Everything You Need to Know About Grading with PCGS or NGC (2024)

FAQs

Which coin grading is better NGC or PCGS? ›

PCGS is considered the more esteemed grading service overall. Coins graded by PCGS tend to have a higher resale value. This does not mean that NGC is a bad grading company, it is still one of the top coin graders in the world and people will pay more for an NGC slabbed coin than a non-slabbed coin.

Overall, collectors perceive PCGS as the superior third-party grading service. Collectors and dealers generally pay more for PCGS-graded coins, which means these coins have a higher resale value. However, many collectors consider NGC the leading grading company for foreign coins.

However, it's typically not worth the expense to have common date coins graded and certified by PCGS or NGC; especially if they're in average condition. Common date coins in high-end condition, on the other hand, may be a different story.

Since 1986, PCGS has been the industry standard for the authentication and grading of rare coins.

PCGS Restoration will not remove original toning simply to make a coin white. PCGS Restoration will never add toning to a coin. In cases where PCGS determines that removing toning is necessary and desirable and will not detract from the coin, it may be done.

Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), Independent Coin Graders (ICG), and ANACS are the most popular and credible services. Together they have certified over 80 million coins. All four firms guarantee the grades and authenticity of their certified coins.

PCGS offers two different ways to submit coins either by (1) joining the Collectors Club or (2) going through a PCGS Authorized Dealer. Both will get your coins graded. Below are overviews of each method so you can decide which is best for your situation.

Occasionally a coin will come into the PCGS Grading Room that simply isn't eligible for grading. A No-Grade coin might be one that is artificially toned, abrasively cleaned, has very large scratches, has been altered, or has been repaired.

PCGS interprets cleaning as surface damage due to any form of abrasive cleaning. "Cleaned" covers a wide range or appearances, from a grossly polished coin to one where faint hairlines can be seen only at a particular angle or in only one area on an otherwise perfectly normal coin.

How do I ship coins to PCGS for grading? ›

We ask that you send your coins in 2 ½ x 2 ½ Mylar flips. You can purchase them and other packaging supplies at our online store. Please DO NOT send your coins in stapled holders, 2x2 flips, vinyl flips (that may contain PVC) or tubes, as doing so can cause a delay in processing.

Costs Associated with a PCGS Grade for Your Coin

PCGS has a handling fee of $10 for each submission. Like NGC, PCGS offers grading services to members of the Collectors Club. The price of a PCGS membership at the Silver level is $69 and includes no grading vouchers.

Coin Grading Costs

Grading prices vary according to the maximum value per coin. For instance, modern coins that are worth a maximum of $300 will cost from $17 to $22, depending on the company of your choosing. Coins with a maximum value of $10,000 can be graded for $65 to $80 dollars.

In general, the MS70 grade retails at about 2 to 3 times the cost of a raw coin while the MS69 grade retails at about 1.5 to 2 times the cost of a raw coin. Unfortunately, these graded coins only have a "one-way-market" from the big national coin dealers to the consumer.

Are graded coins worth more? Not in all cases. The value of a graded coin depends heavily on the current worth of a coin. Some collectors may choose to pay more than the actual metal value or face value of a coin because it is extremely rare or in extremely good condition.

According to research professor Vinod Patel, washing coins with natural white vinegar and iodized salt in distilled water is a non destructive way of cleaning coins.

Don't clean your coins! Not only does this cut their value by as much as half (or possibly even more), but it will be an immediate deal-breaker for many dealers who would've otherwise wanted to buy your coins if only they were left in their original condition.

CoinFacts (PCGS mobile app)

PCGS claims they're the industry standard for grading and valuing coins. One of their most popular is “CoinFacts.” The app is 100% free and provides accurate, up-to-date information on the pricing and value of different coins.

Grading Scales

The lowest circulated, the numismatic grade is Poor-1, and the highest circulated grade is Very Choice About Uncirculated-58. The lowest uncirculated, numismatic grade is MS-60 (MS is short for “Mint State”), with the highest being MS-70, or a perfect coin.

Paper Money Guaranty (PMG) is the world's largest and most trusted third-party grading service for paper money.

Are there fake PCGS holders? ›

The coins themselves range from poor-quality counterfeits to well-made fakes. The counterfeit PCGS holders are well-executed, but with minor differences from a genuine holder.

For high-value coins, use hard plastic holders. Professional coin grading services use sealed holders called slabs to protect authenticated and graded coins. Use acid-free cardboard and plastic holders free from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Acid and PVC can ruin a coin's surface.

Your Options for Coin Grading Services

The go-to in the industry are Professional Coin Grading Services (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC). They offer an unbiased appraisal of the condition or grade of each coin, which is accepted in the marketplace.

The First Print & First Day of Issue Designations can also be obtained through the PCGS Bulk Program (restrictions apply). For additional information contact Customer Service at 800-447-8848 or info@pcgs.com.

What types of coins does PCGS grade? PCGS grades most U.S. coinage, Mint Errors, Colonials, Fractional Gold, Patterns, Territorials, and World coins from 1600 to present.

Most Cleaning is Destructive: It Can Literally Change the Surface of a Coin. Any cleaning that requires rubbing leaves microscopic scratches. They are not apparent to the naked eye, but a collector will see them. A collector will look for them.

Most coin cleaning products are abrasive, and could damage the coin. Non-abrasive chemicals can still react with the other metals found in some old coins. The physical act of scrubbing or polishing can also wear down the design, destroying one of the most important factors in deciding a coin's grade.

VERIFY AUTHENTICITY ON THE GO. Hold your NFC enhanced device up to the slab for coins featuring new NFC chip technology or scan the front barcode to verify its authenticity with PCGS Cert Verification.

United States Postal Service Registered Mail is a very secure method for transporting items of value such as coins. Registered Mail is suitable for mailing up to $25,000.00 per package.

How do you store PCGS coins? ›

Closets and under beds out of reach of the sunlight are good places to store, assuming the room's temperature doesn't change too drastically in the summer. Ideally, in a safe or at the bank vault is the best solution, but that isn't an option for everyone.

PCGS will remove the coin from the encapsulation holder, create the image, and then place the coin in a new holder with the same grade and certification number. If you're a collector, this is the best way to get top-quality images of your PCGS-certified numismatic treasures," said Guth.

COIN GRADING FAQs

From the time NGC in the UK get the coins to the time they are back from the USA takes about 30 working days.

Proof coins are graded much like regular strike coins with the Sheldon Coin Grading Scale of 1-70. Instead of an MS-70, the Proof coin in perfect condition would be a PR-70 or PF-70.

For a coin to achieve a perfect score of 70 it must have “no post-production imperfections at 5x magnification.” Basically, it's the perfect coin. A perfect proof coin would be graded “PF 70”, a circulating coin would be “MS 70” and an uncirculated (non-proof) coin would be “SP 70”.

You can usually tell the difference between mint-state and proof coins by looking at them. Mint-state coins have a matte-like finish with some shine and “MS” preceding the number on the coin label, while proof coins feature plenty of shine and “PR” on the coin label.

Slabs are tools, not substitutes for your own judgment. It's entirely possible that an unslabbed coin is of sufficient quality to be slabbed — or, more importantly, to be worth purchasing. My recommendation is if you are confident that a coin is truly all it seems to be, then you can feel good about buying it raw.

Are MS70 bullion coins worth it? From an investment standpoint, MS70 coins likely aren't worth the investment if you're paying a high premium. In most cases, coin dealers selling high-grade coins aren't offering anything of true numismatic value.

If you've just started collecting coins you'll certainly have heard or read about graded and un-graded coins. Both are readily available to buy and sell online, however if you are serious about building up a truly valuable and impressive coin collection, then you'd be wise to invest only in graded coins.

PCGS is a bit more exclusive in their set registry process--they'll only allow their own coins, whereas NGC will allow both PCGS and NGC-graded coins in their sets. For gold type coins, PCGS seems to have the edge in resale value--all other factors being equal, a PCGS-graded coin seems to sell for just a little more.

Are NGC graded coins worth more? ›

Are graded coins worth more? Not in all cases. The value of a graded coin depends heavily on the current worth of a coin. Some collectors may choose to pay more than the actual metal value or face value of a coin because it is extremely rare or in extremely good condition.

A coin's grade is a simple yet highly accurate way to convey its condition and appearance. NGC grades problem-free US and world coins on an internationally recognized scale of 1 to 70. Coins certified by NGC are guaranteed not to be overgraded.

Most altered coins will be found in the series from cents through silver dollars. Altered gold coins are seen much less frequently. While counterfeit detection obviously is important, such excellent information has been published in the recent past that the number of counterfeits being submitted to PCGS is minuscule.

VERY GOOD (VG):Most of the 'major' details can be clearly read, but it is a coin that's suffered considerable wear over the whole of both surfaces and its high spots are worn through. A coin in this condition is only of value if it is extremely rare.

For really expensive coins, it is recommended that the coins are graded through PCGS Secure Plus Service. This way, if the coin is ever lost or stolen or even altered to change its appearance, the coin can always be traced if resubmitted through PCGS Secure Plus.

There are generally five main components which determine a coin's grade: strike, surface preservation, luster, coloration and eye appeal. Grading is subjective and even experts can disagree about the grade of a given coin.

Your Options for Coin Grading Services

The go-to in the industry are Professional Coin Grading Services (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC). They offer an unbiased appraisal of the condition or grade of each coin, which is accepted in the marketplace.