| Third party grading and certification | | | | Many coins have been lightly cleaned or have |
| PCGS? NGC? ICG? ANACS? NCS? | | | | some small problems. Literally millions of coins fall |
| Third-party grading is catching on in world coins | | | | into this category, but they are rejected by |
| and there are some considerations for the coin | | | | PCGS, NGC, and ICG which slab only undamaged |
| collector. While third-party grading, otherwise | | | | original coins. In order to get these coins certified |
| known as certification, has been the standard in | | | | as genuine, we recommend using ANACS or NCS. |
| US coins for many years, it is relatively new to | | | | NCS is part of NGC and also does restoration. If |
| world coin collectors. A third-party grading service | | | | you have valuable coins that have accumulated |
| is not affiliated with the seller or the buyer and | | | | dirt, PVC, ugly toning, or other issues, we |
| gives an independent opinion on the authenticity | | | | recommend you send them to NCS to be |
| and grade of a particular coin you send to one of | | | | professionally restored, or in other words |
| these companies. The act of having a coin put | | | | "cleaned" and then slabbed by NGC. We do not |
| into a square hard plastic holder by one of the | | | | recommend you try to clean coins yourself. |
| grading services is known as "slabbing." The hard | | | | Inexperienced people have damaged many coins |
| plastic holder is air-tight and protects your coin | | | | by trying to clean them and lowering their value |
| from damage from the environment or | | | | by thousands of dollars. |
| mishandling by human beings. In general, this | | | | When it comes time to sell your coins, you will |
| holder greatly protects your coin over the | | | | probably get a higher price with certified coins. |
| long-haul. While nearly all significant US coins are | | | | Other collectors and dealers will recognize that the |
| slabbed, the vast majority of world coins are not | | | | coin is guaranteed to be real and has no problems |
| slabbed! The reason is that slabbing currently is an | | | | such as cleaning (or other serious issues listed |
| American habit, but catching on in other parts of | | | | above) resulting in a higher offer price. It will also |
| the world rapidly. | | | | make selling your coins for the highest price |
| Coin collectors should consider buying expensive | | | | easier for your heirs as the coins are identified on |
| coins already certified, especially if acquiring prized | | | | the plastic holder and have grades listed. |
| specimens from such places as eBay or unknown | | | | When buying raw (uncertified) coins, we suggest |
| dealers. A coin slabbed by PCGS or NGC (the two | | | | you ask the seller if the coin in question would |
| grading services we recommend for world coins) | | | | certify at PCGS or NGC. If the answer is anything |
| includes a guarantee from these companies that | | | | other than a quick "yes," you may need a further |
| the coin is genuine. Given the number of fake | | | | explanation of the coin's condition. It would be |
| coins being sold on eBay seems to be growing, | | | | prudent to ask for a guarantee from the seller |
| buying a coin on ebay already certified takes | | | | that a coin will slab before buying an expensive |
| uncertainty out of the purchase decision. For | | | | coin. Grading is highly subjective and a seller or |
| example, a slabbed coin is, in general, not cleaned, | | | | dealer will have a hard time handing out |
| repaired, damaged, scratched, or removed from | | | | guarantees of a certain grade MS-65 or MS-66 to |
| jewelry. All of these conditions can drastically | | | | be given by PCGS or NGC. |
| lower the price of a coin and may not be known | | | | Having your coins certified is also fairly easy. |
| at the time of purchase when looking at a small | | | | Please see the respective company websites for |
| picture on the internet. Since this certification has | | | | further information on their services and prices. |
| costs (roughly $30 to $40 per coin), we | | | | We recommend you ship all coins by US post |
| recommend this only for more expensive coins | | | | office registered mail with insurance. Fedex and |
| such as those over $500-$1000. Due to the | | | | UPS may be faster, but they generally do not |
| costs, you may find that certified coins may cost | | | | accept or insure rare coins, gold, or money in their |
| a bit more than uncertified coins (also known as | | | | packages. The US post office will give you full |
| "raw" coins) but with that extra cost comes | | | | insurance for your valuable coins and with a much |
| peace-of-mind and a company guarantee should | | | | lower risk of being lost or stolen on the trip to a |
| the coin be found to be not genuine. | | | | grading company. |
| The grading services do vary in quality and | | | | If you are interested in purchasing certified coins, |
| recently dozens of new grading companies have | | | | we have many in stock for sale today. We do |
| sprung up. For many years, PCGS and NGC have | | | | also sell many raw coins that we can have |
| gathered the most respect from collectors and | | | | certified for you. Our company will guarantee they |
| dealers. However, these companies do not | | | | will be certified or you do not have to buy them! |
| generally certify ancient coins or some specialized | | | | The cost of certification will be added to your |
| items such as Islamic coins. ICG is the best | | | | invoice and adds about 2 weeks to the order |
| company for these coins and we recommend | | | | time. |
| buying them already certified. The remaining | | | | You will find many people recommending certified |
| dozens of grading companies are generally not to | | | | coins and the benefits of certified coins are great |
| be used due do extreme unreliability in grading | | | | to the collector or investor. Please contact us if |
| standards and allowing cleaned, damaged, or even | | | | you have any questions purchasing or selling coins |
| fake coins to be certified. This and all the while | | | | as we are authorized dealers for PCGS, NGC / |
| NOT providing a guarantee of authenticity offered | | | | NCS, and ICG grading companies. |
| by PCGS and NGC! | | | | |