At Legacy Card Grading, we use a clear 1–10 grading scale to assess the condition of trading cards.
Every card is individually examined by our grading team, with the final grade reflecting the card’s overall condition. Each card is assessed across the key areas of centring, corners, edges and surface.
The definitions below provide a general guide to the condition you can expect from each Legacy grade.
10 — GEM MINT — GEM MT
An exceptional trading card displaying outstanding overall condition.
A Gem Mint 10 represents a card with exceptional visual presentation and only the most insignificant manufacturing or handling imperfections, if any.
Cards at this grade are expected to display exceptional corners, clean edges, an excellent surface and centring within Legacy’s accepted tolerances.
A Grade 10 represents the highest standard within the Legacy TCG grading scale.
9 — MINT
A superb trading card in outstanding condition with only very minor imperfections.
A Mint 9 may display one or a small number of minor characteristics that prevent the card from achieving Gem Mint status while still retaining excellent overall eye appeal.
This may include extremely minor corner, edge or surface wear, a small print-related imperfection or slight centring variation.
8 — NEAR MINT-MINT — NM-MT
A high-quality trading card displaying only minor signs of wear or handling.
A Near Mint-Mint 8 remains visually impressive but may contain several minor imperfections that become noticeable upon closer examination.
These may include minor edge or corner wear, light surface imperfections, small print-related characteristics or centring outside that normally expected of higher grades.
7 — NEAR MINT — NM
A well-preserved trading card with light but noticeable signs of wear.
A Near Mint 7 maintains strong overall presentation while showing several minor defects or one more noticeable condition issue.
This may include light edge whitening, minor corner wear, surface marks, light scratches or noticeable centring issues.
6 — EXCELLENT-MINT — EX-MT
An attractive trading card showing moderate signs of handling or wear while retaining good overall presentation.
An Excellent-Mint 6 may display several visible imperfections, although these should not heavily detract from the overall appearance of the card.
This may include moderate edge or corner wear, visible surface marks, scratches, print imperfections, whitening or centring issues.
5 — EXCELLENT — EX
A trading card showing clear signs of previous handling and wear while remaining presentable.
An Excellent 5 will normally display multiple noticeable imperfections across one or more grading areas.
This may include noticeable edge whitening, corner wear, surface scratches, scuffing, print wear or other moderate condition issues.
4 — VERY GOOD-EXCELLENT — VG-EX
A trading card with significant visible wear but which still maintains reasonable overall presentation.
A Very Good-Excellent 4 may exhibit numerous defects accumulated through handling, storage or age.
This may include significant corner and edge wear, scratching, surface wear, whitening, scuffing, creasing or other clearly visible defects.
3 — VERY GOOD — VG
A heavily handled trading card displaying substantial wear.
A Very Good 3 remains identifiable and collectable but shows considerable evidence of previous handling, storage or age.
This may include heavy edge and corner wear, substantial whitening, scratching, surface wear, creasing or other significant defects.
2 — GOOD
A heavily worn trading card with major condition issues.
A Good 2 displays extensive wear and may contain several significant defects while remaining substantially complete and identifiable.
This may include heavy surface damage, substantial edge and corner wear, deep scratching, significant creasing, staining or other major defects.
1 — POOR
A trading card in severely worn or damaged condition.
A Poor 1 represents the lowest numerical grade within the Legacy TCG grading scale. The card remains identifiable but displays extensive damage, deterioration or significant condition issues.
This may include severe creasing, extensive surface damage, heavy edge and corner wear, staining, tears, major loss of surface material or other substantial defects.
How We Determine a Grade
Every trading card submitted to Legacy Card Grading is assessed individually. A final grade is not determined by one defect alone. Our graders consider the severity, quantity and location of any imperfections alongside the card’s overall condition and presentation.
Legacy assesses four principal grading areas:
Centring • Corners • Edges • Surface
Each area is carefully examined and contributes to the card’s overall assessment. These individual assessments are displayed as subgrades on the card’s Legacy certification report, providing a clearer breakdown of how the final grade was determined.
Our Centring Allowance — 55/45
Centring is an important part of the Legacy grading process. However, a card does not need to be perfectly 50/50 centred to achieve a high grade.
Legacy uses a 55/45 centring allowance when assessing trading cards for our highest grades. This allows for the small variations in centring that can naturally occur during the manufacturing and cutting process.
A card that falls within our 55/45 centring tolerance may still be eligible for our highest grades, provided it also meets the required standards for Corners, Edges and Surface.
Cards that fall outside our 55/45 tolerance may receive a lower Centring subgrade, which can influence the final overall grade awarded to the card.
Centring is never considered in isolation. The final grade reflects the condition of the card as a whole, with Centring, Corners, Edges and Surface all contributing to the assessment.
Our aim is to provide collectors with a grading standard that is clear, consistent and transparent, while recognising the natural manufacturing tolerances found across both modern and vintage trading cards.
Understanding TCG Card Grading
No two trading cards are exactly alike. Manufacturing characteristics, age, storage, handling and previous use can all influence a card’s condition.
The grade assigned by Legacy represents our professional assessment of the card in the condition presented to us at the time of grading.
Your Legacy certification report provides additional information about the card and its assessment, including subgrades, grading notes and detailed defect images, helping you understand the condition characteristics identified during the grading process.
A Grade Is More Than a Number
Our aim is to give collectors more than simply a numerical grade.
Every Legacy graded card is supported by a detailed certification record, giving collectors access to the grading information associated with their card.
Compatible Legacy slabs also feature our Slab Tap Technology, allowing the card’s certification information to be accessed directly from the slab with a simple tap of a compatible smartphone.
No app required. Simply tap, view and verify.
Your Cards. Your Collection. Your Legacy.