert number
Every graded card has a unique cert number printed on the slab's label. With the number you can check on the company's website that the card is genuine and the label details match.
How to check:
- Enter the number in the search field of the company's official cert lookup, for example on the PSA, BGS, CGC, SGC, TAG or ACE websites. Open the site yourself; do not use a link sent by the seller.
- Make sure the result matches the listing: company, card name, set, year, number and grade.
- Compare any images: images may be available, and they should be compared with the photos of the card.
- Check the slab's appearance: label, printing, slab seams and QR code. A suspicious slab is uneven, the label font looks odd or the slab has been opened.
- If the details do not match or the number cannot be found, do not buy and report the listing.
Risks. Counterfeit slabs exist, as does the use of a genuine slab's number for the wrong card. Even a genuine slab can have been opened and the card swapped. So ask for photos of the slab front and back and always verify the number yourself. More: Safe trading.
Sending a card for grading from Finland
- Choose a company and service level. Price and turnaround depend on the card's value and the chosen tier. Check the company's current price list.
- Register and fill in the submission form on the company's website. Some companies have a drop-off point in Europe or an authorised agent that makes sending easier.
- Prepare the cards. Put the card in a penny sleeve and in the rigid holder the company recommends (often semi-rigid, not a toploader). Do not put tape directly on the card.
- Pack carefully. Cards between pieces of cardboard, a tight package, no room to move. See Shipping.
- Ship tracked and insured. Declare the real value. High-value shipments need insurance.
- Customs and VAT. Shipments outside the EU (for example the US and the UK) require a customs declaration, and the return shipment may incur customs duty and VAT. Check with Finnish Customs (Tulli) before sending.
- Wait and check the result. Verify the cert number and the card's condition as soon as you receive the slab.
Selling a graded card on KorttiMarket
When you sell a graded card, state:
- the company, grade and any subgrades;
- the cert number;
- photos of the slab front and back and of the label;
- the condition of the slab (scratches, cracks, damage).
See How selling works and Condition guide.