Pokémon Card Terms Glossary: Abbreviations, Grades and Slang Explained
This glossary defines the Pokémon card terms, grading abbreviations and marketplace slang collectors run into most often.
Terms are grouped by topic so you can skim to what you need. Definitions reflect common community and marketplace usage, not official rulings from any grading company or publisher.
At a glance
PSA 10 = Gem Mint, the top grade on PSA's 1–10 scale.
Alt art changes the artwork; full art extends art across the whole card.
Promos are distributed outside normal booster packs.
Card Value Scanner is a Pokémon TCG card value scanner app that identifies cards from a photo, shows estimated market prices and graded value ranges, and totals your collection. Because pricing conversations are full of shorthand, PSA 10, SIR, alt art, comps, slab, this glossary explains what each term means so scan results and listings make sense. All values referenced anywhere on this site are estimates based on observed sales data, not guarantees; scanning identifies a card and prices it, but it does not authenticate or grade it, and nothing here is financial advice.
Grading terms and abbreviations
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| PSA | Professional Sports Authenticator; grades 1–10 with Gem Mint 10 at the top. |
| BGS | Beckett Grading Services; uses subgrades (centering, corners, edges, surface) plus a final grade, including the rare Black Label 10. |
| CGC | Certified Guaranty Company; grades cards including a Pristine 10 tier. |
| Gem Mint | A near-flawless card at the top of most scales. |
| Slab | The sealed plastic case a graded card is encapsulated in. |
| Cert / Cert # | The unique certification number printed on the label, used to verify a slab. |
| Pop report | Population data showing how many copies exist at each grade. |
| Crossover | Submitting a slab from one grader to another for a new grade. |
Scanning an already-graded card can help you look up comparable slab sales, but an app cannot verify that a slab or label is genuine.
What does PSA 10 mean?
A PSA 10 is graded "Gem Mint": sharp corners, clean edges, a clean surface and centering within tight tolerances. It is the highest number on PSA's scale and usually the highest-value version of a modern card.
- PSA 9 = Mint - very strong, typically a large step down in price.
- PSA 8 = Near Mint–Mint.
- Qualifiers (e.g. OC for off-centre) note a single flaw on an otherwise high-grade card.
A PSA 10 is a grader's opinion at a point in time, not a permanent guarantee of condition or value.
Rarity, finish and print terms
- Holo - the artwork window has a foil finish.
- Reverse holo - the card body is foil while the art window is matte.
- Non-holo - no foil; often the cheapest version of a card.
- Full art - artwork extends across the entire card face, borders included.
- Alt art (AA) - a completely different illustration of the same card, usually a chase rarity.
- SIR - Special Illustration Rare, a modern scenic full-art tier.
- IR - Illustration Rare.
- Secret rare - card number exceeds the set's stated total (e.g. 199/195).
- Rainbow / gold rare - textured or gold-etched premium finishes.
- 1st Edition / Shadowless - early Base Set print variants that command premiums.
Alt art vs full art - the short answer
Both are premium treatments, but they differ:
- Full art keeps the same basic character art concept and stretches it borderless across the card.
- Alt art is a new, often scene-based illustration created specifically for that variant.
Because alt arts are usually pulled at much lower rates, they typically carry higher estimated market prices than the full art of the same Pokémon - though demand for a specific illustration matters more than the label.
Promo card meaning and other set terms
- Promo - a card distributed outside standard booster packs: tins, blisters, events, movies or magazines. Some promos are common giveaways; others are scarce event exclusives.
- Black Star Promo - promos marked with a black star, numbered in their own series (e.g. SVP, SWSH).
- Staff / Prerelease - event-stamped versions, usually scarcer.
- Jumbo / oversized - larger-format cards, generally not gradable in standard slabs.
- Set symbol - the small icon identifying the expansion.
- Card number - the x/y number used with the set name to price the exact card.
- Japanese exclusive - released only in Japan; often different numbering and print runs.
Marketplace, condition and collecting slang
- Comps - comparable recent sold prices used to estimate value.
- NM / LP / MP / HP / DMG - Near Mint, Lightly Played, Moderately Played, Heavily Played, Damaged.
- Raw - ungraded.
- Bulk - low-value commons and uncommons sold by weight or lot.
- Chase card - the most desirable card in a set.
- Hit - a valuable pull.
- ETB - Elite Trainer Box.
- Sealed - unopened product.
- Proxy - an unofficial replica; never sell as genuine.
- Whitening - worn edges showing white cardstock, a common grade limiter.
- Print line - a factory surface line that can cap a grade.
How these terms show up in a scan
When Card Value Scanner identifies a card it tries to pin down the set, card number and finish, because those three details drive price more than the Pokémon name. From there you can compare estimated raw ranges to graded ranges.
- Confirm the set symbol and number if two variants look similar.
- Check whether the result is holo, reverse holo, full art or alt art.
- Treat all figures as ranges from observed sales, not live guaranteed prices.
Related guides
FAQ
What does PSA 10 mean?
PSA 10 is the top grade on PSA's 1–10 scale, labelled Gem Mint. It indicates a card that appears essentially flawless under the grader's standards, with sharp corners, clean surfaces and tight centering. It is an expert opinion, not a guarantee of future value.
What is the difference between alt art and full art?
Full art extends the existing character artwork across the entire card face. Alt art is a different illustration made for that variant, usually rarer and typically priced higher, though demand for the specific art matters most.
What does promo card mean?
A promo is any card distributed outside normal booster packs - in tins, blisters, box sets, magazines or at events. Values range from near-zero for mass giveaways to significant sums for scarce event or staff promos.
What are the most common TCG abbreviations?
NM (Near Mint), LP (Lightly Played), AA (alt art), SIR (Special Illustration Rare), IR (Illustration Rare), ETB (Elite Trainer Box), pop (population report) and comps (comparable sales).
What does raw mean versus graded?
Raw means ungraded and unencapsulated. Graded means a company has assessed condition and sealed the card in a slab with a numeric grade and certification number.
Does a card scanner app grade or authenticate cards?
No. Card Value Scanner identifies a card and shows estimated market and graded value ranges. Authentication and grading require submitting the physical card to a grading company.
What does whitening mean and why does it matter?
Whitening is white cardstock showing at worn edges or corners. Even light whitening can lower a grade, which often reduces estimated value noticeably.
What are comps?
Comps are comparable recent sold prices for the same card, set, variant and condition. They are the basis for value estimates - asking prices are not comps.
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