Is PSA still 60/40?
No, the strict 60/40 rule for a PSA 10 is largely gone; PSA updated its standards in early 2025, requiring closer to 55/45 centering for Gem Mint 10s, while PSA 9s now require 60/40 or better, although graders retain some discretion for "eye appeal," making overall standards tougher and reducing the number of 10s.Does PSA grade 60-40?
The tighter centering requirement trickles down the PSA grading scale: a 9 now requires 60/40 (previous gem criteria); an 8 requires 65/35, and so on.Did PSA change their grading?
Earlier this year, PSA's website indicated new grading standards, though that was only for centering requirements for top grades (from a 60/40 tolerance to just 55/45). However, many dealers and high-level collectors believe all the standards now are tougher, not just centering.Is PSA 60/40 or 55-45?
Centering must be approximately 60/40 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.Can you get a PSA 10 with 60/40 centering?
Yes, traditionally a PSA 10 Gem Mint card could have 60/40 front centering and 75/25 back centering, but PSA updated its standards in early 2025, generally requiring closer to 55/45 front centering, though a very slight deviation might be overlooked for perfect cards at the grader's discretion, making 60/40 a riskier bet for a 10 now. While 60/40 was the old norm, the new guidelines lean stricter for that top grade, emphasizing eye appeal and stricter measurements.Did PSA (Secretly) Change their Grading Standards?
How to tell if a card will be a PSA 10?
To tell if a card will be a PSA 10 (Gem Mint), look for a virtually flawless card: sharp, perfect corners, full original gloss, perfect centering (around 55/45 front, 75/25 back as of early 2025), and no surface scratches, stains, dents, or print lines, even under magnification, using light to check for flaws and a blacklight for "glowing" white spots. If it has any easily visible defects, it's likely a 9 or lower, so examine it closely from all angles.How strict is PSA on centering?
The image must be centered on the card within a tolerance not to exceed approximately 55/45 to 60/40 percent on the front, and 75/25 percent on the reverse." And if you look at it now it says: "A PSA Gem Mint 10 card is a virtually perfect card.How close is a CGC 10 to a PSA 10?
CGC 10 GEM MINT is the equivalent of a PSA 9. PSA has their 10 grade only as one tier (PSA 10). As CGC 10 white label is closer to a PSA 9 condition as it is techinically a 9+. A CGC 10 pristine is considered a PSA 10 or higher (BGS black label) in a 10+ condition.How long to wait between PSA tests?
The wait time between PSA tests varies greatly, from a few weeks (4-6) for borderline results or infections, to 1-4 years for routine screening based on your initial PSA level, to every 3-6 months after cancer treatment or a negative biopsy, depending on your doctor's guidance and risk factors. Key factors influencing the interval include initial PSA value, age, risk level, presence of infection, recent ejaculation, and post-treatment monitoring.Is PSA at Collect a Con?
Yes, PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) attends Collect-A-Con events to accept submissions for grading and authentication, but typically not for immediate, on-site grading; you drop off your items, and they handle the process, often through an authorized dealer or partner for streamlined submissions, sometimes with autograph authentication available on-site.Is Gamestop still doing PSA grading?
Yes, GameStop still offers PSA grading for trading cards through a partnership where they act as an authorized drop-off point, handling submission, packaging, and return for standard-sized sports and gaming cards, making it easier for customers to send cards to PSA without direct membership, though experience can vary by store location.Do collectors prefer CGC or PSA?
PSA is the most well-known card grading company, having graded cards since 1991. It is the gold standard for sports and Pokémon card collectors.Is 40 out of 60 a passing grade?
Numerical and letter gradesIn primary and secondary schools, a D is usually the lowest passing grade. However, there are some schools that consider a C the lowest passing grade, so the general standard is that anything below a 60% or 70% is failing, depending on the grading scale.
Is 40 out of 60 a good mark?
Thus, at the University of Cape Town and the University of South Africa (UNISA), the percentages are calibrated as follows: a 1st class pass is given for 75% and above, a second (division one) for 70 - 74%, a second (division two) for 60%-69%, and a third for 50 - 59%. Any lower than 40% is a fail.Are CGC 9.5 now 10s?
Yes, CGC Cards updated their grading scale in 2023, making their former Gem Mint 9.5s equivalent to the new Gem Mint 10 grade, with many collectors taking advantage of a reholder special to convert them, effectively making old 9.5s new 10s in their system. While the old blue-label 9.5s are now considered 10s, CGC also introduced a higher "Pristine 10" for perfect cards, so a "true" perfect grade now often means a Pristine 10, but the 9.5s are generally recognized as the standard Gem Mint 10.Why is CGC so much cheaper than PSA?
CGC is often cheaper than PSA because PSA holds significantly higher market value due to its established brand, longer history, and perceived stricter standards for top grades (like PSA 10), leading to greater scarcity and resale premiums, while CGC offers lower prices, faster service, and modern sub-grades, attracting collectors seeking affordability and detailed condition reports, even if CGC 10s don't command the same resale prices as PSA 10s.Who grades tougher, PSA or SGC?
Yes, generally SGC is considered tougher (grades harder) than PSA, especially for top grades like 10s, with many collectors finding SGC 9.5s equivalent to or better than PSA 10s due to stricter centering and consistency, though PSA has also tightened standards recently, leading to more nuanced grading. SGC's consistency in grading down rather than using qualifiers (like PSA's MK/MC) means an SGC 9.5 often represents a card that might have just squeaked into a PSA 10, and SGC's lower gem rates often support its reputation for being more stringent, especially on vintage cards.Which grading company is most lenient on centering?
Historically, PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) has been considered the most lenient on centering, often allowing for slightly off-center cards to achieve higher grades like a Gem Mint 10 (e.g., 60/40 front, 75/25 back) compared to stricter competitors like Beckett (BGS), which aims for perfect 50/50, but even PSA tightened standards in early 2025 to 55/45 front, with SGC falling in the middle. However, grading can be subjective, and recent changes mean PSA is less lenient than it used to be, with other companies like Edge Grading showing more relaxed back centering rules.Can a PSA 9 be off center?
A PSA Mint 9 is a superb condition card that exhibits only one of the following minor flaws: a very slight wax stain on reverse, a minor printing imperfection or slightly off-white borders. Centering must be approximately 60/40 to 65/35 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.Can you get a PSA 10 with a white spot?
You might get a PSA 10 with a tiny white spot, especially if it's a microscopic printing flaw, only visible under light, or on the border/back, but it's risky because PSA 10 is for Gem Mint cards needing flawlessness, so even slight whitening or a noticeable dot often drops a card to a PSA 9, depending heavily on the grader's discretion and other card aspects like centering.How likely is a card to be PSA-10?
The odds of getting a PSA 10 vary wildly but generally range from difficult to very rare, depending heavily on the card's age, set, and your ability to find a truly flawless example, with rates around 15-40% in some modern submissions, but much lower for vintage; expect more 9s than 10s, as PSA's standards are strict, requiring sharp corners, perfect gloss, and precise centering (now ~55/45), making truly "perfect" cards uncommon even when fresh from packs.What should a PSA 10 look like?
For a PSA 10, centering should be within a tolerance of approximately 55/45 to 60/40 percent on the front, and 75/25 percent on the back. Poor centering can adversely impact a card's value. Corners: All four corners must be sharp and well-defined. Any wear, rounding, or fraying can significantly impact the grade.Can you get a PSA 10 with bad centering?
Yes, you can get a PSA 10 with less-than-perfect centering, but it's difficult and depends heavily on the specific card and grader, as standards have tightened to around 55/45 front centering (with 60/40 sometimes accepted) and 75/25 back centering for a Gem Mint 10, requiring all other aspects (corners, surface, gloss) to be virtually flawless to compensate. While some off-centered cards get 10s, especially older ones, newer submissions with noticeable centering issues usually get 9s or lower, notes r/PokeInvesting on Reddit.
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