Everything you need to know about third-party coin grading, how to use a local drop-off shop, and how to find one near you.
PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company) are the world's two largest and most trusted third-party coin grading services. A graded coin has been professionally authenticated and condition-graded on the Sheldon scale (1–70), then sealed in a tamper-evident holder ("slab") with a certified grade.
Graded coins trade at significant premiums over raw (ungraded) coins in the same condition, because the grade is certified by an independent authority and the coin is protected from further handling damage.
Both services use the same 1–70 grading scale and are widely accepted by dealers, auction houses, and collectors. The key differences are in pricing, turnaround times, and market perception. PCGS-graded coins sometimes command a slight premium in the US market, particularly for classic US coins. NGC tends to be slightly more popular for world coins and ancient coins. Both are fully legitimate and widely trusted.
Submitting directly to PCGS or NGC requires a paid membership and careful packaging and shipping. Most collectors instead use a local coin dealer that's an authorized submission center. The dealer bulks submissions together, handles shipping and insurance, and returns the graded coins to you — often faster and cheaper than going direct.
Many authorized dealers also offer expert pre-screening, helping you avoid submitting coins that won't grade well enough to justify the grading fee.
Use our directory to find coin dealers that offer PCGS and/or NGC drop-off services in your area. All shops listed are verified, and you can filter specifically by grading capability.
Find PCGS drop-off shops → Find NGC drop-off shops →
PCGS offers several submission tiers based on declared value and desired turnaround:
Your local authorized dealer will have current pricing and can advise on the best tier for your coins.
NGC offers a similar tier structure. Economy and Standard tiers cover most collector submissions, while Express and Walk-Through are available for higher-value coins or urgent turnaround needs.
ANACS (American Numismatic Association Certification Service) is a smaller but well-respected grading service, often with lower fees and faster turnaround than PCGS or NGC. Some collectors prefer ANACS for mid-range coins where the grading fee needs to be proportional to the coin's value.