Certified Coins

NGC, PCGS, and PMG — what the slab does and doesn't tell you

Third-party certification adds authentication and a standardized grade, but it isn't a substitute for understanding what you're buying. Here's how we think about it.

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The Major Services

Who's grading and encapsulating coins and notes

NGC

Numismatic Guaranty Company grades and encapsulates U.S. and world coins, and is one of the two most widely recognized services among collectors and dealers.

PCGS

Professional Coin Grading Service is the other major coin-grading service; PCGS- and NGC-graded coins are generally treated as equally liquid in the trade.

PMG

Paper Money Guaranty is the leading third-party grading service for U.S. and world paper currency, using a similar encapsulation and numeric-grade approach.

What Certification Means

What a slab guarantees — and what it doesn't

What it does

Confirms the coin or note is authentic, not counterfeit or altered.
Assigns a standardized numeric grade using the service's published criteria.
Seals the item in a tamper-evident holder with a unique certification number.
Makes the item easier to buy, sell, or insure sight-unseen because the grade is independently verified.

What it doesn't do

Guarantee the price you paid was fair — premium above grade is still a matter of negotiation.
Guarantee future value; grades and market demand can both shift over time.
Replace your own judgment about eye appeal — two coins with the same grade can look very different.
Mean every coin needs it — many perfectly good coins are better left raw.

Verify Before You Buy

Checking a certification number

Both NGC and PCGS publish free online lookup tools where you can enter a certification number and confirm the details match the holder in front of you — grade, date, and variety.

We encourage this, especially for higher-value purchases. It only takes a minute and it's a reasonable step whether you're buying from us or anyone else.

VerifyConfirm exact permitted wording for referencing NGC/PCGS/PMG names, logos, and lookup tools before publishing — these services have specific trademark and usage guidelines that should be reviewed with the client.

Raw vs. Certified

When a raw coin is the right call

Certification costs money and takes time, and it doesn't make sense for every coin.

Common, lower-value coins often aren't worth the cost of certification relative to their price.
Collectors comfortable grading a series themselves can find better value buying raw.
Key dates, high grades, and coins intended for resale or long-term storage are usually better off certified.

Not sure which applies to a coin you own? Our coin grading guide and PCGS vs. NGC comparison can help, or bring it in and we'll talk it through.

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