Trading cards are not just for kids nowadays. A lot of money revolves around them, and there are some significant industries related to them. The fact that you have actual multi-national companies that grade trade cards and assess their worth should give you an idea of big this business is. For instance, NBA trading cards, Magic the Gathering Cards, or Pokemon Cards can sell for quite a lot.
Trading cards are a significant competitor to classical card games in casinos like poker, blackjack, etc. However, those are remaining competitive by going digital and online (like online slots canada real money websites). Easier to play looks much more interesting than trading cards, and you can’t accidentally damage the cards. So even while trading cards did receive a lot of increased attention during these unique times, classical casino and slot games also remained competitive and enjoyed by millions by focusing more on their online offer.
Today we present how the biggest names in the grading industry rate Pokemon cards. We are talking about Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), Certified Guaranty Company (CGC), and Beckett Grading Services (BGS).
The Scale
Pokemon cards are graded on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest card grade. Keep in mind that the ratings might differ between the two companies, but it doesn’t mean they are equally worthy. For example, a GEM-MT 10 Charizard (PSA graded) is worth more than a Pristine 10 Charizard (CGC graded). The reason is that PSA has a slightly higher reputation and is more trusted when compared to CGC.
The Metrics Used for Grading
The most important aspect of grading is the surface. Cards get placed under the microscope in search of microtears and stains. If the card gets damaged on the surface, there is little point in having it graded since it will sell for less than the assessment cost.
Next are the edges. The less whitening there is the less ware usage, which is a significant plus. Although less important than the surface, cards with no whitening corners and sharper edges will be worth more.
Finally, the last evaluation part is the printing. How excellent and accurate is the printing quality. Print quality is not something collectors can do anything about, as the manufacturers do this, but no one should expect to get much money for a card with defects (like non-centred images, etc.) even if they took great care of them.
What to Do Before Grading?
Before a person sends their cards to be graded by one of these companies, they should do three things. First, they should research which of their cards are rare (and worth much) and share. As a Pokemon card enthusiast, you should know which cards are rare and which are common. Second, they should examine their cards to in what condition they are. A magnifying glass or even a jeweller’s loupe should do the trick. Finally, have an HD photo of the cards you are sending for grading. It is an insurance policy if something gets damaged during the grading process.
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