This is a little guide everyone should go by when trying to tell the condition of their cards. Condition is different for everyone, this is just a little bit of a way to help.
This guide will show you how to determine the condition of a Pokemon card:
Mint: No scratches or wear on the card.
Near Mint: This card shows almost no wear, minimal scratches and has NOT been played.
Excellent: There is wear on this card, it will have more than a few slight dings or scratches but barely detract from the card.
Fine: This card has obviously been played, but not heavily. The markings are not easily identifiable. It has scratches and/or less than perfect edges. It can have a minor crease, mostly visible close up.
Played: This card has a played look to it. You can see white showing on the edges and it may have some distinguishing marks on it, such as a bend, crease or tear. It may also have black dirt marks on it.
Poor: This should be very apparent to most people. The condition is just horrible and the over all card just doesnt look very well.
Fake: This is a bit more difficult to tell, but if the back of the card is miscolored and sometimes lighter and sometimes darker then a normal card then its fake, also if you cant see the black paper by looking in the sides of the card its fake, and if its printed kind of funny or feels MUCH lighter, like a different type of paper was used then its fake. Also if the names are incorrect for the actual Pokemon its fake.
Mint: No scratches or wear on the card.
Near Mint: This card shows almost no wear, minimal scratches and has NOT been played.
Excellent: There is wear on this card, it will have more than a few slight dings or scratches but barely detract from the card.
Fine: This card has obviously been played, but not heavily. The markings are not easily identifiable. It has scratches and/or less than perfect edges. It can have a minor crease, mostly visible close up.
Played: This card has a played look to it. You can see white showing on the edges and it may have some distinguishing marks on it, such as a bend, crease or tear. It may also have black dirt marks on it.
Poor: This should be very apparent to most people. The condition is just horrible and the over all card just doesnt look very well.
Fake: This is a bit more difficult to tell, but if the back of the card is miscolored and sometimes lighter and sometimes darker then a normal card then its fake, also if you cant see the black paper by looking in the sides of the card its fake, and if its printed kind of funny or feels MUCH lighter, like a different type of paper was used then its fake. Also if the names are incorrect for the actual Pokemon its fake.