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Identification & grading help — not a valuation. These tools decode catalog numbers and estimate condition. They never identify the exact pressing run or assign a dollar value — scan a record in the app for that.

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Goldmine Grade Helper

The Goldmine Standard is the collector's common language for condition. Answer a few questions about your record and get an estimated grade — remember, the single worst defect sets the ceiling.

1. Under good light, how does the playing surface look?

Still factory sealed / never playedLike new — glossy, no visible marksA few faint hairlines onlyLight scratches and some dullnessMany scratches, visibly wornHeavily scratched throughout

2. Run a fingernail lightly across it — any scratches you can feel?

None at allOne or two you can barely feelA few you can feelSeveral you can clearly feelMany deep ones

3. When played, how much surface noise is there?

Silent — no noiseFaint noise only in quiet passagesNoticeable, but the music dominatesConstant noise throughoutSkips or repeats

4. Is the record flat?

Perfectly flatA slight warp that plays fineA warp that affects play a littleA significant warp

Answer the questions (0/4) to estimate a grade — the worst defect sets the ceiling.

How grading works

Grade conservatively and grade under good light. A record is only as good as its biggest flaw, so a single deep scratch or a skip caps the grade no matter how clean the rest looks. Vinyl and sleeve are graded separately. See the full scale in the grading reference.

From grade to value

VinylIQ combines the exact pressing with its condition to estimate a market value — the step these free tools intentionally stop short of.

Get VinylIQ on iOS

VinylIQ

Snap. Scan. Value.

The web companion to the VinylIQ iOS app.

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