ABOUT_CARD_GRADING

Grading,
explained

Grading is an independent condition assessment. A card is sent to a grading company, examined for centring, corners, edges and surface, given a number from 1 to 10, then sealed in a tamper-evident case with a unique certificate number. Every slab in the MINT vault is graded by either PSA or ACE.

What the numbers mean

10Gem MintPerfect centering, razor corners, flawless gloss under light.
9MintOne minuscule flaw — a hint of off-centre or the faintest edge wear.
8Near Mint / MintVery light handling: slight surface or corner softness.
7Near MintMinor wear visible on close inspection, still display-grade.
5-6ExcellentNoticeable edge/corner wear or off-centre printing.
1-4Good to PoorHeavy play wear, creasing, or surface damage.

PSA

PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is the most widely recognised grader in the hobby. Its population reports track how many copies of a card exist at each grade, which makes PSA-slabbed cards the easiest to price and the most liquid to resell. A PSA 10 is the reference point most collectors quote, and high-grade PSA slabs usually carry the largest premium over raw copies.

ACE

ACE Grading is a UK-based company that has become the practical choice for British and European collectors: no international shipping, no customs risk and far shorter waits. ACE publishes sub-grades for centring, corners, edges and surface alongside the overall number, so the reasoning behind a grade is transparent. For identical visual condition, ACE slabs generally trade a little below PSA — which is exactly why they can be the better buy.

How they differ

Origin

PSAUS-founded, the longest-running third-party card grader and the global benchmark.

ACEUK-based grader built for the European market, with faster domestic turnaround.

Scale

PSA1-10 whole-number scale, plus the coveted Gem Mint 10.

ACE1-10 scale with published sub-grades for centring, corners, edges and surface.

Sub-grades

PSAReported only on selected service tiers; the headline number does the talking.

ACESub-grades shown as standard, so you can see exactly why a card landed where it did.

Slab

PSAThicker sonically-sealed case with the familiar red label.

ACESlimmer case with a clear label and a scannable certificate code.

Market

PSADeepest resale liquidity worldwide; usually commands the highest premium at 9-10.

ACEGrowing UK/EU following, typically better value for the same visual condition.

Verification

PSAEvery cert looks up against PSA's public population report.

ACEEvery cert looks up against ACE's online verification lookup.

Which should you buy?

If you are buying as a long-term investment or plan to resell globally, PSA gives you the widest market. If you are collecting for display or want the most card for your money in the UK, ACE offers the same condition confidence at a friendlier price. Both are tamper-evident, both are verifiable by certificate number, and both are listed clearly on every product in our vault next to the grade.

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