Collectible Terms & Definitions
A comprehensive glossary of collecting terminology across trading cards, coins, comics, and stamps. Look up any term to understand its meaning.
Bullion
Precious metals (gold, silver, platinum) in the form of bars, coins, or ingots, valued by metal content rather than rarity.
Crack Out
Removing an item from its grading holder to resubmit it, hoping for a higher grade. Risky and can damage the item.
Crossover
Submitting an item already graded by one grading company to another, often to try for a higher grade.
Eye Appeal
The overall visual attractiveness of a collectible, considering color, luster, and cleanliness. A subjective factor that can influence grade.
Grade
A numerical assessment of a collectible's condition on a standardized scale, typically 1-10, assigned by a professional grading company.
Holder
The tamper-evident plastic case that a grading company uses to encapsulate a graded collectible.
Market Value
The price a collectible would realistically sell for in the current market, based on recent comparable sales.
Mint
A condition describing an item in pristine, original state with no signs of wear or damage. Also refers to a facility that produces coins.
Population Report
A database maintained by grading companies showing how many items of each type have been graded and in what condition.
Raw
An ungraded collectible that has not been encapsulated by a professional grading service.
Registry Set
A competitive collection tracked by a grading company where collectors compete for the highest-graded set.
Slab
Slang for the plastic holder used by grading companies to encapsulate graded items.
Specimen
A single example of a collectible, often used to describe a particularly notable or representative piece.
Turnaround Time
The time from submitting an item for grading to receiving it back graded. Varies by service level and company workload.
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