Record Grading - What Does It All Mean?

Brief History of the Goldmine Standard

 

The Goldmine Record Grading Standard was created by Goldmine Magazine, a publication founded in 1974 in the United States. The magazine served vinyl collectors and music enthusiasts, offering record reviews, price guides, and marketplace listings.

 

As record collecting expanded, a consistent and trustworthy method for describing the condition of vinyl records became necessary—especially for mail-order sales, where buyers couldn’t inspect items firsthand. To meet this need, Goldmine developed a clear, structured grading scale that could be universally understood.

 

The grading system quickly gained popularity among record dealers, collectors, and price guide publishers throughout the U.S. and beyond.

 

 

Why It Became the Industry Standard

 

Clarity and Consistency
The Goldmine system provided well-defined terms (e.g., Mint, VG+, VG) that described both records and sleeves in a standardized way. This reduced misunderstandings and helped establish trust between buyers and sellers.

 

Widespread Use
Its adoption in the Goldmine Price Guide, a widely used reference book, helped spread the system further. Record fairs, shops, and catalogs used the same terms, creating uniformity in the market.

 

Credibility Among Collectors

Collectors appreciated having a trusted, fair way to evaluate records. It allowed for more accurate pricing and better communication across the collector community.

 

Influence on Online Platforms
When online marketplaces like eBay and Discogs emerged, they adopted the Goldmine grading format (or closely related versions), reinforcing it as the global standard for vinyl grading.

 

 

 

Goldmine Record Grading Scale (Vinyl Condition)

 

 

1. Mint (M)

 

• Vinyl: Absolutely perfect in every way. Has never been played. No scuffs, scratches, warps, or other flaws.
• Cover: Perfect, with no creases, ring wear, seam splits, or writing.
• Note: Very rarely used. Even factory-new records may not be graded “Mint.”

 

2. Near Mint (NM or M-)

 

• Vinyl: Played only a few times, if at all. No visible wear, marks, or surface noise.
• Cover: Clean, sharp corners, no obvious ring wear or marks.
• Note: The record and cover are almost indistinguishable from Mint but not quite flawless.

 

3. Very Good Plus (VG+)

 

• Vinyl: Light signs of use. May have a few faint surface marks or slight background noise in quieter parts.
• Cover: Minor wear, slight ring wear or corner creases, but still very presentable.
• Note: Collectors consider VG+ very acceptable, especially for rare items.

 

4. Very Good (VG)

 

• Vinyl: Obvious signs of play. Surface noise noticeable in quiet sections, some light scratches or scuffs.
• Cover: More visible wear—ring wear, seam splits, discoloration, writing, or stickers.
• Note: Still plays well without skipping. A good listening copy, but not for strict collectors.

 

5. Good (G) / Good Plus (G+)

 

• Vinyl: Significant wear. Background noise, scratches, and visible groove wear are common. May skip once or twice.
• Cover: Major wear like heavy ring wear, seam splits, tape, large stickers, or tears.
• Note: Usable for casual listening, but not collectible. Often sold as placeholders.

 

6. Poor (P) / Fair (F)

 

• Vinyl: Badly damaged. Warped, cracked, or skips frequently. Hard to enjoy.
• Cover: Severely worn or torn, water damage, missing parts.
• Note: Typically only sold for rare historical or sentimental value.

 

Record Grading Summary Table

 

Grade	Playback Quality	Visual Condition	Collectibility
Mint (M)	Perfect	Flawless	Extremely collectible
NM	Nearly perfect	Very clean	Highly collectible
VG+	Excellent, minor noise	Light wear	Collectible
VG	Noticeable wear/noise	Moderate wear	Acceptable
G / G+	Noisy, maybe skip	Heavy wear	Low collectibility
P / F	Unplayable or poor sound	Damaged	Rare cases only

 

 

 

Goldmine Sleeve (Cover) Grading Scale

 

1. Mint (M)

 

• Condition: Perfect, as if just manufactured.
• No: Wear, discoloration, ring wear, creases, corner dings, splits, writing, or stickers.
• Still in shrink wrap (if applicable), with no damage or price tags.
• Note: Extremely rare—most new records won’t even qualify.

 

2. Near Mint (NM or M-)

 

• Condition: Almost perfect.
• May have one or two minor imperfections (e.g., tiny corner ding or very faint shelf wear).
• No major ring wear, spine wear, or seam splits.
• Artwork is clean, bright, and intact.
• Note: Most well-kept used records fall here.

 

3. Very Good Plus (VG+)

 

• Condition: Still attractive, with light wear.
• May show:
• Slight ring wear
• Minor corner or edge wear
• Small crease
• Light discoloration
• Spine is intact and readable. No major marks or damage.
• Note: A solid, presentable sleeve for most collectors.

 

4. Very Good (VG)

 

• Condition: Noticeable wear and aging.
• May include:
• Moderate ring wear
• Slight seam wear or small splits
• Minor writing (initials, small sticker)
• Light scuffing or fading
• Still functional and intact, but clearly used.

 

5. Good (G) / Good Plus (G+)

 

• Condition: Heavy wear. Sleeve may be holding together, but:
• Major ring wear
• Partial or full seam splits
• Large creases, writing, or tape repairs
• Stains, stickers, or tears
• Still protects the record, but far from collectible.

 

6. Poor (P) / Fair (F)

 

• Condition: Damaged or falling apart.
• Could be:
• Severely torn
• Water-damaged
• Missing a flap or panel
• Incomplete (e.g., missing gatefold insert or inner sleeve)
• Mostly of historical or sentimental interest.

 

 

Sleeve Grading Summary Table

 

Grade	Condition Details	Collectibility
Mint (M)	Flawless, brand new	Top-tier
NM	Almost perfect, very minor flaws	Highly collectible
VG+	Light wear (slight ring wear, small creases)	Collectible
VG	Moderate wear, visible use	Acceptable
G / G+	Heavy wear, seam splits, marks	Low
P / F	Very poor, torn, stained, or incomplete	Rare cases