Mint Authentication: Authenticity and Grade Guarantee
I. Commitment and Foundation
The Mint Authentication Authenticity and Grade Guarantee (the “Guarantee”) is the cornerstone of Mint Authentication’s reputation as a trusted, independent third-party authentication and grading service.
Mint Authentication guarantees its professional opinions regarding the authenticity and grade of every item we encapsulate, as permanently stated on the Mint Authentication label. This Guarantee is subject only to the specific limitations and conditions detailed below.
Mint Authentication reserves the right to modify or update the terms of this Guarantee at any time.
Note: To ensure the integrity of the Guarantee program, any claimant must sign a formal attestation agreement and may be subject to a background check to confirm eligibility.
II. Scope of the Guarantee (Cards)
A. Authenticity and Grade Standard
Mint Authentication guarantees that all cards submitted and certified are graded in strict adherence to Mint Authentication’s own, proprietary authentication and grading standards.
B. Exclusivity
This Guarantee is exclusive to cards that have been authenticated and graded solely by Mint Authentication. It expressly does not cover cards graded by any other company.
C. Guarantee Requirements
Upon submission by the current owner of a Mint Authentication authenticated and graded card (the “Card”), Mint Authentication will review the item if the owner believes the Card was either:
Erroneously awarded the assigned Mint Authentication grade, or
Fails to meet Mint Authentication’s authenticity standards.
A claim is only eligible if the Card had an active certification number displayed on the Mint Authentication website’s “Verify Cert” feature at the time the Card was purchased by the claimant.
If Mint Authentication confirms the error, we will, subject to the Maximum Amount (see Section IV), provide one of the two remedies detailed in Section III.
III. Guarantee Remedies
In response to a confirmed, eligible, and valid Guarantee claim, Mint Authentication will choose, in its sole discretion, one of the following two remedies:
1. Buyback Option
Mint Authentication will purchase the applicable Card (the “Item”) outright from the current owner at its current market value, assuming the initial assigned grade or finding of authenticity had been accurate.
2. Grade Correction and Refund Option
If Mint Authentication confirms the Card is authentic but assigns a lower revised grade, or deems it ineligible for a grade:
Mint Authentication will refund the difference between the Item’s current market value at the original, erroneous grade and its current market value at the revised grade.
The Card will be returned to the customer along with the value differential refund.
Determining Current Market Value
The current market value is determined by Mint Authentication in its sole and absolute discretion. This determination will be based on factors including, but not limited to, verifiable recent sales data and Mint Authentication’s proprietary pricing indices. A proof-of-purchase must be provided by the claimant to complete the valuation process.
IV. Maximum Claim Amount
A. Individual and Lifetime Caps (the “Maximum Amount”)
The Maximum Amount for Guarantee claims is strictly limited:
Per-Card Maximum: $50,000 USD.
Lifetime Cap per Person: $100,000 USD.
Mint Authentication will not pay Guarantee claims that exceed the applicable Maximum Amount.
B. Definition of “Person”
For the purpose of this Guarantee, a “Person” is defined as any individual or legal entity of any type.
C. Preventing Abuse
To prevent abuse of the Guarantee, Mint Authentication reserves the right to aggregate the claim amounts (paid or pending) of related Persons toward the lifetime cap. Related Persons may include, but are not limited to, members of the same household, an entity’s directors and officers, and affiliated entities.
V. Exclusions (What the Guarantee Does Not Cover)
The Guarantee is void and does not apply under any of the following circumstances:
Clerical or Mechanical Error: The Guarantee does not cover any Item where a clerical error (e.g., a typo or mislabel) has been made regarding the assigned grade, Item description, specification, set, variation, or parallel.
Tampering/Holder Integrity: Any Item that has been removed from the Mint Authentication holder, either inadvertently or intentionally, or where the holder and/or label shows evidence of tampering, fraud, or intentional damage.
Post-Grading Damage:
Items that show evidence of rough handling (such as shaking or slamming) which causes a discernible pattern of damage.
Items environmentally damaged due to improper storage, natural disasters (e.g., fire/water), or environmental deterioration (e.g., sunlight exposure or mold) subsequent to the initial Mint Authentication grading.
Manufacturer Defects: Issues related to manufacturing, including but not limited to misprints.
Autographs: The authenticity or grade assigned to any autograph, regardless of whether it was certified by the manufacturer or applied after the Item’s release.
Memorabilia Cards: The authenticity or grade assigned to Cards containing memorabilia pieces (e.g., jersey swatches, logo patches, game-used bat relics, etc.).
Deactivated Certification: The certification number of the Card was deactivated by Mint Authentication prior to the most recent purchase by the claimant.
Loss, Theft, or Damage: The Guarantee applies solely to questions regarding an Item’s authenticity or assigned grade. It does not cover lost, stolen, or otherwise damaged Cards unrelated to the grading opinion.