Upper Deck has been at the forefront of innovation for years when it comes to authenticity. One of the most recent examples is the introduction of an industry-first trading card authentication for highly coveted Rookie Auto Patch cards. First unveiled in 2025 as part of the release of Upper Deck’s 2023-24 The Cup hockey trading card set, the feature allows collectors to verify their Rookie Auto Patch cards are authentic, uncirculated, and have not been tampered with via patch swapping. Each card is slabbed, photographed, and serial numbered with a QR code, which displays a gallery of images from multiple angles that depict the card as it was originally issued by Upper Deck.
Now, another advancement in technology is accompanying Upper Deck’s 2024-25 The Cup Hockey. Dynamics Inc. (creators of The Authority™) today announced the launch of the Grading Chip™, the world’s first and only grading label that can be permanently and ultrasonically sealed into an encapsulated collectible case or “slab.” For the first time, an encapsulated trading card can be purchased and then graded without requiring the case to be broken and the card re-encapsulated.
Each tin of 2024-25 Upper Deck The Cup Hockey includes one Rookie Auto Patch trading card encapsulated in an Authority slab with an uncirculated designation, as the trading cards were slabbed as a part of the manufacturing process prior to being available for the public to purchase.
To celebrate the introduction of ‘Grading Chip™, collectors who submit any slabbed uncirculated Rookie Auto Patch from 2023-24 or 2024-25 Upper Deck The Cup to The Authority can have their card graded with Grading Chip™ at no cost. The Authority does not charge for submission or vaulting of Authority Slabs™, so a collector can submit, vault, and grade Authority uncirculated slabbed The Cup cards at no charge. This offer is not perpetual and will expire on December 31, 2026.
Visit TheAuthority.com to learn more about the Grading Chip™.
