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TAG 9: centering requirements

From an August 2026 cross-check of TAG’s published rubric. Back figures shown are TAG’s TCG figures; sports backs differ. Checked 2026-08-22. Official page.

Mint 9: ~60/40 front, 75/25 back (their word: "approximately")
Measure your card against this line →

Either side of it

Ratios that reach Mint 9 but not the grade above, on the front line alone: 57/43 · 58/42 · 60/40.

TAG, every grade

GradeFrontBack
Pristine 10~51/4952/48
Gem Mint 10~55/4565/35
Mint 9~60/4075/25
8.5~62.5/37.585/15
NM-MT 8~65/3595/5
7.5~67.5/32.5
NM 7~70/30
6.5~72.5/27.5
EX-MT 6~75/25
5.5~77.5/22.5
EX 5~80/20
4.5~82.5/17.5
VG-EX 4~85/15
3.5~87.5/12.5
VG 3~90/10
2.5~92.5/7.5
Good 2~95/5
Fair 1.5~98.3/1.7
Poor 1

Questions

What centering does TAG require for a 9?

Mint 9: ~60/40 front, 75/25 back. TAG says "approximately", so the line carries grader discretion.

How much better does centering have to be for a TAG 10?

Gem Mint 10 needs ~55/45 front, 65/35 back, against ~60/40 for Mint 9.

Which centering ratios reach exactly a TAG 9?

On the published front lines alone: 57/43, 58/42, 60/40 — better than the Mint 9 line but not the Gem Mint 10 line. Corners, edges and surface can only hold or lower the grade.

How is the ratio measured?

Compare the two borders on each axis: a card whose left border is 57% of left plus right is 57/43. Services judge the worse axis, front and back separately. SlabbyPrep measures both from a photo to a hundredth of a millimetre.

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