Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) — already the dominant grading service for comic books — launched CGC Cards in 2020 and has since graded millions of trading cards worldwide. In the Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh markets particularly, CGC has established itself as a credible, trusted alternative to PSA, with a growing secondary market that CardPawn's appraisers actively monitor.
Does CardPawn Accept CGC-Graded Cards?
Yes. CardPawn accepts cards graded by CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) as loan collateral. We currently accept CGC grades across:
- Pokémon Trading Card Game
- Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
- Magic: The Gathering
- Sports cards (baseball, basketball, hockey, football)
- Other non-sport TCGs
CGC vs PSA: What's the LTV Difference?
CGC grades are well-respected, but PSA maintains a liquidity advantage in most markets — particularly sports cards. This market depth difference is reflected in our LTV ratios:
| Market | CGC LTV | PSA LTV (same grade) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokémon vintage (WOTC era) | 55–65% | 60–70% | ~5% |
| Pokémon modern | 50–60% | 55–65% | ~5% |
| Yu-Gi-Oh vintage | 50–60% | 55–65% | ~5% |
| Sports cards (hockey/baseball/basketball) | 45–55% | 55–65% | ~10% |
| Magic: The Gathering | 50–60% | 55–65% | ~5% |
The gap is narrower for Pokémon and YGO (where CGC has strong market acceptance) and wider for sports cards (where PSA dominance is most pronounced).
Understanding CGC's Grade Scale
CGC uses a 10-point numeric scale similar to PSA, with half-point increments (9.5, 8.5, etc.) and several premium designations:
- CGC 10 Pristine — Equivalent to PSA 10 in quality expectations. Commands strongest premiums
- CGC 10 Perfect — A new ultra-premium designation for flawless cards. Extremely rare; commands significant premium
- CGC 9.5 Gem Mint — Comparable to PSA 9 Mint in collector perception
- CGC 9 Mint — Strong grade with good secondary market
CGC's Advantages for Certain Submissions
There are specific scenarios where CGC may be the better grading choice before a CardPawn loan:
- Modern Pokémon cards — CGC has very competitive turnaround times and pricing versus PSA for post-2016 Pokémon sets
- Yu-Gi-Oh — CGC's YGO market acceptance has grown substantially since 2022; for LOB and MRD era cards, CGC provides solid valuations
- Speed requirements — CGC has historically offered faster turnaround at Economy tier versus PSA during peak periods
- Canadian submissions — CGC has authorized LCS (local card shop) submission partners across Canada, making access convenient without the PSA tariff considerations
Reholder or Crossover Before Applying?
If you hold high-value cards in CGC slabs and want to maximize your loan amount, consider whether a PSA crossover submission makes financial sense. A $15,000 Pokémon card in CGC 10 might yield a CardPawn loan of $8,250–$9,750. The same card successfully crossed to PSA 10 could yield $9,000–$10,500. At PSA's crossover fee (~$100–$150), the math often works in your favour on cards above $8,000.
High-Value CGC Cards CardPawn Regularly Lends Against
- 1999 Pokémon Base Set 1st Edition Charizard CGC 10 — Est. $250,000–$400,000 CAD
- 1999 Pokémon Base Set 1st Edition Charizard CGC 9.5 — Est. $30,000–$60,000 CAD
- Blue-Eyes White Dragon LOB-001 1st Edition CGC 9 — Est. $8,000–$15,000 CAD
- 2020-21 Pokémon Evolving Skies Umbreon VMAX Alt Art CGC 10 — Est. $1,500–$3,000 CAD
- 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan RC CGC 8 — Est. $12,000–$20,000 CAD
Applying With a CGC Card
The process is identical to PSA submissions. Visit our loan application, specify "CGC" as your grading service, include the CGC grade and certification number, and upload photos showing the slab front, back, and CGC label clearly. Our appraisers will verify the slab authenticity via CGC's online registry before issuing your loan offer.