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Process of Obtaining Coin Certification
To obtain a coin certification, you must send your coin to a coin-grading company. If the coin is very valuable to you, consider sending it via registered and insured mail. This way you'll get notification when the coin grading company receives the coin. Once the grading company receives the coin, they'll send a detailed email confirming the contents of the package. Next, a coin grading team examines the coin and grades its quality and authenticity. The certification is encapsulated with the coin, which details its grade, variety and official identification number. The company will send you an email detailing that the grading process is finished, and will inform you of their findings and the tracking number so you can follow the coin as it makes its way back into your hands.
Coin Grading
Coin grading is a team effort involving a numismatist and three professional coin graders. The numismatist compares the coin against published references to determine if the coin belongs to a particular variety. He then records his findings and labels the coin. Information about the submitter is left anonymous to avoid potential risk of bias. The coin is then examined by one professional grader at a time. Each grader records his determined grade based on the 70-point Sheldon scale. On this scale, a coin is given a score between 1 and 70 points. A grade of 1 is considered poor due to major surface imperfections such as scratches and oxidation. The few imperfections a coin has, the higher it's graded on the scale. If a coin earns a grade between 60 and 70, it's considered uncirculated with no imperfections. Occasionally, coin graders meet to collaborate on the grade of a particular coin.
Encapsulating
When the grading process is finished, the coin is sent out for encapsulation. Certified labels are printed detailing information about the coin's mint mark, date, variety, grade, denomination, special designation and official identification number. The identification number is arguably the most important aspect of the label, because it identifies the particular coin as unique and authentic. Once the label is made, the coin is placed inside a plastic container that will protect it while it ships back to the owner. The certification is also placed inside the container.
Reputable Coin-Grading Companies
Several reputable coin grading companies have earned great success in North America. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is considered one of the best coin grading companies, according to www.rb.ancients.info, a website on coin collecting. In a 2006 survey, the Professional Numismatic Guild gave the Numismatic Guarantee Company a "superior" rating. The same service rated the American Numismatic Association Certification Service and Independent Coin Grading Company as "good." Using any of these companies will result in a certified coin; all provide reliable, trustworthy coin-grading services.