How coin grading works — PCGS, NGC & CACG explained

Third-party grading is when an independent company examines your coin, authenticates it as genuine, assigns it a grade on the 70-point Sheldon scale, and seals it in a tamper-evident holder (a "slab"). Once a coin is graded and slabbed, its condition is no longer a matter of opinion — buyers can trust the grade on the label.

Grading does two jobs. First, authentication — it confirms the coin is genuine and not a counterfeit or altered piece, a serious concern for key dates, gold, and silver dollars. Second, a consistent grade — a raw (ungraded) coin's value is a negotiation, but a certified MS-65 Morgan dollar has a defined market price within a few percent.

Grading is not free. You pay a fee per coin plus insured shipping both ways, so it makes economic sense mainly for coins whose value clearly exceeds that cost — key dates, better-date type coins, high-grade moderns, and anything you plan to sell or insure.

You can mail coins to PCGS, NGC, or CACG yourself, but the companies generally require a paid membership to submit directly. Authorized drop-off shops — coin shops signed up as official submission centers — handle the process for you:

No membership needed. The shop submits under its own dealer account, so you skip the annual membership fee.

Shipping and insurance. Shops batch many coins into one fully insured shipment, which lowers the per-coin shipping cost and risk.

Honest guidance. A good shop will tell you whether a coin is even worth grading, which tier fits, and what value to declare — so you don't pay a fee that exceeds what the grade adds.

A second eye. Experienced dealers can spot a cleaned or altered coin before you spend money on it, and flag coins likely to come back with a "Details" grade.

Is my coin worth grading? Grade a coin when the certified value clearly beats the cost — that usually means key dates, scarce better dates, high-grade type coins, precious-metal coins, or anything you intend to sell or insure. A common circulated coin worth a few dollars is not worth a grading fee.

What is a "Details" grade? If a coin has been cleaned, damaged, repaired, or altered, the company still slabs it but gives it a "Details" designation — for example, "AU Details — Cleaned" — instead of a straight number. Details coins are genuine but sell for much less than problem-free examples.

Should I clean a coin before submitting it? No — never. Cleaning almost always lowers a coin's grade and value. Submit coins exactly as you found them.

Can I move a coin from one company's slab to another? Yes — it's called a "crossover," and PCGS, NGC, and CACG all offer it. You can usually set a minimum grade so the coin only crosses if it grades at or above your target.

How long does grading really take? Published turnaround times are estimates. Plan for them to run longer during busy periods, and pick a faster tier if you have a firm deadline.