PCGS, NGC, and everything in between. Learn what grading means, why it matters, and how the major services compare — so you can buy and sell with confidence.
A raw (ungraded) coin is worth whatever someone thinks it's worth. A graded coin has a certified condition, authenticated provenance, and a market price. The difference is often 2–10× in value.
Third-party graders verify the coin is genuine — not a replica, cleaned, or altered. This eliminates counterfeiting risk for buyers.
The 70-point Sheldon scale gives every coin a precise condition score. MS-65 means the same thing regardless of who you're buying from.
Certified coins consistently sell for more. Population reports show how rare a specific grade is — scarcity drives premium pricing.
Coins are sealed in a hard plastic "slab" with a label showing grade, date, and mint mark. Tampering destroys the holder visibly.
Certified coins trade faster because buyers trust the condition. PCGS/NGC-graded coins are the universal currency of the hobby.
Every slab has a certification number you can verify in real-time at the grader's website. Buyers confirm authenticity before purchase.
Developed by Dr. William Sheldon in 1948, the 70-point scale is the universal language of coin grading. Both PCGS and NGC use it. Here are the key grades and what they mean for value.
Why grade points matter for price: A 1881-S Morgan Dollar in MS-64 trades around $150. In MS-65, it's $200. In MS-66, it can reach $1,500+. One grade point at the top of the scale can mean 10× the value. This is why professional grading — not guessing — is essential for serious collectors and sellers.
Both are industry-recognized. Both are accepted everywhere. Your choice depends on the coin, the market you're selling into, and the specific turnaround time you need.
| Factor | PCGS | NGC |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 (Santa Ana, CA) | 1987 (Sarasota, FL) |
| Total coins certified | 50M+ | 60M+ |
| Starting fee (regular) | ~$30/coin | ~$22/coin |
| Express service | Yes (~$65) | Yes (~$45) |
| U.S. coin premium | Often 5–15% premium | Slight discount |
| World/foreign coins | Limited | Excellent coverage |
| Population reports | CoinFacts (free) | NGC Census (free) |
| Verification tool | PCGS Verify (online/app) | NGC Verify (online/app) |
| Accepted on GradeVault | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Bottom line: For classic U.S. type coins, Morgan dollars, and key dates — PCGS consistently commands slightly higher prices at auction. For world coins, ancients, and modern commemoratives — NGC is preferred. For most collectors, either is perfectly acceptable and fully verified on GradeVault.
Getting a coin graded costs money. Then paying 15–35% in marketplace fees eats into what you earned. Here's how GradeVault's fees compare on real transactions.
Based on each platform's published fee schedules. All three coins are PCGS MS-65, standard turnaround.
| Platform | Fee % | $100 Coin | $500 Coin | $1,000 Coin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage Auctions | 15–20% | $80 | $400 | $800 |
| GreatCollections | 10–15% | $87 | $435 | $870 |
| eBay (coins) | ~12.9% | $87 | $436 | $871 |
| ⭐ GradeVault | 5–8% | $93 | $465 | $930 |
Heritage also charges buyers a 17.5% premium on top of the hammer price. GradeVault charges no buyer premium. The coin price is the coin price.
GradeVault accepts PCGS and NGC graded coins. Set up your listing in under 5 minutes — certification number included.