How would you grade this Arcanine?

General
1

Just curious about this this one and all comments are welcomed :blush:


And some additional images:

Spoiler



2

Looks like a strong 8. I see quite a few white nicks along the edges that arenā€™t immediately visible with the yellow background. Also canā€™t tell how clean the surface is.

3

Thanks a lot :3

That was my estimate too - I was just curious as Iā€™ve been offered Ā£240 for this card ~

1 Like
4

@bartallen2,

Iā€™d say a strong 7 unless the surface is clean and and glossy. They are coming down hard on edges. I have clean, clean holo 7ā€™s with 9 status edges on the back. Non-holos are easier to grade, but based on pics, which are super hard to gauge without the eye, Iā€™d be hoping with crossed fingers for an 8, but expecting a strong 7. But again, if surface is immaculate, they might just paste an 8.

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5

I wouldnā€™t be confident in selling this as a NM-M card, rather EX-NM/NM. So a PSA 7 in that respect. But yeah, also comes down to the surface.

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6

Agree with Muk entirely.^^^^

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7

PSA 10 in the Pokecave

3 Likes
8

Itā€™s possible Iā€™m just wrong, but I honestly donā€™t see this getting a 7. Maybe Iā€™ve just gotten unlucky with the 8s Iā€™ve cracked, but this looks very much in line with those even if it has some surface scratches.

I do agree with Muk, though, that the condition of the card is EX/NM . But PSAā€™s condition descriptors overstate condition (for anything below PSA 9). I would never consider a PSA 7 card NM and I would never consider a PSA 5/6 to be EX. Still, with PSAā€™s scale, I donā€™t see this getting a 7 unless the photos donā€™t accurately exhibit the condition of the card.

1 Like
9

@zorloth,

It is so weird because PSA truly is not too consistent. If I showed you some of the 7ā€™s I have, youā€™d swear they have shots at being 9ā€™s (holos). And so while you are right in many cases, where they say NM (7) but you definitely wouldnā€™t call that raw card NM by virtue of there being too many hairlines or whitening on the back, I have examples myself where they just graded harsherā€“where I submitted personally. So I try and meet in the middle between obviously liberal grades and conservative grades. That Arcanine I would hope for an 8, expect a 7, provided that surface is glossyā€“it can even have some ā€œnon-holo hairlinesā€ since they donā€™t detract from the eye appeal as they put it. I just submitted a red cheeks that had near perfect back edges. One little imperfection on the front text area and a couple micro chips on those backs got me a 7. They are just grading harsher now (or at least for me! haha). Thatā€™s why I always go for cert # 40 or higher if Iā€™m buying graded cards.

But then check this out:
www.ebay.com/itm/1999-Pokemon-Base-Set-Chansey-3-Shadowless-Holo-PSA-7-NM-/324266258158?hash=item4b7fc66eee%3Ag%3A4poAAOSwJ4hfPI4e&nma=true&si=HB7YuAufAPaR3o5x4oQQMmASYtM%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

This actually upsets me. By this standard, my Alakazam and Zapdos (both given 7ā€™s) are 9ā€™s easily. And that isnā€™t even an older grade on that sold listing!!! WTF! So thatā€™s an example where you are dead correct about that not at all being NM.

1 Like
10

IMO this is a solid 8. I think youā€™d be unlucky to get a 7 on this one but it could happen.

2 Likes
11

Thereā€™s a PSA 9 of this card up for $300 OBO. Take that offer for this raw card and run

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12

Itā€™d help to post a picture of it on a black background. On a white background makes the cards condition seem very misleading and hide many white nicks.

1 Like