PSA "N-0 Authentic" Designation

[mattytreks]

Hey Guys, important question. Has anyone had experience dealing with a card that is graded "Authentic", but when digging deeper it bears the "N0" (N zero) designation? Based on PSA's description above, a card may receive this grade if it was 1.) due to the existence of an alteration, one with malice or otherwise, a major defect, or 2.) the original submitter may have requested that PSA encapsulate the card without a grade.

It goes without saying that I will attempt to reach PSA tomorrow to sort this out, but curious if any of you have had similar experiences and if you think PSA would even have the information necessary to divulge one way or the other -- obviously there is a gigantic difference between the two aforementioned use cases above.

Thanks!

[mjohnatgt]

All AUTHENTIC cards in PSA holders are cards they assigned N-0 to. The ones they marked AUTHENTIC ALTERED are the ones that they detected alteration on (usually trimming or pressing). But no, they won't tell you either way unless you submit the card for grading again.

[towerymt]

Let us know what you find out. I'm curious about this as well.

My assumption is that when we run across a "nice" looking card slabbed AUTHENTIC, it may have been submitted with that as the request, slab authentic, don't grade it. Generally I see AUTHENTIC cards that are in terrible condition. Below PSA-1 grade. This one comes to mind, just listed ('54 Aaron missing a corner): https://ebay.com/itm/134004427739

I don't think this card is ALTERED intentionally, like trimming or recoloring. The corner being ripped off may have been done with malice, hard to distinguish after the fact, but certainly not altered in order to improve the card, so I suspect anything like that would be deemed 'AUTHENTIC' and not 'AUTHENTIC ALTERED', even though the card has been altered.

[mattytreks]

Originally Posted by towerymt

Let us know what you find out. I'm curious about this as well.

So, quick update on this situation...

Yesterday I learned directly from PSA that it is possible for cards that are deemed "irregular" (but not necessarily "altered"??) to be encased in a PSA slab labeled 'Authentic' rather than 'Authentic-Altered'.

The PSA Rep stated that any cards falling under the N-6 or N-8 no-grade definitions to be slabbed as Authentic. All others would either not be slabbed at all, or slabbed with Authentic-Altered.

In my case, the potential card I was looking at purchasing either does not meet the standard card dimensions for that issue, or was a factory mis-cut.

https://www.psacard.com/resources/gradingstandards

[rocnydeals]

I've requested that cards still be slabbed as "N-0 Authentic" if they don't meet my minimum grade request.

[mattytreks]

Originally Posted by rocnydeals

I've requested that cards still be slabbed as "N-0 Authentic" if they don't meet my minimum grade request.

I find it concerning that a card labeled "Authentic" because it did not meet the submitters minimum grade requirement cannot in any way, shape, or form, be distinguished from a card that is also labeled "Authentic" because the card grader identified a potential alteration/defect. While I would certainly consider purchasing a card that fell into the former scenario, I would shy away from cards that fell into the latter scenario.

If that is the case, PSA needs to define or qualify the card such that people looking cards up on their site (or even directly on the slab) can understand what, if any, alterations or defects are present.

[RufussCkingston]

Originally Posted by mattytreks

I find it concerning that a card labeled "Authentic" because it did not meet the submitters minimum grade requirement cannot in any way, shape, or form, be distinguished from a card that is also labeled "Authentic" because the card grader identified a potential alteration/defect. While I would certainly consider purchasing a card that fell into the former scenario, I would shy away from cards that fell into the latter scenario.

If that is the case, PSA needs to define or qualify the card such that people looking cards up on their site (or even directly on the slab) can understand what, if any, alterations or defects are present.

Based on what you are concerned about, a card that has those characteristics (if can be identified by the grader) would be slabbed Authentic ALTERED, not just authentic, so nothing to worry about.

At the end of the day, people who collect authentic graded cards probably only care about eye appeal. It's not like buyers are going to crack them and submit them for number grades, and if they do, there is no recourse. I can't imagine that an Authentic buyer is concerned about alteration issues.

[rocnydeals]

Originally Posted by RufussCkingston

Based on what you are concerned about, a card that has those characteristics (if can be identified by the grader) would be slabbed Authentic ALTERED, not just authentic, so nothing to worry about.

At the end of the day, people who collect authentic graded cards probably only care about eye appeal. It's not like buyers are going to crack them and submit them for number grades, and if they do, there is no recourse. I can't imagine that an Authentic buyer is concerned about alteration issues.

Correct. Authentic cards that are altered and also marked "altered" by PSA on the label.

[Clyde725]

Originally Posted by towerymt

The corner being ripped off may have been done with malice...

Maybe the guy's little sister ripped off the corner when they were kids because he threw her raggedy ann doll out the window.

[3124508 on COMC]

Originally Posted by rocnydeals

Correct. Authentic cards that are altered and also marked "altered" by PSA on the label.

Incorrect. I have previously posted examples to the contrary.

[FantasyMagic]

I’ve sent a card in that showed up as (N0) Authentic. After speaking to the rep he said they couldn’t give it a grade due to it being (N6) Not meeting min size requirement.

Only thing I wish they would do is put the actual reason instead of (N0) on the certification.

They still charge you the grading fee if you decide to encapsulate as Authentic, and even increase the charges if the value is deemed higher than the service you sent the card under.

[BRob1]

Originally Posted by Clyde725

Maybe the guy's little sister ripped off the corner when they were kids because he threw her raggedy ann doll out the window.

I laughed when I read that as well lol. I don’t think when they say “with malice” they are referring to someone being angry when they did it.