WHAT CLOVER MEANS
C · L · O · V · E · R
C
CORNERS
The condition, shape and integrity of the card's corners.
L
LUSTRE
The condition and visual quality of the card's finish and reflective characteristics.
O
OUTLINES
The positioning and alignment of the card's printed design within its physical boundaries.
V
VISUAL SURFACE
The visible condition of the card's front and rear surfaces, including marks, scratches and other imperfections.
E
EDGES
The condition and integrity of the card's edges, including whitening, chipping and wear.
R
REGISTRATION
The quality and alignment of the printed image, including print registration and related manufacturing characteristics.
NOT JUST AN AVERAGE.
HOW THE SCALE WORKS
CLOVER subgrades help describe different aspects of a card's condition, but the final grade is not necessarily a simple arithmetic average.
The type, location and severity of a defect can limit the final grade. This prevents a serious issue in one area from being hidden by stronger scores elsewhere.
10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 6 ≠ AUTOMATIC 9.5
THE CLV GRADING SCALE
WHAT DOES YOUR GRADE MEAN?
10
GEM MINT
Virtually flawless, with sharp corners, clean edges and an exceptional surface. Centering must ordinarily be 60/40 or better. For otherwise Gem Mint cards from recognised sets or print runs known for poor factory centering, limited leniency to 63/37 (37/63) may be applied.
9.5
MINT
Near-perfect. Only minor imperfections are permitted, such as a tiny edge, corner, surface or centering issue visible under close inspection.
9
NEAR MINT
Very clean overall, with minor identifiable imperfections such as slight whitening, faint surface marks, minor corner wear or centering deviation.
8.5
EX MINT
High-quality with light wear or manufacturing imperfections, including minor whitening, slight corner softening or light surface marks.
8
EXCELLENT+ TO EX MINT
Well-preserved with noticeable but moderate wear, such as edge whitening, minor corner wear, light scratches or surface imperfections.
7.5
EXCELLENT+
Moderate, clearly visible wear. Minor corner rounding, increased edge wear or more consistent surface marks may be present.
7
EXCELLENT
Clear signs of handling, including noticeable edge and corner wear, multiple light scratches or reduced surface quality.
6.5
NEAR EXCELLENT TO EXCELLENT
Pronounced wear, including softened corners, visible whitening and moderate surface imperfections across one or more areas.
6
NEAR EXCELLENT
Well-handled, with noticeable edge and corner wear and surface defects that are readily visible during inspection.
5.5
VERY GOOD TO NEAR EXCELLENT
Substantial wear, including extensive whitening, worn corners, surface dulling, scratching or minor structural imperfections.
5
VERY GOOD
Significant wear, with rounded corners, edge chipping, visible scratches and potentially minor dents, impressions or light creasing.
4.5
GOOD TO VERY GOOD
Heavy wear across multiple areas, potentially including extensive scratching, edge damage, corner wear or minor creasing.
4
GOOD
Clearly worn or damaged. Creases, dents, heavy surface wear, extensive whitening or significant corner damage may be present.
3.5
FAIR TO GOOD
Major wear with significant whitening, surface damage, corner deterioration, dents, creasing or multiple substantial defects.
3
FAIR
Heavily played, with clear creasing, extensive surface damage and substantial edge and corner wear.
2.5
POOR TO FAIR
Severe wear or damage, including multiple creases, heavy surface issues and major edge or corner deterioration.
2
POOR
Extensive damage across multiple areas, potentially including large creases, staining, dents and severe surface or edge wear.
1.5
DAMAGED TO POOR
Very heavily damaged, with severe defects and potentially weakened structural integrity.
1
DAMAGED
Extreme damage, potentially including tears, severe creasing, water damage, major surface loss or significant structural deterioration.
CLV 10
GEM MINT
THE TOP OF THE SCALE
An exceptional card with outstanding eye appeal and only the slightest imperfections permitted within the Gem Mint standard.
IDEAL CENTERING
50/50
CLV 10 TOLERANCE
60/40
DEFINED EXCEPTION
63 | 37
A CLV Gem Mint 10 will ordinarily require front centring (Outlines - O) of 60/40 or better.*
*Some sets and print runs are widely recognised for consistently poor factory centring.
Where this is an established characteristic of the relevant set or print run, CLV may apply limited centring leniency to an otherwise Gem Mint card, up to a maximum of 63/37.
This exception applies to centring only. It does not compensate for defects elsewhere on the card and does not automatically qualify an off-centred card for a 10.
CLV's grading framework allows limited recognition of a documented manufacturing characteristic where applying the ordinary tolerance would disproportionately penalise otherwise exceptional examples from a recognised poorly centred release.
The exception is deliberately narrow, is applied only where appropriate, and cannot exceed 63/37 for a CLV 10.