PSA, BGS and CGC: How to Read Grades and Check a Card Certificate
By PulloraX ·
The number 10 is not enough to identify a graded card. Read who graded it, the full grade name, the exact card version and whether the certificate matches the copy for sale. This guide connects the companies' own definitions with practical checks before buying.
| Label | Company | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Gem Mint 10 | PSA | The highest grade on PSA's card scale |
| Black Label 10 | BGS / Beckett | Four subgrades of 10 |
| Gem Mint 10 | CGC | Distinct from Pristine 10 |
| Pristine 10 | CGC | The top tier on CGC's current scale |
What does PSA 10 mean?
PSA describes Gem Mint 10 as virtually perfect. Its standard addresses corners, gloss, printing and centering, and allows a slight printing imperfection under specified conditions. A 10 therefore does not claim the absence of every conceivable variation. Read the official standard rather than replacing it with an impression from a small photograph.
Sources: PSA — Grading Standards
Why is BGS 10 alone not enough to claim Black Label?
Beckett defines Black Label through four perfect subgrades: centering, corners, edges and surface. If a listing says only BGS 10, check the label and certification details before adding Black Label to your price comparison. The complete tier name is part of the item's identity.
Sources: Beckett — Black Label, 2025-06-26
CGC: two kinds of 10 and older labels
CGC separates Gem Mint 10 from Pristine 10. Its official scale says a Gem Mint 10 falls short of Pristine in one grading criterion. There is also a historical distinction: the old CGC Trading Cards Gem Mint 9.5 maps to Gem Mint 10, whereas Mint+ 9.5 on the current scale is a different tier. Do not convert by number alone; read the wording and identify the label generation.
Sources: CGC — Grading Scale
Five useful certificate-checking steps
- Open the grading company's official website yourself and find its certification tool.
- Enter the number and compare card name, year or set, card number, variant and grade wherever the record provides them.
- Match the record against clear front, back and label photographs. Compare the company's scans when available.
- Ask for photographs of the actual copy and holder if the listing only uses a catalogue image.
- If details conflict or a warning appears, pause the purchase decision and contact the grading company to clarify.
Official tools are linked here. CGC says its verification tool provides the description, grade and images of the holdered card.
Sources: PSA — Cert Verification · Beckett — Card Lookup · CGC — Verify Certification
A real number does not prove a listing's item is real
PSA explicitly warns that genuine certificate numbers from public records can be copied onto counterfeit inserts. A successful lookup confirms database information; it is not a physical inspection of the seller's item. Combine the record with actual-copy photographs, seller checks and examination of the holder. This PulloraX guide does not professionally authenticate a particular card.
Sources: PSA — Cert Verification
What if the verification tool is unavailable?
An unavailable website does not establish that a card is counterfeit. During our 4 October 2026 check, Beckett's lookup redirected to its official 2 October maintenance update describing a phased service restoration. In that situation, retain the copy's details, consult the service notice and contact the company or wait for the tool to return. A seller's assurance does not replace a missing check.
Sources: Beckett — Tech Updates, 2026-10-02
How do you compare a graded card's price?
Look for sales matching language, edition, variant, grading company and complete grade tier. Separate reported sales from active asking prices and record dates and fees. An ungraded card is not a future PSA 10 merely because it looks clean in a photograph. Moving between grading companies is not an automatic grade conversion either. No fixed price multiplier applies to every PSA, BGS or CGC card.
About the evidence
Definitions come from official grading-company sources, not seller promises. The checklist is our practical guidance. Scales, labels and tool availability can change; the dated check at the top identifies the point of reference.