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The first of these terms is Reloadable. For phonecards the term is Rechargable and in essence they mean the same thing. You can add value to the card after it has been used. To complicate matters some of these cards are originally issued with no value and have to be activated. In order to make the decision you need to know a lot about the card you are reading. The situation gets worse. Some chip cards are used in closed or private systems and a reader may not be available. There is also a progression toward cards that will serve more than one purpose. These cards may have purses that allow for lab fees, cafeteria meals, and general services such as laundry or vending machines. In addition they are being used for identification purposes. How does one deal with the value on these cards?
My feeling is that a collector will still be interested in condition, condition, condition. The fact that the card has a reading of value may only help the collector choose one card over another, cost being equal. I do not believe that there will be a substantial premium for this reading as it does not add to condition and can only be ascertained with special equipment. Two additional terms, unloaded and stripped, will help explain my feelings. These terms are in the process of evolution in the collector community and the exact meaning is yet to be determined.
The terms unloaded or stripped pose a big problem. I get the impression there is an attempt to imply some added value to a card because it has been stripped or unloaded prior to being sold. To me these cards will always be regarded as used or in some situations, specimens. To explain this let us go into the future. You, as a collector, are handed a card and told that it has been stripped by the bank before release to the public. You take out your handy card reader and check the value. It says zero, the same as any used card. What makes this card more desirable than a normal used card and how can you verify this fact? Perhaps this can be done from the serial number if you know enough about the card or the information is still available. Perhaps the card is part of a matched set. In both the previous examples the value would be determined by the serial number and not the fact that it had been stripped.
Once again, suppose you have no such information but have a card in your collection that is identical. You get the card and check its value in the reader. Your own card also reads zero. At this point we now come to the heart of the problem. To determine value you will look at condition because for all reasonable purposes both cards are used cards. After examination you find that both cards have the same condition. If you now placed both cards on a table and had another knowledgeable collector examine the cards would he be able to identify the used card from the stripped card? If you do not think he could, then stripped cards should be considered as used cards and the term should give no added value to a card.
Farther in the future it may not be possible to read the value on old cards. Have you tried to read a 5-1/4 floppy with a new computer? There is no 5-1/4 drive. Going back further, try reading a single sided single density 64K floppy. You would need a working 15 year old computer with an old operating system! The point is that added value must be readily verifiable by simple examination. Of course you can always wait for a knowledgeable specialist to come along. It is, however, important to remember that although a specialist may pay extra for a particular variety there are far fewer specialists than general collectors.
At this point I think you can understand how I would try to determine mint or used as well as the fact that neither term has anything to do with the condition of a card. Condition or Grade
I stated earlier that it is the goal of all collectors to acquire a card in the best possible condition. The question now is what is the best possible condition? To answer this question we have to know something about the card to be graded.
1. What is the expected life of the card? A manufacturer that is making a card for a short term use may use a different material from one that will be used for a long period of time. For example the AT&T cards printed on Cereal boxes ( 5 Min ) vs. Reloadable Visa Cash ( similar to a credit card ).
2. What is the material from which the card is made? Some materials wear more quickly than others.
3. Was the card produced as a limited edition collectible? Limited edition collectible cards should be of higher quality and condition than those issued for general use.
4. Was the card originally issued in a container such as an envelope or blister pack. Cards that have had protection in handling should be of better grade than those that do not.
5. Are the cards known to contain certain defects in printing, handling, etc. Visa Cash french fry cards are known to be scratched even in mint condition.
The next area to examine is printing.
1. Is the image sharp and clear?
2. Is the printing well centered?
3. Is the front ( obverse ) in as good a condition as the back ( reverse ).
We also must examine the current physical state of the card.
1. Is the card physically damaged, holed, scarred, or bent?
2. Are there any use scratches on the card?
3. Are the chip contacts scratched?
4. What is the state of the chip -- readable, reloadable , etc. With the answers to these questions we could now grade the card. The problem is there are no existing guidelines to help us. We find that we can not use one existing system. The grade of our cards partially fits terms used by Sports or Trade Cards, Stamps and Coins.
It is my opinion that the closest fit is the terminology of Numismatics ( Coin Collecting ). The grading in this hobby deals with items that circulate causing wear to occur. There is also provision for images being off center. Value is also determined by dates and mint marks -- which is similar to expiration dates and matched numbered sets. Lets see where we are now in this process. It is wise to remember that some things are already predetermined. The de facto bible of our hobby is the Moneycard Catalog. This book is a product of Amos Press Inc. which owns Scott Publishing Company, Linns Stamp News and Coin World
If we examine the current catalog we can find certain information about a card that will help us in grading. Quantity issued, Public or Private card, material of card and type of card. Other than a mint or used column there is no information concerning grade in the regular pages.
I propose the following terms be used as an initial trial at grading. These terms, similar to terms in the coin collecting hobby, try to take into account various common defects found on cards.
Uncirculated ( Unc. ) -- The card is as issued and has never been in circulation. The card may be mint or used, loaded or unloaded.
Extremely fine ( EF ) -- The card, upon close examination shows minimal signs of wear or use. The scratch off may be removed but the card must show no damage from this process. Contact pads have no noticeable wear or scratches.
Very fine ( VF ) -- Use is easily determined. There are noticeable fine scratches on the card: however, the printing is unaffected. The scratch off area may be dirty or light damage may have occurred to the card in removing the scratch off. Contact pads have light wear or scratches.
Fine ( F ) -- Apparent overall wear. Uniform small scratches dull all surfaces. A few of the scratches may mar the printing. There are no major scars or defects. Contact pads scratched or worn.
Good ( G ) -- An identifiable card that may be bent or has other major problems. This card is a filler.
To the collector, condition as well as rarity, is the key to value. The use of these five grading terms along with a mint or used designation will eliminate confusion and provide the collector and dealer community with a better method of describing the condition of their cards.
1,000 cards were produced, with 5 minutes of phone time by Cable & Wireless, which expires in April of 1999.
For further information, contact Vince Porteous at Gazelle Telecard at (206) 935-3576, or via e-mail at metalcore@aol.com
Success Tech has signed an agreement with Alf Bicknell (former Limo Driver and Road Manager for the Beatles from 1964 thru 1966) for the images being used on these One-of-a-kind Collector Phone Cards. Phone Cards is the fastest growing segment of collecting today. There is in excess of 2.8 million collectors the world over.
The Florida Company is selling the Rare Cards primarily via established Phone Card Collector services, such as Phone Card Connection in Ft Lauderdale, FL and B & C Marketing in Kissimmee, FL.
The cards are featured in the May 98 issue of MoneyCard Collectore Magazine by Amos Press, in the "New Issues" section and will appear in a one page ad in Beatlefan Magazine.
Success Tech will also be utilizing the cards for various promotions such as; Radio Station giveaways; Corporate Incentive programs; Employee Incentive Programs, etc.
From: Adrienne Sparks
From: Ginger Gragg
From: Frank Duzick
Until Next Time,
Alan
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