What are certified coins?
Certified coins are coins that have been graded by an independent, third-party grading service. To become Certified, coins are examined and authenticated by at least 3 professional graders before being assigned a grade. Then, each coin is sealed in a tamper-evident plastic holder with a serial number, description, barcode and grade. While all coin grading is subjective, the combined consensus ensures your coin is of a more realistic grade. There are a number of third-party grading services, but the two most highly-regarded in the industry are PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation). PCGS and NGC guarantee the grade and authenticity of any coin that passes their rigorous standards. If coins have been certified by PCGS or NGC they may be traded sight- unseen with confidence in their grade and authenticity.
