Submitting a card and getting back an Authentic designation instead of a number can be confusing the first time it happens. It's not a failing grade, and it's not TGA declining to grade the card at all — it's a specific, separate category with its own meaning.
Understanding why a card lands here, rather than getting a numeric score, helps set the right expectations before you submit anything questionable.
Here's what the designation actually covers.
None of this requires prior grading experience to follow, and understanding it upfront prevents real confusion later.
Trimming, where a card's edges have been physically cut down to appear better-centered or less worn, is one of the most common triggers. Manual alteration of any kind — recoloring, resurfacing, or other tampering — falls into the same category.
Miscut cards, a factory error rather than intentional tampering, can also land in this designation depending on the severity of the miscut.
It's worth being clear that Authentic confirms a card is genuine and not counterfeit — it simply can't receive a fair numeric condition grade because of the alteration or miscut involved. A trimmed genuine card is still a real card, just one whose condition can't be honestly scored on the standard scale.
Confusing Authentic with a counterfeit determination is a common misunderstanding worth clearing up early.
If you suspect a card might have condition issues before submitting, protecting it properly still matters. EVORETRO's Plastic Deck Box keeps cards secure while you decide whether to submit.
For sorting through a larger collection to identify submission candidates, EVORETRO's 9-Pocket Binder Pages make the review process easier.
An Authentic-designated card generally carries less resale value than the same card with a genuine numeric grade, since buyers specifically seek out condition-scored cards for collecting and investment purposes. That said, an Authentic card still has more market credibility than an unverified raw card of uncertain legitimacy.
Being upfront about a card's Authentic status when listing it for sale is both the honest and the practical approach.
Trimmed cards often show subtle inconsistencies in border width or slightly rounded corners that aren't immediately obvious without close inspection or comparison to a known-genuine copy. Comparing a suspect card's dimensions against a verified original is one way to catch trimming before paying to submit it.
Vintage cards purchased secondhand carry a higher risk of prior trimming than cards pulled directly from a fresh pack.
An Authentic result isn't necessarily the end of the road — the card is confirmed genuine and can still be displayed, collected, or sold with that status clearly disclosed. Some collectors specifically value certified-authentic vintage cards even without a numeric score attached.
Understanding the specific reason behind the designation, when TGA provides that detail, helps clarify exactly what happened to the card.
When purchasing a vintage card that hasn't yet been submitted for grading, asking the seller directly whether they suspect any trimming or alteration is a reasonable question that most honest sellers will answer straightforwardly. A seller unwilling to discuss a card's history at all is itself worth treating as a caution flag.
Requesting close-up photos of the card's edges and corners before purchasing gives you a chance to spot potential issues yourself, even before considering a grading submission.
Nearly every professional grading company uses some version of this separate category, since a numeric condition scale simply can't fairly represent a card that's been physically altered. This isn't a TGA-specific quirk — it reflects a shared industry standard for handling cards that fall outside normal condition assessment.
Understanding this as a common, expected part of the grading process, rather than an unusual outcome, helps collectors approach a suspect card's submission with realistic expectations from the start.
No, it confirms the card is genuine but can't receive a fair numeric grade.
Trimming, miscuts, or other manual alteration to the card.
Yes, with its status clearly disclosed to potential buyers.
Generally yes, compared to the same card with a genuine numeric grade.
Understanding the Authentic designation helps you set realistic expectations for questionable cards. Browse EVORETRO's toploaders and sleeves collection to protect your submissions either way, whatever the final result turns out to be.
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