The Collectible Grading Authority .Inc use two types of AFA Grades each with three grading levels. The two types of grades are normal AFA Grades and AFAM Grades. The M in AFAM stands for Millennium.

To make things more confusing the AFA Grades also contain three subgrades. These are Card, Blister, and Figure. The goal of the subgrades is to further define the condition of a particular figure. Once the grade has been established, the grader will then assign individual grades for the card, the blister, and the figure. The overall grade is NOT an average of these three grades.

Furthermore, the new criteria will help define conditions within a particular grade. By using this additional information, a collector can determine whether or not a figure's grade is borderline. Also, the new criteria will direct collectors to the part of the card that has the most damage. For example, a card that received an overall grade of 85 with a 90 Card, an 80 Blister, and a 90 Figure will show collectors that the blister has the most damage. A card that received an overall grade of 85 with an 85 Card, an 80 Blister, and an 80 Figure will show collectors that this particular piece is a low end 85.

Below is a list of defects which will reduce the overall grade in each sub-category.

Figure/Vehicle: The actual figure will be considered mint unless there exists a defect that detracts from its overall eye appeal. Defects include paint wear, discoloration, over-spray, fading or dismemberment. If the carded figure comes with a collector coin, trading card or other insert, they will also be rated against overall eye appeal.

Blister/Window: The blister will be judged against dents, scratches, fading, yellowing, clouding, sticker residue, tearing, cuts, lifting, soiling, rub marks, crushing, gluing , factory cut and foreign items (ink mark or staple etc.).

Cardback/Box: The backer card will be judged against creasing, bending, rolling, tearing, scuffing, scratching, lifting, print marks, loss of gloss, soiling, discoloring, edge wear, nicks, punctures, ink or foreign markings, peg hole punch, tape repair, focus, price sticker, sticker tear, sticker residue, water damage, bubbling and attached foreign objects.

Price Stickers: Price stickers are generally not considered major flaws, but only become a factor if curling, tearing, staining, picking, etc. of the sticker has occurred. The location of the sticker is also a factor, though most are placed in an area such as a corner that does not detract from the overall appearance of the card. Basically, the condition of the sticker factors into the card subgrade, and from there into the overall grade of the piece.

To find out more about AFA, or to get one of you Action Figures AFA graded, then visit the AFA website toygrader.com.

AFA Grades

AFA Gold level: The AFA Gold level consists of the grades 100, 95, and 90. The select few figures that receive these grades are among the highest quality in existence. A very small percentage of figures submitted to AFA receive a Gold grade. The flaws are very minor, very subtle, and are sometimes very hard to identify with the naked eye. The collector who is extremely condition sensitive will be satisfied with the condition of a Gold level figure.
DescriptionAFA GradeAbbreviation Gem Mint100GEM MT Mint95MINT Near Mint/Mint90NM/MT

AFA Silver level: The AFA Silver level consists of the grades 85, 80, and 75. The figures that receive these grades are in excellent condition. A figure graded an 85 will often be referred to as 'case fresh' and should be very close to gold level condition. The term 'case fresh' is certainly justifiable as the average figure pulled from a sealed case will grade an 85 due to small flaws which occur when the figures are packaged or shipped in the case. The average figure pulled from a store shelf is usually an 80, which represents a nice speciman with minor flaws apparent upon close inspection. The final Silver level grade, a 75, represents an item with more minor flaws than the average Silver level piece. An item grading 75 does have significant wear but does not have major flaws which would draw the eye to them at first glance. For most high grade collectors, an 85 is satisfactory. For most discriminating collectors, an 80 is satisfactory. A 75 will be satisfactory to those who are not overly concerned with light stresses, small bubble imperfections, and other flaws which do not jump out at first glance. Therefore, the Silver level grades do represent a much larger range than the Gold level grades. DescriptionAFA GradeAbbreviation Near Mint Plus85NM+ Near Mint80NM Excellent Plus/Near Mint75EX+/NM

AFA Silver level: The AFA Bronze level consists of the grades 70, 60, and below. The figures that receive these grades typically have damage ranging from simply noticeable upon first glance to extremely significant. The card may have creases on the front and the blister may be crushed or cracked. The Bronze level covers a large range of figure conditions and the scope of the flaws range considerably. Condition for Bronze level figures is determined by how many 'major' flaws are present on the card and how severe each flaw is. Bronze level figures may have major flaws such as a torn off POP or other large paper tears. Bronze level figures may not be satisfactory to condition sensitive collectors. DescriptionAFA GradeAbbreviation Excellent Plus70EX+ Excellent60EX Very Good50VG Good40G Fair30FAIR Poor20POOR Very Poor10VP

AFAM Grades

AFA Gold level: The AFAM Gold level consists of the grades 10.0, 9.5, and 9.0. The select few figures that receive these grades are among the highest quality in existence. The flaws are very minor, very subtle, and are sometimes very hard to identify with the naked eye. The collector who is extremely condition sensitive will be satisfied with the condition of a Gold level figure.

AFA Silver level: The AFAM Silver level consists of the grades 8.5, 8.0, and 7.5. The figures that receive these grades are in excellent condition. A collector would be able to spot a few small flaws on an 8.5 and would see several moderate flaws on a 7.5.

AFA Silver level: The AFA Bronze level consists of the grades 70, 60, and below. The figures that receive these grades typically have damage ranging from simply noticeable upon first glance to extremely significant. The card may have creases on the front and the blister may be crushed or cracked. The Bronze level covers a large range of figure conditions and the scope of the flaws range considerably. Condition for Bronze level figures is determined by how many 'major' flaws are present on the card and how severe each flaw is. Bronze level figures may have major flaws such as a torn off POP or other large paper tears. Bronze level figures may not be satisfactory to condition sensitive collectors. The AFAM Bronze level consists of the grades 7.0 and below. The figures that receive these grades typically have damage ranging from simply noticeable upon first glance to extremely significant. Since all AFAM items must come directly from the original manufacturer's case, very few items will be low enough to receive these grades.

Quelle: http://www.afatransformers.com/about-afa-grades