A Guide to Buying Authentic Trading Cards
Know the signs of counterfeit cards to verify the authenticity of your collection.
Counterfeit trading cards have always been an issue, but knowing how to spot fake cards is more important than ever. If you’re going to spend a lot of money on a card, you want to be absolutely sure it’s authentic. Follow these tips to ensure you’re buying authentic trading cards.
How to Make Sure You’re Buying Authentic Trading Cards
From sports to Pokémon, counterfeiters use many of the same techniques to try and pass off fake cards as the real thing. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help you differentiate between fake and authentic trading cards. The first step is to look at the print quality, colors, and font. Next, if you have the card in front of you, examine the cardstock, thickness, and shine.
Fake cards often have a lower quality than the authentic ones. Images of players or team logos may appear hazy or blurry on counterfeit cards, whereas images on authentic cards are vivid and crisp. If you’re a vintage collector, you should also take a look at the print pattern and style. Many vintage sports cards have a distinct honeycomb pattern, which is visible under magnification. When looking at an authentic card, you should be able to see very small dots arranged in a honeycomb/hexagonal pattern. This is how images were printed on authentic cards back in the day.
Next, you’ll want to take a look at the card’s color and font. The best way to do this is to compare the card in question to one you know is authentic. Do this with the two cards side by side if you can, but this might not be possible if you’re assessing a card listed on an online marketplace. Do your best to find listings with high-quality images or ask the seller to provide additional photos. Counterfeiters often have a hard time replicating the exact color or font of authentic cards, so match them up and see if there are any differences. If you don’t have an authentic card in front of you, go to a grading company’s database of cards. These have already been verified as authentic, so you can confidently compare your card to it to see if the colors and text match up. For Pokémon cards specifically, make sure the fonts are correct. Counterfeiters often struggle to replicate the actual fonts.
Finally, if you have the card in front of you, you’ll want to inspect the cardstock, thickness, and shine. Authentic cards have durable and sturdy cardstock, so be wary of cards that feel thin or flimsy. You’ll also want to hold the card in question up to the light. If you can see light shining through it, chances are it’s a fake card. Examining the shine of a vintage card is also a good way to see if it’s authentic. If you have access to a blacklight, vintage sports cards should appear dull under it. If it lights up, it’s probably fake.
Know the Signs of Counterfeit Cards for Specific Sets or Cards
Unfortunately, there are many specific sets or cards that counterfeiters target. These are often some of the most iconic cards on the market, like the 1952 Mickey Mantle, Michael Jordan’s rookie card, or the 1st Edition Charizard.
Collectors have put together detailed guides to help others verify the authenticity of these specific cards, as well as many other popular sets. If you’ve already examined your card but are still unsure if it’s authentic, make a specific search for a guide to identifying the specific card or set. There’s a good chance a fellow collector has put together a guide to identifying fakes.
The Most Commonly Faked Sports Cards
Besides the 1952 Mantle, 1986 Fleer Jordan, and 1st Edition Charizard, here are some of the other most commonly counterfeited sports cards:
- 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky
- 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig
- 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner
- 2003 Topps LeBron James
- 2000 Skybox Impact Tom Brady
- Poncho Pikachu
- Van Gogh Pikachu
Buy Authentic Trading Cards Today
The best way to ensure you’re buying authentic trading cards is to buy from reputable sellers like AA Mint Cards. We guarantee the authenticity of our trading cards, sealed boxes, and all other products. If you have a card in your collection that you question is authentic, our sports and Pokémon experts can help. Stop by today to speak to our experts and buy authentic trading cards!
