CGC Cards has responded to focus group requests by creating luxurious gold labels deserving of its highest grade — Pristine 10.
In July, CSG and its subsidiary will merge into one unified entity. They will introduce a more accessible grading scale and label system and do away with subgrades altogether.
What is CGC?
CGC is the go-to grading and authentication company for trading cards, comic books, and pop culture collectibles worldwide. Their certifications are widely acclaimed among collectors and dealers alike – their credentials being considered top of their class by collectors and dealers alike. CGC belongs to Certified Collectibles Group and other top grading/authentication services, including gold coins, stamps, and space memorabilia grading/authentication companies.
CGC does a commendable job of protecting graded cards, yet its efforts may still fall short in certain instances. There have been cases of counterfeit slabs sneaking past CGC’s inspection procedures over time; nevertheless, for the most part, CGC has made entry into the fake markets complex by screening slabs before leaving its facilities.
CGC not only guarantees that graded cards are authentic but they are also in optimal condition. This is particularly important for rare and valuable cards; for instance, defects that reduce value will receive lower grades while flawless cards will receive high ones.
Centering is another factor that determines a card’s grade. CGC tends to be less stringent on centering requirements than PSA for rare alphas; however, they remain relatively strict for alpha rares. Furthermore, CGC allows more generous surface scores for cards containing print dots or splotches that affect most copies in a particular run than PSA would do so
Before, some collectors were wary about sending their comic books to CGC for grading. Over time, most have come to accept CGC’s grading system and quality standards, one reason being the protective case provided by them can help protect a comic from most damage; when dropped onto its protective case, for instance, CGC can absorb most of the impact, leaving your investment intact! Furthermore, CGC offers reholstering services at an additional charge which further secures your investment.
How does CGC grade cards?
At Grading Services of North America (GSNA), each card is carefully examined by at least two professional graders, who evaluate all aspects of its condition, including centering, edges and surface condition. Graders also look out for signs of alteration (including artist alterations), counterfeiting, restoration, or cleaning, and signs of alteration ( including artist alterations), counterfeiting repair, or cleaning. Any card that fails to meet minimum grading standards is returned to its submitter with an “Unavailable for Grading” status before being enclosed within a protective, tamper-evident holder that helps preserve value while protecting them against damage.
CGC initially focused solely on comic book grading; however, their success led them to expand into other types of collectibles including trading cards, coins, and paper currency grading services.
CGC has become an industry leader in pop culture collectible grading. Their certification process has graded over 10 million pieces and earned themselves a reputation for being the gold standard in grading. Other subsidiaries include Certified Collectibles Group specializing in sports cards, and Collector’s Security Corporation, providing tamper-evident security holders for collectibles.
CGC provides services beyond trading card grading to include video games, home videos, comic books, and magazines and delivers Witness Series for autographed items.
CGC currently accepts submissions of TCGs, sports cards, and non-sports cards from nearly every game available – TCGs, sports cards, and non-sports cards alike! CGC also grades the most popular modern and retro video games like Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh!
CGC Cards’ recent name change from CCG to CGC Cards is part of its more significant effort to streamline the grading experience for TCG collectors. Before its implementation, the submission process at CCG could be confusing and time-consuming; now, its new, unified system will simplify submission and offer improvements such as a more lenient alpha corner grading scale and the debut of Gem Mint 10 grade cards.
TCG collectors will welcome another change that CGC has implemented: eliminating subgrades. This change allows collectors to more accurately compare cards and ensure they receive the highest grade available for their collection. Furthermore, CGC will introduce a brand-new gold label -Pristine 10- inspired by focus group requests; its sleek yet elegant design perfectly captures its high-end status.
Why is CGC better than PSA?
CGC is widely recognized among collectors as an industry-leading brand for their high-quality tamper-evident holders, which offer protection and easy identification via QR code scanning, which authenticate the authenticity of cards stored therein. They also offer restoration/repair services, rare card encapsulation/encapsulation, and authentication of counterfeits.
The company’s new label focuses more on collectibles with its clean design, offering more information about their history. This new version features a serial number, verification code, and digital image of the collectible compared to previous labels, which were difficult to read and appeared as though applied with glue.
No matter whether you’re buying or selling cards, the new CGC label provides a clear indication of their quality and value. Please keep in mind that not all cards qualify for certification – for clarification about any process or label questions, contact the company directly.
CGC has long been considered an authority in the collectibles industry, providing authentication of coins and trading card grading services. Recently, however, they expanded to cover sports cards and non-sports collectibles – although this expansion has met with mixed responses from collectors and retailers. Some collectors claim CGC overinflates comic book prices to an unaffordable level for many collectors.
CGC has also been scrutinized for failing to be transparent with its customers regarding restoration. Many dealers would perform restoration work before selling comics to buyers without disclosing these changes – leaving many collectors shocked when their prized comics turned out to be restored instead of real.
Despite these concerns, CGC remains widely considered the premier grading service for trading cards and comic books, with its faster turnaround time being one key advantage over PSA’s more reputably accepted service PSA. Blackstone’s acquisition may cause some concern among collectors as the firm has ventured into real estate investments as part of its expertise.
What are the benefits of CGC?
Trading cards provide a rich combination of nostalgia, artistry, and investment potential as collectibles. Many factors affect their value, but one key element is condition – CGC offers card grading and authentication services so that your collection remains authentic and in mint condition.
Every trading card submitted to CGC undergoes an exhaustive inspection process by multiple professionals, who inspect its centering, corners, edges, surface condition, and signs of alteration, restoration, or counterfeiting. Each card is then enclosed in a tamper-evident archival-quality holder to prevent further damage; all CGC-certified cards come backed with their comprehensive certification guarantee from significant defects.
CGC offers fast, affordable, and dependable grading and authentication services at competitive prices. Their team of collectors and players strives to provide impartial certification services that benefit the hobby; additionally, CGC’s certification process is strictly regulated to prevent conflicts of interest.
Once a card has been authenticated and graded, it will be enclosed in a protective slab made from the same time-tested, durable material used for comic books. This helps preserve its condition while being easily visible to other collectors; its tamper-evident seal makes authenticating its authenticity easy.
CGC-certified cards can be an excellent addition to any collector’s collection or investment portfolio. However, before purchasing any trading card, you must research and understand the market. To avoid being scammed, it’s wise to shop only from reliable dealers or online marketplaces like ebay and Amazon; conversing with fellow collectors and forums may lead to great finds! Furthermore it’s essential that your cards are stored safely – placing them into custom frames, album binders or any other protective solution will keep dust at bay!