Card collectors worldwide love to check their card’s condition before they drop money on them; they understand how important it is to know details like these beforehand. However, for people who are new to the card collection game and are looking to buy cards to start their collection, this article can be of great help. In this blog, we will talk about different card conditions so you can tell which one you are getting and whether it’s a fair trade.
Card collection is an enthusiast’s hobby for true fans of trading card games like Magic: The Gathering and series like Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and others. What we used to play with and throw away as kids can be worth a lot in the future. Many of them are in today’s day and age. So, if you are looking at it as an investment opportunity or from the standpoint of a hobbyist, this blog is just for you.
So, without wasting any more time, let’s dive right in.
Different Types of Card Conditions You Must Know:
Knowing your cards before buying them is crucial whether you are a hobbyist or an investor. Knowing which ones to go for is just as important, so do proper research into what you want and then decide which ones to go for. With that said, here are the card conditions you must know about.
Perfect or Mint Condition:
These cards are usually very rare and don’t have any side scratches, bends, or tears. They look clean as a whistle and don’t have any white spotting on the sides that results from hitting or rubbing the edges of the card. If the card you got is original, it can be ranked high and could be worth a lot of money one day.
Near Mint:
Near mint means the card is not perfect and has instances where it has some imperfections. These are usually very few, and you will only find a few spots of edge whitening due to the card hitting or rubbing its sides. A near-mint card must not show any sign of play. If you suspect that it has been played, don’t buy it.
If you are looking for perfect near-mint cards, look no further than MTech Cave; they have your favorite collection in near-mint condition. It is the place to go if you are looking for good quality and a great variety of Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and other trading cards.
Lightly Played:
A lightly played card looks like it has been inside a binder or shuffled in a deck for play. It shows obvious signs that are easy to tell. They will not have bends, creases, or folds; however, you will find knicks or whitening on the edges that point our their slightly played condition.
Moderately Played:
A moderately played card shows signs that it has been inside a proper deck that has been shuffled quite a lot and shown some love. You will consistently find whitening and knicks on the edges of this card; however, it should still be in good shape and not have any creases whatsoever.
Heavily Played:
This one is easy to spot as it will have visible damage that is very easily identifiable. Bends and creases will still be nowhere to be found on this card, but you can still find major instances of edge wear, severe scratches to the surface, and hazy or cloudiness to the overall look.
Damaged Cards:
Damaged cards are the easiest to tell as they will have severe instances of wear visible on them. You may even find creases and cards barely holding on to their structural integrity. These cards are to be avoided as they will only worsen over time and might not be of much value later on down the road.
As you can see, there are many ways to tell whether a card has the right condition you are looking for before you buy it. So, make sure you read this article to the end before making your buying decision. If you made it to the end of this blog, we believe you are more than ready to start exploring the world of card collection.
For more information, please read the FAQs section below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean when a card is in mint condition?
Cards in mint condition are equal to a fresh pack with slight perfections on the side that is easily dismissed. They hold a lot of value.
How do you tell if a card is damaged?
It will have creases and bends on it, and you will also find whitening along the sides and edges; A damaged card should not be purchased.
What does mint condition mean?
Mint condition is an expression to denote that a slightly used good is in a condition that you cannot tell it apart from a new one.
