Sorry if this should have been in another thread.
I’m not worried, I don’t think its mold, at least does not look like it as far as I know, and it was like this when I purchased it already graded last summer.
I’m just curious how normal it is for them to miss residue this bad.
To be fair, its mainly visible if you look at it in bright light, and I can absolutely believe seller didn’t see it. I’m not complaining, front of the card is fine, but considering people say PSA grade harshly on dents I can’t see in photos / videos people post of cards online and they think those cards would be getting 6’s, I’m surprised this Birthday Pikachu got graded 9
I know people say buy the card not the grade, or the other way around, I am keeping the card myself, I just felt like asking since I’m using this account somewhat again, and rememered this card had this residue on it.
Could be how they grade the older vintage cards like this one as it has the old Japanese back. They are lenient with known vintage cards to have silvering , centering issues ect. So maybe just maybe they allowed this a 9 because Japanese older backs may have this issue time to time ?
In my experience, it’s not very common to see such significant surface residue receive a PSA 9. You could send it back in via PSA’s Grade Guarantee and get paid out the difference between the current grade (PSA 9) and whatever grade they think it deserves given this issue.
Thanks, I will keep the card as the 9 it currently is.
You are right, it looks like it does show some of ot on the PSA scan, I did not see that without zooming in
I don’t think its mold it got before grading either (hopefully it isn’t) as whatever it is I don’t think it has grown since I got it.
