PCGS vs NGC Coin Grading: Which Service Should You Choose?

You have a coin you believe is valuable. Maybe it came from an estate, a childhood collection, or a recent auction win. Now you are wondering whether to have it graded by PCGS or NGC, and which service will actually help you sell it for the best price. These are the right questions to ask, and the answers are not always simple.

At PGS Gold & Coin, we are authorized dealers for both PCGS and NGC. We have facilitated hundreds of grading submissions and worked with collectors and investors on both sides of the buy/sell table. This guide gives you an honest, practical breakdown of both services so you can make an informed decision.

Ready to find out if your coin is worth grading? Get a free verbal appraisal at any of our five Chicago-area locations before spending money on a submission.

What Is Third-Party Coin Grading?

Third-party grading means sending your coin to an independent company that examines it, assigns a numeric grade, authenticates it, and seals it in a tamper-evident plastic holder (called a “slab”). The grade becomes a standardized shorthand that buyers and sellers worldwide trust.

Without third-party grading, you are essentially asking a buyer to take your word on a coin’s condition. Graded coins command higher prices, sell faster, and are far easier to liquidate through auction houses, dealers, or online marketplaces. The holder also protects the coin’s surfaces from fingerprints and environmental damage.

Two companies dominate the coin grading industry: PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation). Together, they have graded well over 100 million coins and set the standard for the entire numismatic market.

The Sheldon 1-70 Grading Scale Explained

Both PCGS and NGC use the same grading scale, originally developed by Dr. William Sheldon in 1949. The scale runs from 1 (barely identifiable) to 70 (theoretically perfect). Here is a simplified breakdown:

• Poor (P-1) – Coin type is barely identifiable
• Fair (F-2) – Heavily worn but identifiable
• Good (G-4 to G-6) – Heavily worn with major design elements visible
• Very Good (VG-8, VG-10) – Well worn, main features clear
• Fine (F-12, F-15) – Moderate wear throughout
• Very Fine (VF-20 to VF-35) – Light to moderate wear on high points
• Extremely Fine (EF-40, EF-45) – Light wear on high points only
• About Uncirculated (AU-50 to AU-58) – Slight wear on high points
• Mint State (MS-60 to MS-70) – No wear; differences reflect contact marks and luster
• Proof (PR or PF-60 to PF-70) – Specially struck for collectors

A single point difference on the Sheldon scale can mean thousands of dollars on a key-date coin. That is precisely why third-party grading exists, and why the two major services invest enormous resources in grader training and consistency.

PCGS: Overview and Strengths

PCGS was founded in 1986 in Irvine, California and was the first commercial third-party grading service. It is owned by Collectors Universe and has graded over 45 million coins. PCGS is often considered the prestige brand, particularly for classic U.S. coins.

PCGS Reputation

Among serious numismatists, PCGS holds a slight premium reputation for pre-1933 U.S. gold coins, Morgan dollars, and early American coinage. Many major auction house records are set by PCGS-graded coins. If you are buying or selling rare, high-value classic coins, the PCGS label often commands a small premium on the secondary market.

PCGS Grading Standards

PCGS employs multiple full-time graders and grades each coin independently multiple times before consensus. The service is known for being slightly more conservative, which some collectors actually prefer because it means a PCGS grade is rarely questioned. PCGS also operates one of the most comprehensive online price guide databases in the hobby.

PCGS Special Designations

PCGS offers several coveted special designations that can significantly increase a coin’s market value:

• Cameo (CAM) and Deep Cameo (DCAM) – For proof coins with frosted devices against a mirror-like background. DCAM is the highest designation.
• Full Steps (FS) – Applied to Jefferson Nickels showing five or six complete steps on Monticello. Dramatically increases value for higher-grade specimens.
• Full Bell Lines (FBL) – For Franklin Half Dollars showing complete bell lines at the bottom of the Liberty Bell.
• Full Bands (FB) – For Mercury Dimes with complete and separated horizontal bands on the fasces.
• Star () – PCGS’s designation for coins with exceptional eye appeal that merits recognition beyond the numeric grade.
• First Strike – For coins submitted within 30 days of the official release date.

PCGS 2025 Pricing

• Economy (max value $300): $23 per coin
• Regular (max value $2,500): $40 per coin
• Express (max value $10,000): $70 per coin
• Walkthrough (max value $100,000): $150 per coin
• Rarities (unlimited value): $300 + 1% of market value
• Modern Value (1965 to date, max $300): $17 per coin
• Modern (1965 to date, max $2,500): $30 per coin

A $10 handling fee applies to each submission. PCGS Gold Shield and TrueView imaging are included at the Regular service level and above.

NGC: Overview and Strengths

NGC was founded in 1987 in Sarasota, Florida. It is the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG), two of the most important organizations in the numismatic world. NGC has graded over 55 million coins, giving it the largest graded-coin population of any service.

NGC Reputation

NGC is the preferred grading service for world coins, ancient coins, and modern issues. If you have foreign coins, ancient Greek or Roman pieces, or modern commemoratives, NGC is typically the stronger choice. NGC also tends to be slightly more generous in grading, which is neither good nor bad depending on your perspective, but worth knowing.

NGC Grading Standards

Like PCGS, NGC uses a multi-grader consensus approach. NGC is widely respected for consistency and is generally viewed as equally authoritative to PCGS for U.S. coins, with a clear edge on world and ancient coinage. NGC’s online price guide and population reports are comprehensive and frequently updated.

NGC Special Designations

• Cameo (CAM) and Ultra Cameo (UC) – NGC’s equivalent of PCGS’s CAM and DCAM for proof coins. Ultra Cameo is the top tier.
• Full Steps (FS) – Same standard as PCGS for Jefferson Nickels.
• Star (*) – NGC’s designation for superior eye appeal, awarded less frequently than you might expect.
• Early Releases (ER) / First Releases (FR) – For modern coins submitted within 30 days of official release.
• VarietyPlus – NGC’s variety attribution service for die variety specialists.

NGC 2025 Pricing

• Modern tier: $20 per coin
• Economy tier: $25 per coin
• Gold tier: $40 per coin
• Express (max value $10,000): $80 per coin
• Walkthrough (max value $25,000): $175 per coin
• Early Releases / First Releases add-on: $18
• VarietyPlus add-on: $20

PCGS vs NGC: Side-by-Side Comparison

When Is Grading Worth the Cost?

This is the most important question, and the one we hear most often at PGS Gold & Coin. The honest answer: grading is not always worth it. It depends on three factors.

Get a free appraisal before you submit. Our certified numismatists at any PGS location will evaluate your coin at no charge, estimate a likely grade, and tell you whether submission makes financial sense.

Factor 1: The Coin’s Likely Grade

Grading pays off when a coin will clearly receive a high grade. A Morgan Dollar that grades MS-65 might retail for $400-$600. That same coin raw (ungraded) might sell for $80-$120. The premium more than covers a $40 grading fee. But a Morgan Dollar that grades MS-62 might only be worth $30-$50 graded, which does not justify the submission cost and wait time.

Factor 2: The Coin’s Key-Date Status

Key dates and semi-key dates are almost always worth grading. A 1916-D Mercury Dime, an 1893-S Morgan Dollar, or a 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent can see value increases of thousands of dollars from a certified grade. Authentication alone, which grading provides, is essential for these coins because counterfeits and alterations are common.

Factor 3: Your Exit Strategy

If you plan to sell through a major auction house, dealer, or eBay, graded coins sell faster and for more money. If you are simply holding a coin as an investment or heirloom, you might weigh grading costs differently. If you are selling to a local dealer like PGS, we buy both raw and graded coins, though high-grade key dates in PCGS or NGC holders will always fetch a premium.

PCGS or NGC: Which Should You Choose?

Here is our practical recommendation based on coin type:

• Pre-1933 U.S. gold coins – Submit to PCGS. The market premium is real, and PGS carries significant PCGS-graded gold inventory that we can price-reference for you.
• Morgan and Peace Dollars – Either service works. PCGS carries a slight premium in high grades; NGC is faster if timing matters.
• Early copper, bust coinage, early American – PCGS tends to be preferred by serious specialists.
• World coins and ancients – NGC is the clear choice. The population data is deeper, and world coin buyers recognize and prefer NGC.
• Modern issues and bullion coins – NGC’s lower modern tier fee ($20) and faster turnaround make it the better option unless you specifically need First Strike on PCGS.
• Jefferson Nickels seeking Full Steps – Both services apply the FS designation; compare current population reports to see which is more selective for your specific date.
• Proof coins seeking CAM/DCAM – Either service; PCGS DCAM and NGC Ultra Cameo are both highly marketable.

Submitting Through an Authorized Dealer

You do not need to join PCGS or NGC as an individual member to get coins graded. Authorized dealers like PGS Gold & Coin submit on your behalf, which often means faster turnaround and lower shipping costs compared to individual submissions. We handle the paperwork, pack coins properly to avoid damage in transit, and coordinate the return shipment.

When you submit through PGS, you also get our expert pre-submission evaluation at no additional charge. We assess whether a coin is likely to pass authentication (some altered or cleaned coins come back “details” graded, which can actually reduce value), what grade is realistic, and which service tier makes the most financial sense for your specific piece.

Our team includes PCGS-trained and NGC-trained professional coin graders, along with numismatists with nearly five decades of combined collecting experience. We have seen what grades coins actually receive, and we will give you an honest assessment before a dollar is spent on submission fees.

Understanding “Details” Grades and Their Impact

One outcome collectors fear is receiving a “details” grade. This happens when a grading service finds that a coin has been cleaned, polished, repaired, or otherwise altered. Instead of a numeric grade like MS-64, the holder reads “AU Details – Cleaned” or “EF Details – Scratched.”

Details-graded coins are not worthless, but they typically sell for significantly less than a coin with a clean, problem-free grade. More importantly, a details determination on a coin you thought was pristine can be disappointing and costly if you paid full market value expecting a clean grade.

This is one more reason to get a professional evaluation before submitting. Our numismatists can often identify cleaned coins, repaired fields, or added details before you spend money on a submission that will come back with a problem designation.

Frequently Asked Questions: PCGS vs NGC

Is PCGS better than NGC?

Neither service is universally better. PCGS has a slight market preference for classic U.S. coins and pre-1933 gold, while NGC is the preferred service for world and ancient coins. Both are equally authoritative for most U.S. coins, and coins graded by either service sell successfully through all major auction channels.

How long does PCGS grading take?

PCGS turnaround times vary by service level. Economy service is estimated at approximately 60 business days. Regular service runs around 50 days. Express service is estimated at 15 business days. These are estimates and fluctuate based on submission volume.

How long does NGC grading take?

NGC’s turnaround times are generally faster. Economy tier runs approximately 23 business days, Regular approximately 15 business days, and Express approximately 7 business days. As with PCGS, actual times vary.

What is the Sheldon grading scale?

The Sheldon scale is the industry-standard numeric grading system running from 1 (barely identifiable) to 70 (perfect). It was created by Dr. William Sheldon in 1949 and is used by PCGS, NGC, and virtually all major grading services today. Both circulated (1-58) and uncirculated (60-70) grades are on the same scale.

What does Full Steps (FS) mean on a Jefferson Nickel?

Full Steps is a special designation awarded by PCGS and NGC to Jefferson Nickels showing five or six complete, uninterrupted steps on the Monticello building on the reverse. Because many Jefferson Nickels were weakly struck, a true FS coin is scarce, particularly in higher grades, and can be worth many times more than a comparable non-FS example.

What is the difference between CAM and DCAM?

CAM (Cameo) and DCAM (Deep Cameo) are designations applied by PCGS to proof coins showing frosted devices against a mirror-like background. DCAM requires exceptional contrast between the frosted and mirrored surfaces. NGC uses CAM and Ultra Cameo (UC) to denote the same quality levels. Both designations substantially increase a proof coin’s market value.

Should I clean my coin before submitting it for grading?

No. Never clean a coin before grading, or at any point. Cleaning, even gentle polishing or dipping, can permanently damage a coin’s surfaces and result in a “details” grade that reduces its value significantly. A coin’s natural patina (called “toning”) is considered desirable by graders. Leave the coin exactly as you found it.

Can PGS Gold & Coin submit coins to PCGS and NGC for me?

Yes. PGS Gold & Coin is an authorized dealer for both PCGS and NGC. We can submit coins on your behalf, handle all the paperwork, and advise you on which service and tier makes the most financial sense for your specific coins. Visit any of our five locations for a free pre-submission evaluation.

The Bottom Line on PCGS vs NGC

PCGS and NGC are both excellent, trustworthy grading services. Choosing between them comes down to your coin type, your target buyer, and your timeline. For most classic U.S. coins, the difference is marginal. For pre-1933 gold and key-date rarities, lean toward PCGS. For world coins and modern issues, NGC is typically the stronger choice.

Before you submit anything, talk to a professional who knows what grades actually come back, what the market premiums look like, and whether your specific coin makes financial sense to certify. That is exactly what we do at PGS Gold & Coin, and the consultation is free.

We carry a full inventory of PCGS-graded and NGC-graded coins in our stores and online. Whether you are buying certified coins or selling your collection, stop in at any of our five Chicago-area locations or browse our online catalog. Our certified numismatists are here to help you make the right call.