What Does "Scoring Facial" Mean On A Cert Description?

Redtail,

Thank you for the image of the certificate.
It would be useful to have a hi-res image of the stamp, front and back.
My apology if you think I am being picky and persistent, but you have asked us for our interpretation and insight, and we still don't have the most complete information.

Otherwise, yes, score = a cut into the surface = damage = fault

I see it as a warning to handle with care :)

for the groups study if they so wish (this was the best I could get under the size limit) I'm not sure it is detectable via this scan?

I agree in the end it is a flaw (damage) and it is therefore not a "clean opinion" thank you all!

Here?

This search for the mysterious "facial scoring" shows just how inadequate PSAG is with their cert description.

A "score line" is a shallow cut that does not go all the way through the paper. Bill Crowe's reference to the nib of the pen used in cancelling leaving a scoring trace sounds most likely. On this stamp there is a right to left descending diagonal pen stroke, in addition to an "x," and at the top edge of that stroke there is a diagonal mark that is more deeply black than what surrounds it. When you have the stamp in hand I would look at that part of the mark under magnification (not the pixelated mess we have been shown) and check to see if the top of that stroke cuts into the paper (but not through).

Whether that is the correct spot or not, somewhere you should see a cut line that does not go all the way through.

Redtail: I want to thank you for initiating this post. The resulting discussion has been both interesting & illuminating.

We have this nailed down now. Hopefully the pic above is better. On examination there are a two long parallels scores, that don't penetrate the paper. These two scores were caused by the ink pen not being smooth (nibs) as suggested earlier. These scores start at the top right perforation were I presume the pen cancelation started and had the most force and ink. The scores run in parallel and start to fade out right before hitting the "X" part of the pen cancel.

Yup,
wording could have been better.
The way I read it was the scoring was threw the centre of the X.