Toughest Grader on the Planet

Spfld Ponies · 03-21-2022, 09:37 AM

If you were going to judge the card that was encapsulated by 5 different grading companies as a mint-9, which card would theoretically look the best? Not considering the slab here, just the card itself; who has the nicest/ strictest mint 9?

Everyone knows of examples of poorly graded cards, but generally speaking, which TPG is it the toughest to get a Mint-9 from? So, thus, which mint card would look the nicest, closest to a gem? Opinions?

Bosoxfan5990 · 03-21-2022, 09:53 AM

HGA, obviously

discodanman45 · 03-21-2022, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

HGA, obviously

Absolutely. If you don't use minimum intra-class variance image binarization, you are a second-tier grading company.

towerymt · 03-21-2022, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

HGA, obviously

GMA and BCCG missing

I did buy a GMA 10 Vlad Jr. '19 TC refractor once, I think for about the price of a raw or slightly less. Cracked it out. It was PSA-9 quality at best, small ding on a back corner. Sold it raw (and noted the flaw) for double after a year sitting in a box.

PunsRTonsOfFun · 03-21-2022, 10:15 AM

LMFAO...who voted for PSA?

discodanman45 · 03-21-2022, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunsRTonsOfFun

LMFAO...who voted for PSA?

Late 2020 to early 2021 I would have voted for them. They were pop controlling like mad during that time. They have definitely relaxed their grading since Nat took over.

epatmythes · 03-21-2022, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunsRTonsOfFun

LMFAO...who voted for PSA?

I'll say... I did.

The question was, "who has the nicest/ strictest mint 9?"

With PSA, you either have a 9 or a 10. One minor flaw keeping that card from a 10... well, that could still be a 9.5 with the other TPGer's listed. Thus, you have a lot of likely 9.5's sitting in PSA 9 cases.

On that basis alone, I'll take a PSA 9 over a BGS 9, SGC 9, etc. every day of the week!

ScattMan · 03-21-2022, 10:25 AM

Gotta add all the pop-up graders to the poll too...FCG, TGT, RCG, Master P, Pure Graded X, DGA, TGA, ECG, ECG, and cannot forget about that third ECG.

cavsfan70 · 03-21-2022, 10:32 AM

CSG by far from what I've seen. Have never used them though.

discodanman45 · 03-21-2022, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScattMan

Gotta add all the pop-up graders to the poll too...FCG, TGT, RCG, Master P, Pure Graded X, DGA, TGA, ECG, ECG, and cannot forget about that third ECG.

You forgot a lot of them. SRG, CGA, and AGS to just name a few. The OP definitely needed to have a comprehensive list for us to choose from. We definitely need more grading options in this hobby. I am thinking of starting another one. TTM (To The Moon) Grading. No grades will be given, just the appropriate emoji. Mint = one fire emoji, Gem Mint = Two fire emoji, Pristine = Three fire emoji's.

ScattMan · 03-21-2022, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by discodanman45

You forgot a lot of them. SRG, CGA, and AGS to just name a few. The OP definitely needed to have a comprehensive list for us to choose from. We definitely need more grading options in this hobby. I am thinking of starting another one. TTM (To The Moon) Grading. No grades will be given, just the appropriate emoji. Mint = one fire emoji, Gem Mint = Two fire emoji, Pristine = Three fire emoji's.

Sweet! Getting my sub ready!

SupermanBrandon · 03-21-2022, 10:53 AM

I can't wait to read all the scientific examples w/ exact research from BO. IT'S ALL PERSONAL PREFERENCE BASED OF OFF YOUR LONE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE! But the answer is obviously HGA.

Jsquared123 · 03-21-2022, 10:56 AM

Voted CSG from word of mouth and the posts here.

SGC is the most consistent, most fair 9 from first hand use.

PSA will give 9s to slam dunk 10s and dinged corner 7.5s.

rogueriver · 03-21-2022, 11:05 AM

SGC is very tough on what I collect 80's and 90's stuff....VERY TOUGH ON THEM.....To be fair O only have experience with BGS PSA and SGC there are countless cards I was expecting a 9 and would have gotten a 9-9.5 from BGS and they come back 8s from SGC, some even come back less.....They are especially tough on cards like Finest and Chrome refractors. So much so that I dont send those into them anymore.

Boo · 03-21-2022, 11:05 AM

Toughest grader on the planet?

Mrs. Davis, 12th grade English

discodanman45 · 03-21-2022, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScattMan

Sweet! Getting my sub ready!

I will be taking orders shortly. Toughest grading not only on the planet, but in the Milky Way Galaxy. I won't be as tough as AGG (Andromeda Galaxy Grading) though. They are ridiculously tough. They grade under 50,000 x's magnification.

Spfld Ponies · 03-21-2022, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by discodanman45

Absolutely. If you don't use minimum intra-class variance image binarization, you are a second-tier grading company.

LOL that was hilarious Dan!

Spfld Ponies · 03-21-2022, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScattMan

Gotta add all the pop-up graders to the poll too...FCG, TGT, RCG, Master P, Pure Graded X, DGA, TGA, ECG, ECG, and cannot forget about that third ECG.

ScattMan, you keep a comprehensive list! Wow, lots of dudes in their garage graded cards during the pandemic...

Spfld Ponies · 03-21-2022, 11:47 AM

I have had a PM noting that it depends on WHEN the card was graded. I'm asking about, TODAY, something graded and slabbed very recently.

-If it was 10 years ago, I would have said: PSA
-If it was 5 years ago, I would have said: SGC
-Today, I would say SGC by a hair.... PSA and the new guy, CSG, close seconds.

BGS was never the toughest grader -always the easiest, and therefore often have the poorest looking 9's (7-8s if you sent same card to other TPGs). But I will say BGS seems to be the most consistent, i.e. haven't become insanely strict like the others after 2019.

Ericc5Bears · 03-21-2022, 03:39 PM

CSG, PSA, SGC in that order imo

Gary · 03-21-2022, 06:02 PM

I voted SGC,based on my personal sub's.i will say that my sub;s are all paper cards and may affect my opinion.CSG,BGS the easiest in the same paper category,PSA by far the most inconsistent of the bunch.

FT35 · 03-21-2022, 06:07 PM

The issue is not a scale of “toughness” but a situation where each company arrives at their final grade while running it through different grading parameters. My advice would be to never compare company’s grades, but run each card through each company’s method to determine the difference.

ThoseBackPages · 03-21-2022, 07:26 PM

HGA..

towerymt · 03-21-2022, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

HGA..

Toughest to look at?

YayNJ · 03-22-2022, 05:55 AM

CSG easily for anything after 1999

View Poll Results: Which Third Party Grader has the tooughest mint-9 standards?
PSA?	27	21.43%
SGC?	34	26.98%
Beckett?	17	13.49%
CSG?	45	35.71%
ISA?	3	2.38%
Voters: 126. You may not vote on this poll

03-21-2022, 09:37 AM	#1
Spfld Ponies Member Join Date: Feb 2022 Posts: 215	Toughest Grader on the Planet If you were going to judge the card that was encapsulated by 5 different grading companies as a mint-9, which card would theoretically look the best? Not considering the slab here, just the card itself; who has the nicest/ strictest mint 9? Everyone knows of examples of poorly graded cards, but generally speaking, which TPG is it the toughest to get a Mint-9 from? So, thus, which mint card would look the nicest, closest to a gem? Opinions? __________________ Thanks for your comments, Joe

03-21-2022, 11:05 AM	#14
rogueriver Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Texas Posts: 950 rogueriver	SGC is very tough on what I collect 80's and 90's stuff....VERY TOUGH ON THEM.....To be fair O only have experience with BGS PSA and SGC there are countless cards I was expecting a 9 and would have gotten a 9-9.5 from BGS and they come back 8s from SGC, some even come back less.....They are especially tough on cards like Finest and Chrome refractors. So much so that I dont send those into them anymore. Last edited by rogueriver; 03-21-2022 at 11:09 AM.

03-21-2022, 11:05 AM	#15
Boo Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: PA Posts: 54,513 klay22	Toughest grader on the planet? Mrs. Davis, 12th grade English __________________ I have found that flicking through a few threads on my smartphone is a great way to pass some time while "stocking the pond."Hairy 6/7/12 “ I feel you, brother. Welcome to East Berlin, circa 1963.” Hairy 5/9/20

03-21-2022, 11:47 AM	#19
Spfld Ponies Member Join Date: Feb 2022 Posts: 215	Depends on when graded??? I have had a PM noting that it depends on WHEN the card was graded. I'm asking about, TODAY, something graded and slabbed very recently. -If it was 10 years ago, I would have said: PSA -If it was 5 years ago, I would have said: SGC -Today, I would say SGC by a hair.... PSA and the new guy, CSG, close seconds. BGS was never the toughest grader -always the easiest, and therefore often have the poorest looking 9's (7-8s if you sent same card to other TPGs). But I will say BGS seems to be the most consistent, i.e. haven't become insanely strict like the others after 2019. __________________ Thanks for your comments, Joe

03-21-2022, 09:53 AM	#2
Bosoxfan5990 Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: MA Posts: 12,615 rossisportscards	HGA, obviously

03-21-2022, 10:15 AM	#5
PunsRTonsOfFun Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 158	LMFAO...who voted for PSA?

03-21-2022, 10:25 AM	#8
ScattMan Member Join Date: Nov 2021 Posts: 68	Gotta add all the pop-up graders to the poll too...FCG, TGT, RCG, Master P, Pure Graded X, DGA, TGA, ECG, ECG, and cannot forget about that third ECG.

03-21-2022, 10:32 AM	#9
cavsfan70 Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: OH > TN > NC Posts: 1,194 nosebleed70 bigcontracts	CSG by far from what I've seen. Have never used them though.

03-21-2022, 10:53 AM	#12
SupermanBrandon Banned Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: TN Posts: 15,843	I can't wait to read all the scientific examples w/ exact research from BO. IT'S ALL PERSONAL PREFERENCE BASED OF OFF YOUR LONE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE! But the answer is obviously HGA.

03-21-2022, 10:56 AM	#13
Jsquared123 Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 1,245 Sopranos6666	Voted CSG from word of mouth and the posts here. SGC is the most consistent, most fair 9 from first hand use. PSA will give 9s to slam dunk 10s and dinged corner 7.5s.

03-21-2022, 03:39 PM	#20
Ericc5Bears Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 1,229	CSG, PSA, SGC in that order imo

03-21-2022, 06:02 PM	#21
Gary Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 700	I voted SGC,based on my personal sub's.i will say that my sub;s are all paper cards and may affect my opinion.CSG,BGS the easiest in the same paper category,PSA by far the most inconsistent of the bunch.

03-21-2022, 06:07 PM	#22
FT35 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 2,180	The issue is not a scale of “toughness” but a situation where each company arrives at their final grade while running it through different grading parameters. My advice would be to never compare company’s grades, but run each card through each company’s method to determine the difference.

03-21-2022, 07:26 PM	#23
ThoseBackPages Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 88,918 ThoseBackPages	HGA.. __________________ Pumpers Paradise #YouCryIBuy Four things that we cannot change each others minds about: Politics, Religion, Third Party Grading, and 2021 Bowman's Best Rookie Cards

03-22-2022, 05:55 AM	#25
YayNJ Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: London / Oahu Posts: 8,156 hanelcocards	CSG easily for anything after 1999 Last edited by YayNJ; 03-23-2022 at 10:23 AM.