Loading...
Loading...
PSA 4 is a very good to excellent card with obvious wear visible at arm's length. Significant off-centering, corner rounding, edge wear, and surface marks are present. The card is intact and complete but shows clear signs of handling. This grade is mainly sought for vintage key cards.
What PSA looks for when assigning a grade of 4 (VG-EX (Very Good-Excellent)).
Significant off-centering allowed, no specific ratio required
Moderate to heavy rounding on all corners
Noticeable wear with chipping and whitening throughout
Light creasing, surface scratches, or minor staining allowed
PSA 4 is primarily a vintage collector grade. For pre-1980 key cards, a PSA 4 still provides meaningful authentication value and a known condition baseline. For modern or common cards, grading to PSA 4 is rarely worthwhile as the slab does not add value.
A PSA 4 is not a "throw away" grade. For vintage cards, VG-EX is a very common and accepted condition that many collectors target.
PSA 4 does not mean the card has been abused. Many PSA 4 cards were simply stored in shoeboxes or binders for decades, accumulating gradual wear.
Cracking a PSA 4 out and resubmitting will almost never improve the grade significantly. The wear is real and will be noted again.
PSA 4 VG-EX indicates a card with obvious wear that is visible at arm's length. The card has significant corner rounding, edge wear, surface imperfections, and may be noticeably off-center. Despite the wear, the card is complete and intact.
PSA 4 is worth grading for vintage key cards where even low-grade examples are valuable. Hall-of-fame rookie cards, iconic vintage cards, and rare variations from the 1950s-1970s are prime candidates. Authentication alone can add value for these cards.
It depends on the card. For a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, even a PSA 4 adds significant value through authentication and condition standardization. For a common 1980s card, a PSA 4 adds essentially no value. Focus on key cards only.
PSA 4 shows more pronounced wear than PSA 5. Corners are more rounded, edge wear is more extensive, and surface imperfections are more obvious. The overall card shows wear that is clearly visible without close inspection.