Iconic Card Grading Levels

Your cards are captured with high-resolution, multi-angle imaging. Our computer-vision models analyze centering, corners, edges, and surface, detecting micro-defects (scratches, print lines, dimples) that are easy to miss. The system then assigns a consistent, data-driven grade (1-10). Finally, each card is sealed in our tamper-evident, crystal-clear Iconic slab with a label.

Why Iconic Grading AI is better

  • Consistency: Same criteria, every card, every time—no human fatigue or subjectivity.
  • Precision: Pixel-level measurements for centering and micro-defects.
  • Speed & Scale: Faster turnaround without sacrificing accuracy.

GRADE LEVEL

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

10 – Pristine

Virtually Perfect

As close to flawless as a card gets. Corners are needle-sharp, edges are clean with no chipping or whitening, and the original surface luster is fully intact. The image presents crisp and undistorted with outstanding eye appeal. No staining of any kind is permitted. Minor, factory-borne print specks or subtle production anomalies may be present only if they are extremely slight and do not diminish overall presentation.

Tolerances & Metrics

  • Centering: Front 55/45 or better; Back 75/25 or better (measured by computer-vision).
  • Corners & Edges: No visible wear; no frays, nicks, or whitening under close inspection.
  • Surface: Clear of scratches, dimples, or print lines; full gloss/luster retained.
  • Print: Tiny production variances allowed only when imperceptible at normal viewing distance.

Why it’s Iconic: AI-driven, pixel-level analysis confirms centering and flags micro-defects, ensuring a consistent, data-backed Pristine 10 grade.

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9 – Mint

Superb Condition

Nearly perfect at first glance with standout eye appeal. Corners remain sharp with only microscopic softening possible at a tip or two; edges are clean with at most a tiny fleck under magnification. Surface gloss is strong and color/registration are crisp. No staining or creasing is permitted. Minor, factory-borne print specks or a very faint line may be acceptable only if they do not distract.

Tolerances & Metrics

  • Centering: Front 60/40 or better; Back 90/10 or better (validated by computer-vision).
  • Corners & Edges: Minute tip touch or slight edge micro-nick allowed; no blunt corners, chips, or whitening visible at normal viewing.
  • Surface: Clean with full or near-full gloss; subtle micro-scratch or print tick may be present under bright light; no dents or dimples.
  • Print/Focus: Strong registration; tiny factory variance acceptable if overall presentation remains mint.

Why it’s Iconic: AI-driven measurements keep Mint 9 within a narrow band just below Pristine—delivering repeatable, data-backed results without subjective drift.

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8 – Near Mint-Mint

High-End With Minor Flaws

Presents mint at first glance, but closer inspection may reveal very small issues. Corners can show slight feathering at one or two tips; edges may display a tiny fleck. Surface gloss remains strong, with allowance for a minor factory print variance. Borders may be slightly off-white. A trace wax transfer on the reverse is acceptable if faint and non-distracting.

Tolerances & Metrics

  • Centering: Front 65/35 or better; Back 90/10 or better (verified by computer-vision).
  • Corners & Edges: Light tip wear or micro-fray allowed; no crushed or severely blunted corners.
  • Surface: Strong gloss; a faint print speck/line permitted; no creases, wrinkles, or dents.
  • Back/Residue: Very slight wax evidence on reverse acceptable if minimal and unobtrusive.
  • Borders/Registration: Slight off-white toning allowed; image remains crisp and well-registered.

Why it’s Iconic: AI measurements enforce tight centering and surface thresholds, delivering consistent, data-backed NM-MT results without subjective drift.

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7 – Near Mint

Strong Eye Appeal, Light Wear

Presents well with minor, observable wear under close inspection. Corners may show slight feathering on a few tips and edges can have subtle ticks. Surface retains most original gloss, though a light, uniform rub or small, factory print speck may be seen. Slight registration softness (focus) can be present. A faint wax transfer on the reverse only is acceptable; no front staining.

Tolerances & Metrics

  • Centering: Front 70/30 or better; Back 90/10 or better (verified by computer-vision).
  • Corners & Edges: Minor tip wear/fray allowed; no crushed or severely blunted corners.
  • Surface: Most gloss intact; light overall rub acceptable; no creases, wrinkles, or dents.
  • Print/Focus: Small factory speck/line and slight out-of-register focus permissible if not distracting.
  • Back/Residue: Slight wax evidence permitted on back only; none on front.

Why it’s Iconic: AI scoring quantifies centering, corner sharpness, and micro-defects to keep Near Mint 7 results consistent across submissions.

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6 – Excellent

Solid Card with Noticeable Minor Wear

Overall eye appeal remains good, but light to moderate wear and/or small factory variances are evident on inspection. Corners can show progressive softening or slight fray, and edges may exhibit tiny nicks or very slight notching. Surface may have a fine, light scratch visible in strong or raking light, and some loss of original gloss is acceptable. Slight registration softness (focus) or a minor print blemish may be present. Borders can be slightly off-white. A faint wax transfer on the reverse is permissible.

Tolerances & Metrics

  • Centering: Front 80/20 or better; Back 90/10 or better (validated by computer-vision).
  • Corners & Edges: Noticeable tip softening or micro-fray; very slight edge notches allowed; no severely blunted corners.
  • Surface: Light scratch or small production speck acceptable; some gloss loss permitted; no creases, wrinkles, or dents that break the surface.
  • Print/Focus: Minor print blemish and slight out-of-register focus acceptable if overall presentation remains strong.
  • Back/Residue: Minor wax evidence on back only; none on the front.

Why it’s Iconic: AI scoring maps gloss, detects micro-notches, and measures centering precisely—delivering a consistent, data-backed Excellent 6 without subjective drift.

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5 – Great

Collectible with Noticeable Wear

Solid overall presentation with evident, light-to-moderate wear. Corners show minor rounding that’s now apparent at normal viewing. Edges may exhibit small chips or flecks. Surface wear and/or factory print variances are more visible, with several light scratches detectable under close inspection. Gloss is reduced but still present. Slight registration softness (focus) is permissible. Borders may be slightly off-white.

Tolerances & Metrics

  • Centering: Front 85/15 or better; Back 90/10 or better (computer-vision verified).
  • Corners & Edges: Minor corner rounding evident; small edge chipping allowed; no severe corner crush.
  • Surface: Multiple light scratches or scuffs permissible if not distracting; moderate gloss loss acceptable; no surface-breaking creases.
  • Print/Focus: Minor print blemish and slight out-of-register focus allowed if eye appeal remains sound.
  • Borders: Off-white toning acceptable.

Why it’s Iconic: AI quantifies corner radii, edge micro-chips, centering, and surface micro-scratches—delivering a consistent, data-backed Great 5 every time.

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4 – Very Good

Noticeable Wear, Still Presentable

Clearly shows handling but remains solid overall. Corners display visible rounding, and edges may have minor fray or tiny nicks. Surface wear is apparent but modest, with light scuffing or fine scratches; a portion of the original gloss is still present. Borders can be slightly off-white. A light crease may be visible but should not dominate the card’s presentation.

Tolerances & Metrics

  • Centering: Front 85/15 or better; Back 90/10 or better (computer-vision verified).
  • Corners & Edges: Rounded tips allowed; minor edge wear/chipping permissible; no missing paper.
  • Surface: Noticeable rub/scuffing and light scratches acceptable; some gloss retained; single light crease allowed (heavy or multiple creases not permitted).
  • Print/Focus: Minor print specks or slight registration softness acceptable if overall appeal stays intact.
  • Borders: Slight off-white toning permitted.

Why it’s Iconic: AI grading quantifies corner rounding, edge wear, centering, and surface marks—delivering a consistent, data-backed Very Good 4 without subjective drift.

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3 – Good

Heavy Wear, Structurally Sound

Clearly handled with visible corner rounding (not extreme) and noticeable edge wear. Surface shows apparent scuffing with light scratches and substantial gloss loss. Slight registration softness (focus) is acceptable. Borders may display yellowing or discoloration. A visible crease is permitted if it doesn’t split the stock. Factory print defects may be present. Light staining on the front is allowable, and wax staining on the back may be more pronounced.

Tolerances & Metrics

  • Centering: Front 90/10 or better; Back 90/10 or better (AI-verified).
  • Corners & Edges: Distinct rounding and edge wear expected; small chips/flecks allowed; no missing pieces.
  • Surface: General scuffing and several light scratches acceptable; gloss largely diminished; crease permitted if non-splitting.
  • Print/Focus: Off-register focus and factory print blemishes permissible.
  • Borders/Color: Yellowing or mild discoloration allowed.
  • Stains/Residue: Light front stain permissible; wax residue on reverse may be evident.

Why it’s Iconic: AI quantifies corner radius, edge wear, crease visibility, staining, and centering—delivering a consistent, data-backed Good 3 across submissions.

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2 – Fair

Heavily Worn, Fully Intact

Significant handling is evident. Corners show heavy rounding, and obvious surface wear is visible at a glance. The front may exhibit scratches, scuffs, light stains, and minor color flake/paper loss along edges. Multiple creases are acceptable. Original gloss is typically absent, and strong toning/discoloration may be present.

Tolerances & Metrics

  • Centering: Front 90/10 or better; Back 90/10 or better (AI-verified).
  • Corners & Edges: Pronounced rounding; edge chipping/flaking allowed; no missing chunks.
  • Surface: Several creases permitted if the stock remains intact; heavy rub/scuffing expected; gloss largely gone.
  • Print/Focus: Noticeable registration issues and factory print defects permissible.
  • Borders/Color: Considerable discoloration/toning allowed.
  • Stains/Residue: Light front stains and more evident back residue acceptable.

Why it’s Iconic: Computer-vision grading quantifies corner radius, crease count/length, stain area, and centering—delivering a consistent, data-backed Fair 2 every time.

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1 – Poor

Severely Damaged, Barely Presentable

Major defects dominate and overall eye appeal is nearly gone. Corners are heavily rounded with torn or frayed edges; portions of paper may be missing in small areas. Creasing is extensive—often deep enough to show fiber breaks—and the surface can exhibit heavy scuffing, grime, or extreme discoloration. The image and text may be difficult to make out from either side. Warping or other structural distortion can be present.

Tolerances & Metrics

  • Centering: Not a limiting factor at this grade; card must remain encapsulable and identifiable.
  • Corners & Edges: Extreme rounding, tears, and small areas of paper loss permitted.
  • Surface: Multiple heavy creases, severe scuffing, and widespread staining/soiling allowed; gloss typically absent.
  • Legibility: Portions of image/text may be obscured but the card must be recognizable.
  • Structure: Warping/bending acceptable if the card remains intact enough to slab.

Why it’s Iconic: AI quantifies crease severity, stain coverage, paper loss, and legibility—providing a consistent, data-backed Poor 1 classification even at the most damaged end of the scale.

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