PSA has officially announced authentication and grading criteria for Funko Pop! items. What do we think? Is this the next huge market for grading? Is it a necessary step for Funko collectibles?
| GRADE | LABEL | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| GEM MT 10 | Gem Mint | This is as good as it gets! A Funko Pop! graded PSA GEM MT 10 will be virtually flawless. The box must exhibit a clean window that’s free of any scuffs, scratches, or dents, and have sharply folded corners. It will have perfectly sealed sticker application(s), and ultra clean surfaces on all six sides. |
| MINT 9 | Mint | A Funko Pop! that receives a grade of PSA MINT 9 may appear perfect at first glance, but upon closer inspection you may find 2-3 minor (but visible) imperfections. Examples of such flaws would be a very light scratch on the window, light indentations in the cardboard, a frayed corner, a small amount of sticker wear or residue, or a corner fold that isn’t perfectly square. |
| NM-MT+ 8.5 | Near Mint-Mint + | Still a high-end Funko Pop!, a PSA NM-MT+ 8.5 may have a couple noticeable, but still somewhat minor, flaws. This box may exhibit a very light or extremely small crease, multiple touched or imperfectly folded corners, light scratches on the window, ink smudges, a micro-tear on a corner, indentation lines, or other similarly visible flaws. |
| NM-MT 8 | Near Mint-Mint | A Funko Pop! that receives a grade of PSA NM-MT 8 is going to exhibit moderate flaws that start to detract from its presentation. Examples of such flaws include light creasing, a lightly frayed corner, window scratches or scuffs, a very small stain, micro-tears on multiple corners or minor shelf wear. |
| NM+ 7.5 | Near Mint + | A PSA NM+ 7.5 will display well, but will also exhibit minor flaws apparent upon closer inspection. Defects can include moderate creases, a minor corner tear, scratches or scuffs on the window, damage to the sticker, a moderately damaged corner corner, or a heavy indentation. |
| NM 7 | Near Mint | A Funko Pop! that is given a grade of PSA NM 7 will show a few moderate flaws that detract from the overall visual appeal. These defects can include a heavy crease, a moderate corner tear, light yellowing or a small stain, a badly scratched or scuffed window, a very small tear, a light box-cutter scratch, mis-folded corners or moderate shelf wear. |
| EX-MT+ 6.5 | Excellent-Mint + | A Funko Pop! that receives a PSA EX-MT+ 6.5 will have multiple visible flaws, such as: a heavy crease, a crushed corner, a badly scratched or scuffed window, yellowing or staining, a moderate tear, a small amount of paper loss, and other visible damage. |
| EX-MT 6 | Excellent-Mint | A PSA EX-MT 6 will exhibit a number of apparent flaws, which may include heavy creasing, badly damaged corners, obvious window scuffing, paper loss, significant shelf wear, stains or yellowing, or a moderate tear. |
| EX+ 5.5 | Excellent + | A Funko Pop! at PSA EX+ 5.5 level, shows some areas of crushing, heavy creasing, a large stain, paper loss, multiple corner tears or a badly damaged window. |
| EX 5 | Excellent | The PSA 5 grading tier allows for a Funko Pop! to show significant damage, such as multiple crushed corners, a window tear, a large stain or significant yellowing, heavy creases, multiple corner tears, heavy shelf wear or a heavy box-cutter slice. |
| VG-EX+ 4.5 | Very Good-Excellent + | A Funko Pop! that grades VG-EX+ 4.5 exhibits multiple significant flaws, including crushing, heavy corner tears, a heavily scratched or torn window, stains, moderate paper loss, or a pen/ink mark. |
| VG-EX 4 | Very Good-Excellent | At the PSA VG 4 level, a Funko Pop! will exhibit heavy wear and tear, including sun-fading, heavy crushing, a cracked window, moderate paper loss, multiple stains or a heavy tear. |
| VG+ 3.5 | Very Good + | A Funko Pop! graded at PSA VG+ 3.5 has significant flaws. These flaws may include heavy tears, a crushed box, sun-fading, heavy stains or a torn window. |
| VG 3 | Very Good | A Funko Pop! that receives a PSA VG 3 will exhibit extreme damage that can include heavy sun-fading, large stains, heavy tears, a partially unglued window or seam or heavy paper loss. |
| GOOD+ 2.5 | Good + | If a Funko Pop! receives a grade of PSA GOOD+ 2.5, it will exhibit all the qualities of a PSA GOOD 2, but will maintain a bit of structural integrity. |
| GOOD 2 | Good | At the PSA GOOD 2 level, the box will barely function and will appear to be falling apart. Flaws will include heavy crushing, a mostly unglued window or seam, heavy tears in multiple areas, heavy stains or sun-fading, or large tears. |
| FR 1.5 | Fair + | While the box barely provides housing for its Funko Pop!, a PSA FR 1.5 will exhibit all of the flaws of a PSA PR 1, but will maintain a semblance of structural integrity. |
| PR 1 | Poor | At the lowest possible grade of PR 1, you can expect the box of a Funko Pop! to be almost completely falling apart. Flaws can include an almost complete ungluing of the window (the window still must be present), heavy stains, sun-bleaching, multiple areas of paper loss, or large tears. |
In addition to the criteria listed above, PSA will consider the following:
- Location and Severity of the damage
- How the damage detracts from the eye appeal
- Damage to the figure itself
- Paint flaws on the figure
- Damage to the plastic insert
- Price sticker being present
- Sticker residue
A Funko Pop! exhibiting any of the following will not be graded and the customer will be assessed an evaluation fee (fee to be determined):
- A counterfeit Funko Pop!
- A missing or broken piece on the figure.
- Significant paint defects on the figure.
- Alteration of any kind, including a swapped sticker, a swapped window, recoloring on the box or figure, or a customized/repainted box or figure.
FASC designation: A Funko Pop! that comes directly from a sealed master case.
Read more here: https://www.psacard.com/services/funkograding