Understanding PCGS Coin Grading and Certification
As a trusted precious metals dealer, LCF Precious Metals gets asked a lot of questions about PCGS grading. PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) is known for its best-in-class coin authentication, grading, attribution and encapsulation.
If you’re unfamiliar with coin collecting, getting your coins “slabbed”, or certified and graded by PCGS can greatly increase their resale value. Read on as we provide a complete overview of PCGS coin grading to help you understand this process.
What is PCGS Coin Grading?
PCGS grading involves professionally assessing the condition of coins and certifying their quality. Graders follow standardized criteria to assign a numeric score from 1 to 70 to rank overall preservation. Coins are then sealed in tamper-proof acrylic holders labeled with pertinent information.
PCGS Grading Scale
The PCGS grading scale is as follows:
- MS/PR 70 (Perfect Uncirculated Condition)
- MS/PR 69 (Virtually Uncirculated Condition)
- MS/PR 60-68 (Mint State Condition)
- AU 58-50 (About Uncirculated Condition)
- XF 45-40 (Extremely Fine Condition)
A lower coin grade means more wear and tear, while higher scores indicate better preservation of details. As condition improves, so does collector appeal and market value.
Benefits of PCGS Grading
There are many advantages to having your coins certified by PCGS grading, including:
- Authenticity verification to prevent counterfeits
- Accurate assessment of condition/quality
- Increased resale value over “raw” uncertified coins
- Extends long term investment horizons
- Coins “slabbed” in protective casing
Should I Submit for PCGS Grading Service?
In most cases, we recommend coin collectors and investors utilize PCGS grading services. However, there can be some downsides as well in certain situations:
- Grading fees range $18-$100+ per coin
- Turnaround times average 4-6 weeks
- Very high grade coins less likely to see gains
- Already certified coins means assuming risk if cracked out
Discuss your specific coins with one of our coin experts at LCF Precious Metals to determine if PCGS grading makes sense in your particular situation.
Working With a Reputable Dealer Like LCF
As an authorized PCGS dealer, LCF Precious Metals can coordinate PCGS grading submissions on your behalf to make the process simple. Our owners have over 50 combined years in the coin industry.
We welcome beginners to advanced collectors to read more from our Precious Metals partner here.
