Card Condition - Grading

Card Condition - Grading

1. Our approach to grading

At Mint2Play, we strive to apply demanding, consistent and transparent evaluation standards, drawing inspiration from the most widely recognised practices in the trading card market, including those used by companies such as PSA, Beckett and CGC.

Each card in our inventory is examined carefully using an internal review framework based on several key visual criteria:

  • centering
  • corners
  • edges, including whitening
  • surface
  • overall state of preservation

Our goal is to provide a description that is as accurate and useful as possible for the buyer, taking into account the physical reality of each card.

However, Mint2Play is not an officially certified grading company.
Our evaluations are internal assessments provided for information purposes only. They do not replace an official grade issued by a specialised third-party grading company.

2. Important notice

Cards described as "Mint", "Near Mint", or under any other Mint2Play category may not receive exactly the same grade from an officially recognised professional grading company.

Differences between our assessment and that of a third-party organisation are normal, expected and inherent to the distinction between:

  • an internal visual assessment
  • and an official grade assigned using the specific protocols, tolerance thresholds and tools of each specialised company

The buyer therefore purchases the card as described by Mint2Play and, where available, as illustrated on the website, and not on the basis of any guarantee of an official third-party grade.

3. Mint2Play reference scale

The descriptions below are intended as a reference guide to help buyers understand our assessment of a card's overall condition.

Any possible correspondence with third-party grading scores is provided for guidance only, as a reading aid. It does not constitute a contractual commitment or a promise of outcome.

Mint (M)

Virtually perfect condition. The card shows little to no visible wear.

Corners: very clean, with barely perceptible wear
Edges: sharp lines, no or almost no visible whitening
Surface: very clean, with preserved gloss and very few or no visible flaws
Centering: very good to excellent to the naked eye
Creases, scratches, marks: no significant visible defect
Typical example: a freshly pulled card, handled carefully, protected quickly and never played.

Indicative benchmark: premium condition, close to high grading standards.

Near Mint / Mint (NM/M)

Excellent condition. The card shows very light, minor and barely visible wear.

Corners: very slightly touched, with no pronounced wear
Edges: very limited micro-wear or whitening in some areas
Surface: very good overall appearance, possible light micro-scratch or discreet mark
Centering: visually very good
Creases, marks: no crease, no structural defect
Typical example: a very well-preserved card with only minimal signs of handling or storage.

Indicative benchmark: high-end condition with very limited defects.

Near Mint (NM)

Very good condition. The card shows light but visible signs of wear upon inspection.

Corners: slight visible wear
Edges: light or discreet whitening possible
Surface: some minor marks or micro-scratches possible
Centering: good to very good visually
Creases, marks: no structural crease, light storage marks possible
Typical example: a carefully kept card with moderate handling but no major defect.

Indicative benchmark: very attractive overall condition, suitable for both collection and careful play.

Excellent (EX)

Good condition with light to moderate wear, while still remaining presentable and playable.

Corners: noticeable but reasonable wear
Edges: visible whitening
Surface: visible scratches or marks upon inspection
Centering: acceptable
Creases, marks: small marks possible

Very Good (VG)

Average condition with moderate wear.

Corners: marked wear
Edges: significant whitening
Surface: visible defects, possible scratches or loss of gloss
Creases, marks: several visible marks or defects possible

Good (G)

Worn condition with visible defects, but the card remains identifiable and usable.

Corners: heavily worn
Edges: significant to heavy whitening
Surface: obvious scratches and defects
Creases, marks: several apparent defects possible

Fair (F)

Very worn condition.

Corners: heavily worn, sometimes damaged
Edges: very heavy wear
Surface: multiple defects
Creases, marks: visible damage possible

Poor (P)

Poor condition, heavily degraded.

The card has significant damage and no longer fits a premium preservation standard.

4. Our quality control process

Each Mint2Play card is subject to a careful visual inspection based on a rigorous internal method.

We check in particular:

  • overall alignment and visual centering
  • the condition of the corners
  • the condition of the edges and any whitening
  • the surface, scratches, marks or visible micro-defects
  • the overall state of preservation

When relevant, photographs are taken to illustrate the actual condition of the card.

Even with a serious and demanding approach, a human visual evaluation remains different from an official grade issued by a specialised company using its own tools, protocols and analysis methods.

5. Centering and edges

Centering refers to the visual balance of the image in relation to the card's borders.

Whitening refers to visible wear on the edges or corners, often caused by storage, handling or ageing.

At Mint2Play, centering and edges are visually assessed as important elements of a card's overall condition.

A card showing severe misalignment, heavy whitening or overly visible wear will generally not be classified in the highest condition tiers, unless a specific mention is clearly stated on the product page.

6. Protection and presentation

Cards shipped by Mint2Play are protected in a manner appropriate to their nature and value.

Depending on the case, this may include:

  • penny sleeve
  • rigid toploader
  • additional transport protection suited to shipping

The level of protection used for shipping does not alter the card's intrinsic condition.

7. Illustrations, photographs and descriptions - transparency

The visuals published on the website are intended to represent as faithfully as possible the cards offered for sale.

Unless otherwise stated, the visuals displayed are faithful illustrations of the relevant card and not contractual photographs of the exact copy that will be shipped.

In some cases, photographs may be used to present certain specific variants or visual particularities, for example: Reverse. When a photograph is displayed, its purpose is to illustrate the product offered as accurately as possible, without guaranteeing, unless expressly stated, that it is the exact copy that will be sent.

Furthermore, when the same product is available in multiple copies in an identical or equivalent condition, for example: M, NM, EX, etc., the copy shipped may not be the one shown in the online visual. However, the condition of the delivered card will match the condition stated on the product page.

Mint2Play strives to provide honest, consistent and as accurate as possible descriptions. Nevertheless, assessing the condition of a physical card necessarily involves a degree of judgment, especially because visual criteria may vary depending on:

  • lighting;
  • the viewing angle;
  • the quality or settings of the screen used;
  • each person's individual sensitivity of assessment.

By validating the order, the buyer acknowledges that the visual shown has an informational and illustrative value, and that condition assessment is based above all on the stated grade and the associated description.

8. Claims regarding the condition of a received card

If you believe that a card received is in a condition materially different from the one stated, we invite you to consult the "Returns and refunds" page and then contact us within 48 hours of delivery, with clear and usable photographs.

In the event of an obvious description error, Mint2Play will offer a solution appropriate to the situation.

However, a claim based solely on the fact that a third-party grading company might potentially assign a different score cannot be accepted as such. Mint2Play does not provide official third-party grading.

9. Difference between Mint2Play grading and professional grading

Professional grading companies apply their own methodologies, tolerance thresholds, inspection tools and internal criteria.

It is therefore possible that a card judged "Mint" or "Near Mint" by Mint2Play may receive a different grade from PSA, Beckett, CGC or any other organisation.

This difference is normal and part of the usual functioning of the market. Mint2Play's evaluation is an internal descriptive assessment intended to inform the buyer, not to replace an official certification.

10. Conclusion

Mint2Play seeks to provide a serious, consistent and transparent reading of card condition, with high standards and a constant focus on clarity for the buyer.

Our objective is not to reproduce an official certification, but to offer an honest, useful and reassuring description to help everyone buy with full knowledge of the facts.

Last updated: 26/02/2026