Frequently Asked Questions

NGC will not grade coins that are counterfeit, are of questionable authenticity or have been altered. In addition, NGC will not grade coins that have active surface contaminants such as PVC residue. These coins will often be eligible for NGC certification after conservation by Numismatic Conservation Services (NCS), an independent affiliate of NGC.

If NGC graders believe that a coin is likely not genuine but its research is inconclusive, the coin will be labeled "Questionable Authenticity" and not encapsulated. The grading fee will be refunded less a £5 processing fee.

NGC Ancients will only grade coins that it believes to be genuine. If, after evaluation and research by our staff experts and/or outside consultants, the coin's authenticity cannot be ascertained, the coin will be labeled "Authenticity Unverifiable" and not encapsulated. The full grading fee will apply.

On occasion, NGC will return a coin as NOT SUITABLE FOR CERTIFICATION. This is used for coins that are severely damaged or otherwise impaired. The surface condition of these coins makes it impossible for NGC to render a conclusive opinion about authenticity, NGC Details grade or both. When a coin is determined to be NOT SUITABLE, CCG UK will refund the grading fee, less a £5 processing charge.

NGC will grade most circulation issue mint errors as well as most Proof mint errors struck prior to 1985. Mint errors struck after that date are evaluated for NGC grading on a case‐by‐case basis. NGC does not recognize as mint errors those coins with minor die chips, breaks, rotations, etc., which fall within our interpretation of mint tolerance. The determination of what constitutes a mint error is solely at the discretion of NGC. There is a £14 fee for Mint Error attributions.

NGC offers the "Early Releases" and "First Releases" designations for selected coins received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository during the first 30 days of release. The term “EARLY RELEASES” or “FIRST RELEASES” will be noted as part of the coin’s description on the NGC certification label. For a list of eligible coins and cutoff dates, click here.

Early Releases and First Releases coins are listed separately in the NGC Census. They are also eligible for inclusion in the popular NGC Registry. In certain markets, NGC will offer bilingual Early Releases and First Releases labels. The same definitions, cutoff dates and NGC Registry treatment applies.

NGC offers the Early Production designation for select coins received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository in mint-sealed packaging that is dated on or before January 31 of the coin’s year of issue. In most cases, NGC will make the Early Production designation available only to submitters of bulk quantities of select coin types. In all cases, the Early Production designation is available only by special request and will require a higher grading fee.

To qualify for Early Production, coins must be submitted in mint-sealed packaging that can be proven to have been sealed on or before January 31 of the coin’s year of issue. Coins issued in prior years (sometimes called “backdates”) are accepted for the Early Production designation provided they are still sealed in the original mint packaging. For example, a sealed box of Mint State 1998 American Silver Eagles will be eligible for the Early Production designation if the box is dated on or before January 31, 1998.

For Early Production coins received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository in mint-sealed packaging that is dated prior to the coin’s year of issue, NGC may additionally designate the coins with the “Struck in [Year]” attribution, where “[Year]” is the year in which the coins were struck. For example, a sealed box of Mint State 1998 American Gold Eagles will be eligible for the “Struck in 1997” attribution if the box is dated on or before December 31, 1997. Regular bulk submissions of American Silver Eagles are not eligible for the “Struck in [Year]” attribution.

1986 American Silver and Gold Eagles: Bullion (non-mintmarked) 1986 American Gold Eagles were first released by the US Mint on October 20, 1986. Therefore, bullion 1986 American Gold Eagles received in mint-sealed packaging that is dated on or before November 19, 1986 are eligible for the Early Production designation. Bullion 1986 American Silver Eagles were first released by the US Mint on November 24, 1986. Therefore, bullion 1986 American Silver Eagles received in mint-sealed packaging that is dated on or before December 24, 1986 are eligible for the Early Production designation.

Yes, Early Production coins are eligible for inclusion in the popular NGC Registry. Early Production coins receive the same point score as non-designated issues.

Only certain coins will be designated Early Production by NGC. This designation is offered only to select submitters of bulk quantities of qualify coins. To qualify for Early Production, coins must meet the requirements specified under What is “Early Production”? above.

NGC offers the Advance Releases designation for select coins that are purchased by designated mint customers prior to the publicly posted first day that a mint makes a new coin issue available for sale. For example, if the mint’s public calendar identifies the first day of sales as January 10, coins qualifying for Advance Releases must be purchased by designated mint customers prior to that date, typically through a bulk advance purchasing arrangement with the mint.

To qualify for Advance Releases, coins must be purchased by designated mint customers prior to the publicly posted first day that a mint makes a new coin issue available for sale and must be received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository within one week of their ship date. NGC will require that the submitter provide adequate evidence (including purchase receipts) to demonstrate the date when the coins were purchased and shipped.

The Advance Releases designation is made available only to select submitters of bulk quantities of qualifying coins. An advance request is required and there is generally a higher grading fee for the specifical designation verification and attribution.

Advance Releases is listed separately in the NGC Census. If any coins have been graded with the Advance Releases designation, they will appear when the variety symbol beneath a non-designated issue is clicked.

Yes, Advance Releases coins are eligible for inclusion in the popular NGC Registry. Advance Releases coins receive the same point score as non-designated issues.

Only certain coins will be designated Advance Releases by NGC. This designation is offered only to select submitters of bulk quantities of qualify coins. To qualify for Advance Releases, coins must meet the requirements specified under What is “Advance Releases”? above.

NGC assigns the Plus () Designation to coins at the high end of their assigned numeric grade. For example, a coin is graded NGC MS 64 if it approaches the quality of a coin graded NGC MS 65. NGC assigns its trademarked Star () Designation to coins that have exceptional eye appeal for their assigned numeric grade.

Learn more about NGC Plus () and Star () Designations >

NGC assigns an adjectival NGC Details grade to coins that have surface conditions that preclude numeric grading. These surface conditions include improper cleaning, scratches and damage.

Learn more about NGC Details grading >

Numeric grades give a strong indication of a coin's value relative to its value in other grades. Most collectors and dealers would pay more for an MS 64 than an MS 63. This is not necessarily the case for coins that have received NGC Details grades.

The value of NGC Details-graded coins is much more subjective due to the variety and severity of the surface problems that result in NGC Details grades. It depends a lot on one's personal preference. Some collectors may prefer an XF Details Improperly Cleaned coin to an AU Details Scratched coin, while for others it may be the opposite.

If NGC were to assign numeric grades to coins with surface problems, it might imply that higher graded examples would be worth more than lower graded examples. That would not always be the case, however, depending on the type and severity of the problem. An MS 64 Scratched coin would not necessarily be worth more than an MS 63 Improperly Cleaned coin; it could be the opposite.

To avoid this potentially confusing scenario, we describe an NGC Details-graded coin's condition with an adjectival grade range along with a statement of the primary surface problem.

A pedigree describes the current and/or past ownership of a coin. It notates the collector or collectors who have previously owned a particular coin. For example, a coin from the Eric P. Newman Collection may be pedigreed “Eric P. Newman” or “Newman” on the NGC certification label. NGC will pedigree coins to significant collectors or collections if sufficient documentation is provided.

Pedigrees can also be used to describe hoards. A submitter may request that their own name or the name of a collection be listed as the pedigree on the NGC certification label, subject to NGC's approval.

Releases Designations recognize coins that were received by NGC within a specific timeframe or at a particular event. For example, the Early Releases and First Releases designations are used for select coins that must generally be received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository within 30 days of the coin's release. Learn more about NGC Releases Designations

NGC will sometimes pedigree coins to a specific mint‐issued set as long as there is no doubt that the coins were issued as part of that set.

An example would be 2011 American Silver Eagles with the 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET pedigree, which stet issued as part of the US Mint's five‐coin 25th Anniversary Silver Eagle Set. Some of these coins were also issued separately from the 25th Anniversary Silver Eagle Set. NGC will therefore assign the 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET pedigree only to coins that arrive in the original 25th Anniversary Silver Eagle Set packaging sealed inside of the intact, original US Mint shipping box.

In some cases, coins may need to arrive in the original mint packaging only and not sealed inside of the intact, original US Mint shipping box to be pedigreed to a specific set. This is generally allowed for packaging that is tamper‐evident. In addition, coins that were issued only as part of the set may not need to be submitted with any original mint packaging.

Important: The recognition of a set pedigree is at NGC's sole discretion, and not all sets may be attributed on the NGC label. It is therefore recommended that submitters contact NGC Customer Service prior to requesting a coin be pedigreed to a set to confirm eligibility and submission requirements unless an article with these instructions has already been posted to the NGC website.

NGC offers a free Appearance Review service in the event that someone believes that an NGC-certified coin is overgraded. Coins that are reviewed and downgraded by NGC are covered by the comprehensive NGC Guarantee of grade and authenticity. To read the full NGC Guarantee, click here.

If you disagree with a grade previously assigned by NGC, you may submit the coin for review for a higher grade. The coin must be intact in its NGC holder. Choose a grading tier according to the coin’s value and the tier requirements. Coins are graded according to NGCʼs grading standards, and a higher grade is not guaranteed. Fees are not refunded if a higher grade is not received. A coin submitted for ReGrade will be removed from its NGC holder by NGC staff and encapsulated with a new NGC holder, label and certification number, even if the grade does not change. All coins submitted under ReGrade are subject to the terms and conditions of the NGC Guarantee. In the unlikely event that the grade is determined to be lower through ReGrade, the ReGrade will be converted into an Appearance Review under the NGC Guarantee.

NGC Ancients, a division of NGC dedicated to certifying ancient coins of the Western world, is committed to grading only genuine coins and will only grade coins that it considers genuine at the time of submission. NGC Ancients cannot, however, guarantee the authenticity, genuineness, type, attribution or date of any coin that it grades.

Unlike modern coins, which often benefit from well-documented, scientific parameters for the verification of authenticity, there rarely is conclusive data for ancient coins, and generally there is no surviving documentation to verify production characteristics. Almost without exception, ancient coins have been recovered from burial, either under land or water. Some recoveries date back centuries, while others are more recent. Even in ancient times, coins were counterfeited, copied and imitated.

If a particular submitted coin can positively be connected to a specific find or recovery that is documented, or is on track for documentation, it will be so designated if requested to do so by the submitter. However, even with these coins there can be no guarantee of their genuineness.

The dating and attribution of an ancient coin (the basic identification of a coin’s place of origin, issuing authority, date of issue, design elements, specific variety, etc.) is oftentimes uncertain or is a matter of scholarly conjecture. Multiple and different attributions can coexist, each simultaneously finding acceptance within the numismatic community; in these cases NGC Ancients will use the attribution it considers most valid.

New research or archeological evidence may challenge or change the consensus about an ancient coin’s attribution, date, identification and even its authenticity. Consequently, the opinion of NGC Ancients on these matters is subject to change with the introduction of new information, or of existing information of which its grading staff was unaware at the time of holdering. Every effort will be made in good faith by NGC Ancients to properly attribute ancient coins, but no guarantee is made as to these qualities.

Therefore, with ancient coins NGC Ancients will only guarantee the grade. It is recommended that buyers purchase ancient coins from sellers who offer unconditional lifetime guaranties of authenticity, and who otherwise stand behind their sales.

Read the NGC Guarantee >

When a submission is received by NGC, it is opened by trained staff under security cameras and each coin is immediately assigned a unique identification number and barcode that will track it throughout every stage of the grading process. Relevant submission information, including a description of each coin, is entered into a proprietary computer tracking system.

NGC sends submissions with insurance coverage (based on the submitter’s declared value) to NGC headquarters in the US for authentication, grading and encapsulation. Upon arrival at NGC headquarters, the submission’s status is updated and the coins are separated from the submission paperwork so that NGC’s graders never know the submitter's identity, which ensures impartiality.

Coins that are determined to be authentic are graded according to NGC’s grading standards and encapsulated in NGC’s secure, tamper-evident holders designed for long-term preservation. They are then rechecked for accuracy and quality, imaged and returned to NGC, again with insurance coverage based on the submitter’s declared value.

NGC headquarters is a secure 6,000-square-meter purpose‐built facility with two large vaults, a staff of armed guards and more than 150 security cameras. The office in the UK also has extensive security measures in place to protect coins in its care.

All submissions are opened under security cameras and each coin is immediately assigned a unique identification number that is used to track it throughout every stage of the grading process. All coins are fully insured while in NGC’s possession and are handled only by trained staff.

Gloves make it more difficult to hold a coin and increase the likelihood of it being dropped or mishandled. It is widely accepted within numismatics that a coin should be held on its edge with clean, dry hands and without gloves.

Similarly, librarians who handle rare books are generally discouraged from wearing gloves due to the increased likelihood of tearing a page or otherwise damaging a book. The Library of Congress, for example, states that “contrary to widespread belief, gloves are not necessarily recommended to handle rare or valuable books…it is generally preferable to handle your books with clean hands, washed with soap and thoroughly dried, rather than with gloves.” Extensive research on this subject is available online.

No. NGC does not buy, sell or appraise coins in order to maintain their independence. NGC is focused on providing expert and impartial assessments of authenticity and grade.

Yes. NGC Collector members and Authorized Dealers may log in at NGCcoin.uk to track the status of their submission. Submitters may also contact NGC Customer Service at Service@NGCcoin.uk or call + 44 (0) 20 3968 3848.

NGC cannot always perform its ReHolder service for NGC-certified coins encapsulated with color holders, specialty holders and/or special labels. Some holders and labels are retired after a period of time, while others were made exclusively for a particular customer. If your NGC-certified coin is encapsulated with a non-standard holder or label, it is suggested that you contact CCG UK Customer Service prior to submitting it for ReHolder.

No. Once a coin is removed from an NGC holder, the NGC Guarantee no longer applies. This is because NGC cannot account for where that coin has been, what if anything has been done to it, and for the overall subjective nature of coin grading itself.

NGC will generally use the newest version of its holder for coins submitted under its ReHolder service. In addition, if a particular label has been updated since the coin was originally encapsulated, NGC will generally use the newest version of that label. It is not generally possible to receive an older version of an NGC holder or label when submitting for ReHolder.

NGC provides a CrossOver service option for coins certified by PCGS. Using this service allows a submitter to send these coins to NGC for certification without removing them from their holders prior to submission. If the coins meet NGC‘s standards for the submitter's requested minimum grade, they will be removed from their holders and certified by NGC. If they fail to meet NGC’s standards, they will be returned to the submitter in their original PCGS holders.

Coins graded by services other than PCGS are not eligible for the CrossOver service. They must be removed from their holder prior to being graded. NGC can remove coins from these holders when submissions are accompanied by the Consent to Remove Form. This form must accompany each applicable submission form. For more information, click here.

In rare instances, certain coin types cannot be encapsulated with the requested NGC label or will be encapsulated with an older NGC label type. While NGC maintains holders that can fit virtually every coin size, unusual coin sizes or more fragile coins may need to be encapsulated with a particular holder and label type. NGC will use its best efforts to accommodate eligible submissions with the requested holder and label type, but it may not be able to fulfill all requests.

For a complete list of the reasons that coins cannot be encapsulated by NGC, click here.

Paid NGC Collector members receive direct submission privileges as well as various discounts. Click here for details.

Yes. Your NGC Collector membership entitles you to submit to Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), Numismatic Conservation Services (NCS), Paper Money Guaranty (PMG), Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) and CGC Trading Cards.

Yes. This credit expires one year from the day it was issued.

If you joined as an NGC Premium or Elite Collector member, your £120 grading credit will be posted to your account instantly. It will then be automatically applied to your submissions until the credit is exhausted.

If you have a member credit, you must still provide a valid payment method to cover shipping and handling fees.

No. Your membership is valid for submissions of your collectibles ONLY. You may not submit on behalf of any third party.

No. The credit is only valid for the member to whom it was issued.

Because of the benefits you received with your membership, a prorated refund is generally not available. However, if you have signed up for auto‐renewal and have not used any grading credits that you may have received, you may cancel your membership within 30 days of auto‐renewal to receive a refund of your membership fees. Contact NGC Customer Service at service@NGCcoin.uk or + 44 (0) 20 3968 3848 for more information.

NGC’s headquarters is a secure 6,000-square-meter purpose‐built facility in Sarasota, Florida, USA. In the UK, Certified Collectibles Group – International UK Limited (CCG UK), an affiliate of NGC, operates a submission office in Bloomsbury, London. NGC also has submission offices in Munich, Germany, Hong Kong, China and Shanghai, China as well as Official Submission Centers in the UK, the Netherlands, China, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia.

NGC can be contacted by post, telephone or email.

United Kingdom
Certified Collectibles Group – International UK Limited
69 Southampton Row, Second Floor
Bloomsbury
WC1B 4ET
London, United Kingdom
(+44) (0) 20 3968 3848
Service@NGCcoin.uk

NGC Collector members may submit their coins directly. Join today!

Once you are a member, you can schedule an appointment to drop off your submissions at NGC’s London office, or you can ship your submissions to the London office.

To schedule an appointment to drop off at the London office:

Contact NGC at +44 (0) 20 3968 3848 or at Service@NGCcoin.uk. You must schedule an appointment to submit in person.

To arrange a shipment to the London office:

The submitter is responsible for selecting the carrier and level of insurance. NGC is not liable for losses or damage to coins in transit. Shipments should be addressed to:

Certified Collectibles Group – International UK Limited
69 Southampton Row, Second Floor
Bloomsbury
WC1B 4ET
London, United Kingdom

Note: Submissions sent through the mail must be delivered to NGC’s London office during normal business hours.

To arrange a shipment from the London office:

Fill out the UK Return Shipping Form, which can be found here. Make sure to:

• Enter all information requested in the form.
• Select your own carrier (which requires a completed shipping label) or authorize CCG UK to arrange shipping and insurance by Malca-Amit according to the rate table in the form (recommended).
• Make sure you sign your form.
• Include the completed form with your submission.

Note: If a UK Return Shipping Form is not included with a submission, NGC will hold the coins at its London office for pick-up.

Payments to NGC in the UK are accepted by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, electronic transfer and cheque. NGC has online payment portals to make it easier for clients to pay securely by credit card. To learn more, click here.

Many NGC Authorized Dealers also accept submissions from the public.

Submissions to NGC in the UK from customers located outside of the UK may be subject to import duties upon arrival in the UK. Customers are responsible for all costs, including any import duties, incurred when shipping to NGC in the UK. (NGC covers all shipping costs between its London office and its US headquarters.)

NGC’s London office will not ship submissions to customers in the EU. Customers located outside of the UK will need to make their own arrangements to pick up collectibles from NGC’s London office.

NGC encourages customers within the EU to submit to its Germany affiliate, Certified Collectibles Group - International GmbH (CCG GmbH), to avoid additional costs and complexities due to Brexit. For more information about CCG GmbH, visit NGCcoin.de (for coins) or PMGnotes.de (for paper money).

Alternatively, EU customers may also consider submitting directly to NGC’s US headquarters. For more information, visit NGCcoin.com (for coins), PMGnotes.com (for paper money) or CGCgrading.com (for comics, trading cards, magazines and other pop culture collectibles).

To access submission forms, simply login, click on the profile symbol (head icon) in the upper right corner of the website and click on "My Submissions." Select the appropriate form for your location and collectible type.

NGC’s grading fees are generally based on a coin's fair market value and the submitter's desired turnaround time. For a comprehensive list of all NGC grading tiers, service tiers, fees and requirements for submissions made in the UK, click here.

NGC grading tiers are primarily organized based on the coin's value and, in some cases, the coin’s type. The higher-priced tiers offer higher maximum value limits while the lower-priced tiers have lower maximum value limits. There are also some tiers that are discounted for select coin types, such as a tier for gold coins and a tier for modern coins. You can choose the appropriate tier based on the coin's value, the desired turnaround time and any special tier requirements. For a comprehensive list of all NGC grading tiers, service tiers, fees and requirements for submissions made in the UK, click here.

NGC uses the submitter's declared value to insure the coin while it is at its office and, when applicable, in transit between the NGC London office and NGC Headquarters in the US. The coin's value also determines the NGC grading tier. Since NGC guarantees the authenticity and grade of coins that it certifies, it charges a higher fee for more valuable coins. For more information, read the Declared Value Policy.

NGC does not value or appraise coins but it does provide several price guides on its website to help collectors approximate their coin's value.
NGC US Coin Price Guide
World Coin Price Guide
NGC Chinese Modern Coin Price Guide

You can also research auction records in the NGC US Auction Central and NGC World Auction Central resources.

If NGC determines that a coin's value likely exceeds the maximum value allowed under the selected tier, NGC may move the coin to a higher tier and adjust the conservation or grading fees accordingly. It is important that you assign an accurate value to the coins that you submit to NGC.

The NGC company websites offer a free Submission Tracking resource that enables you to check the status of your submission as it makes its way through the certification process. The Submission Tracking tool is the quickest and easiest way to see that your submission has been received, whether it has been graded and when it is on its way back to you. Grades are available to view online when a submission's status is "Shipped." 

Customer Service representatives do not provide the grades of submissions over the phone.

To access Submission Tracking, simply log in to your account by clicking "Sign In" at the upper right of the NGC website and then clicking on "My Submissions" under your profile symbol.

This is done to prevent people from browsing or "crawling" submissions in the NGC Certification Verification database. We understand that this added step can be a little inconvenient, but it provides significantly greater data security.

There are several possible reasons no match was found:

• You entered an invalid certification number. Please double-check the certification number and try again.
• You selected the wrong grade. Please double-check the grade and try again.
• Your coin has not yet been shipped by NGC. Only coins that have been shipped can be searched in NGC Certification Verification.

If you still cannot find your coin, contact NGC Customer Service.

Contact NGC Customer Service: If you see this alert, contact NGC Customer Service to inquire about this coin. There are a variety of reasons why "Contact NGC Customer Service" may be displayed.

Possible Counterfeit Holder: If you see this alert, it means that NGC has seen a counterfeit or tampered holder that uses this certification number. Contact NGC Customer Service if you see this alert. Also, see the NGC Security Center.

Mechanical Error: If you see this alert, it means that the label has a mechanical (typographical) error. This coin should be returned to NGC so that the label can be corrected. For more information and submission instructions, contact NGC Customer Service.

Deleted: If you see this alert, it generally means that the coin was removed from the NGC Census population report. Coins are occasionally deleted in error, however, so if you see this note but own the coin, please email pictures of the front and back of the holder to service@NGCcoin.uk.

Competitive Sets are defined by NGC, with available slots for each coin in each set. Coins are ranked based on relative rarity and grade, and collectors receive points accordingly. It’s a great way to participate in the Registry, as it offers friendly competition and establishes collecting goals. It’s also easy to compare collections and see some outstanding sets.

Many collectors choose to assemble their own sets in unique ways, as personal expressions of what they find fascinating about collecting. Custom Sets are ideal for this kind of collector. You define the set’s theme and choose which coins are eligible, and you can either share them or keep them private.

All NGC-certified coins are eligible for the NGC Registry. Coins certified by PCGS are eligible for most US coin Competitive Sets as well as Custom Sets. There may not be Competitive Sets for every coin, however. If you would like to request a new Competitive Set category, you can request it by emailing Registry@NGCcoin.com.

Note: The NGC Registry is not endorsed by or associated with PCGS. PCGS is a registered trademark of Collectors Universe, Inc.

CAC coins can be entered into NGC Registry sets and My Competitive Coins simply by using the Add Coin function, like you do with all other coins. The Add Coin button is easily recognizable by its green plus sign and can be found at the upper right of any page on NGCcoin.uk.

Note: The NGC Registry is not endorsed by or associated with CAC. CAC is a registered trademark of Certified Acceptance Corporation.

Yes, you can enter CAC coins into any NGC Registry set for the coin type. (CAC does not evaluate all coin types.) NGC Registry sets can have a mix of CAC coins and other coins.

If your coin is described incorrectly on the certification label, you should contact the grading service about getting it corrected. If you have an NGC-certified coin that has a mechanical or clerical error, contact NGC Customer Service about a free correction.

If your coin is described incorrectly in the NGC Registry, you should click on the coin description, then click on the “Wrong Coin/Grade?” option near the top of the page, then follow the prompts. You must be logged in to the NGC website to report an incorrectly described coin.

To view a list of your NGC Registry coins, go to the NGC Registry and click on “My Competitive Coins” in the menu at the left.

The NGC Registry assigns a score to each coin in a competitive set based on the relative rarity of the coin’s type, date and grade, its market value and NGC’s expert opinion. An algorithm carefully designed by NGC weighs these factors to calculate the NGC Registry score for each coin and grade.

When a competitive set is ranked in the NGC Registry, its rank is calculated based on the total of the individual scores of all the coins in the set.

We place a value on each coin, based on the relative rarity of its type, date and grade, and many additional factors such as population, market value and expert opinion. A set’s rank is based on the total of the individual scores of all the coins. A scoring algorithm developed by NGC helps make the sets competitive for everyone, even collectors with a limited budget.

NGC assigns a () to coins that fall at the high end of their assigned grade, approaching the quality requirements for the next grade. In addition to their superior technical merit, coins receiving a Plus must have above-average eye appeal. A coin with Plus Designation is automatically assigned a Registry point premium. Learn more about NGC Plus Designation.

NGC assigns a () to coins with exceptional eye appeal for their assigned grade. A coin with Star designation is automatically assigned a Registry point premium. Learn more about the NGC Star Designation.

No, CAC coins receive the same score as coins certified by NGC or PCGS.

No, NGC Details coins earn 50% of the score given to a numerically graded coin of the same condition. NGC Details Grades include a prefix that indicates wear (UNC, AU, etc.) and a notation of the detrimental surface condition that prevented NGC from assigning a numerical grade. Learn more about NGC Details Grading.

When a set is assigned a score in the Registry, the sole purpose of that score is to provide a standard against which other sets in the Registry can be compared. A Registry score is not intended to be used as a basis for determining market value, and Registry scores may be changed from time to time.

The NGC Registry ranks sets first according to the set's score. If two or more sets have the same score, the tie will be broken based on the percentage of coins with images. If two or more sets have the same score and the same percentage of coins with images, then the tie will be broken based on the percentage of coins with descriptions.

To summarize, ranking is achieved by considering the following, in order:
1. Set score
2. Percentage of coins with images
3. Percentage of coins with descriptions

If all of the above items are equal between sets, then sets will be sorted by the date the rank was achieved (first to achieve it will appear higher), but they will have the same rank number beside their set.

Autobuild Set makes it easier than ever to build the best set, improve your ranking and compete for NGC Registry awards. If you're new to the NGC Registry, it's the fastest way to get the coins you've added into a set. If you already have an NGC Registry set, Autobuild Set helps to make sure it’s receiving as many points as possible.

How it works

1. Create a set, or go to an existing set, and click the green “Autobuild Set” button.
2. Each slot is filled with your highest-scoring available coin for that slot.
3. Lower-scoring coins are removed from each slot, if applicable. Removed coins can be found in your coin list when Autobuild Set is complete.

Note: If no opportunities to improve your set score are found, the set will not be updated.

Other details

1. Coins can only compete once per set category. If a coin is already saved in a different set of the same set category, Autobuild Set will ignore it.
2. PCGS-certified coins must be approved by an admin before Autobuild Set can add them to a set.
3. Autobuild Set cannot fill coins that appear only in Collection Manager. If the coin is not in your coin list, Autobuild Set can’t add it to a set.
4. Certain set categories have multiple slots that can accept the same coin. In this case, Autobuild Set will add the coin to the first slot where it will receive the highest score, but only if adding the coin will increase the total set score.
5. In rare cases, Autobuild Set may not be able to add a coin that belongs in the set due to an error. If you believe your coin should have been added, please contact the NGC Registry at Registry@NGCcoin.com or +44 (0) 20 3968 3848.

You can email Registry@NGCcoin.com.