CGC Card Grading: The Scale and the Pristine 10, Explained

CGC Cards grades trading cards on a 10-point scale, and the top of that scale splits in two: Gem Mint 10 and the rarer Pristine 10. Knowing where that line sits, and what happened to the older Perfect 10 and subgrades, is how you read a CGC slab at a glance.

Graded slabs are now live at PUSHAS too, led by the PSA-graded Mega Charizard X ex Special Illustration Rare #125 in the graded cards and slabs collection.

The cards that end up in these holders start life in sealed boxes like the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box, and the cards inside boxes like this are the ones collectors send for grading. Sealed product from across the Pokémon trading card range is live now at PUSHAS.

How the CGC Cards scale works

CGC Cards uses a 1 to 10 scale with half-point steps below the top, so a card can land on a 9.5, an 8.5 or a 7.5 as well as the whole numbers. The scale took its current shape in July 2023, when the Certified Collectibles Group combined its two card brands, CGC Trading Cards and Certified Sports Guaranty (CSG), into one service called CGC Cards. CGC says CGC Cards grades TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards under one roof.

Part of that change was a move to a 10-point scale topped by a Gem Mint 10. Cards that had previously been graded Gem Mint 9.5 under the old system are treated as equivalent to Gem Mint 10 on the new one, so an older 9.5 slab and a newer 10 slab describe the same standard.

Pristine 10 vs Gem Mint 10

CGC describes a Pristine 10 as a virtually flawless card to the naked eye, with 50/50 centering and flawless colour and registration. It is the grade that sits above everything else on the scale.

A Gem Mint 10 is a card that has earned a 10 overall, but where one of the grading criteria falls short of Pristine. Its corners appear perfect to the naked eye and Mint+ under 10x magnification, and its centering can run to roughly 55/45.

What happened to Perfect 10 and subgrades

Before 2023, the top of the CGC Trading Cards scale was the Perfect 10. CGC defined it as a card graded Pristine 10 with all four subgrades, for centering, surface, corners and edges, also at 10.

When CGC Cards launched, the Perfect 10 was retired and Pristine 10 took its place at the top. The grade is no longer assigned, but existing Perfect 10 slabs keep their status.

Subgrades went at the same time. CGC said that by June 2023 fewer than 5% of CGC Trading Cards submissions asked for them. A CGC Cards label today shows one overall grade rather than four separate scores.

The label and the holder

CGC says every CGC Cards label carries a detailed card description, the grade and a unique certification number, with a QR code for quick verification. The top grade gets its own treatment: CGC says Pristine 10 cards receive a special gold label, so the difference between a Pristine 10 and a Gem Mint 10 is visible before you read a word.

Roots in comics grading

CGC started with comic books. Certified Guaranty Company was established in 2000 to grade comics, and the same group also runs NGC, which grades coins. The move into cards came later: CGC Trading Cards launched in 2020, CSG followed for sports cards, and the two came together as CGC Cards in 2023.

Who each label is built for

Label	What it means	Built for
Pristine 10	Virtually flawless to the naked eye, 50/50 centering, flawless colour and registration, gold label	Collectors chasing the very top of the CGC scale
Gem Mint 10	A 10 overall, with one criterion short of Pristine; centering to roughly 55/45	Collectors who want a clean 10 in the collection
Perfect 10 (legacy)	A Pristine 10 with four subgrades of 10, retired in 2023 but still recognised	Collectors who hold older CGC Trading Cards or CSG slabs

Live now at PUSHAS

Stock as of 4 October 2026. Graded slabs, including the Mega Charizard X ex #125 in PSA 10 and PSA 9, sit alongside sealed Pokémon and Topps boxes at PUSHAS. Every item is authenticated by hand, so you can shop with confidence. The live listing shows the current price. Start with the Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box.

If you are still choosing which sealed format to open, our guide to Elite Trainer Box vs booster box vs booster bundle breaks down the differences, and every Pokémon 151 product explained walks through one full Pokémon set, product by product.

FAQ

What is the difference between CGC Pristine 10 and Gem Mint 10?

Both are a 10, but a Pristine 10 is virtually flawless to the naked eye with 50/50 centering and flawless colour and registration, while a Gem Mint 10 has one criterion that falls short of Pristine, with centering up to roughly 55/45.

Is CGC Perfect 10 still a grade?

No. CGC retired the Perfect 10 in July 2023 when CGC Cards launched, and Pristine 10 became the top grade. Existing Perfect 10 slabs keep their status.

Does CGC still offer subgrades on cards?

No. CGC Cards stopped offering subgrades in 2023, after CGC said fewer than 5% of submissions were asking for them. Labels now show one overall grade.

What colour is the CGC Pristine 10 label?

CGC says Pristine 10 cards receive a special gold label. Every label also shows the card description, the grade, a unique certification number and a QR code.

Did CGC start by grading comics?

Yes. Certified Guaranty Company was established in 2000 to grade comic books. CGC Trading Cards launched in 2020, and it combined with CSG to form CGC Cards in 2023.