Coins certified by the most respected grading services, including NGC and PCGS, are readily traded sight-unseen on collector markets. This means that you can sell or trade these coins to dealers and collectors with no need for an inspection or evaluation to provide the buyer with assurance of the coin's quality and condition. This gives certified coins a level of investment liquidity that was unknown until recent years.

Certified coins are encapsulated in a rigid plastic container commonly known as a slab. The slab is hermetically sealed and tamper-evident. This gives buyers and sellers confidence that the assigned grade has not been by diminished by wear or handling. This also gives the investor and collector confidence to handle and display a special coin without fear of damage or degradation.

The Sheldon numeric grade is accompanied by a preceding two-letter code, which groups the numeric scores into categories: Coins that score 60 or higher are deemed to be in "mint state" condition, identified by the letters MS. Thus one will find mint state coins with grades ranging from MS-60 to MS-70. Modern issue coins will almost always be found in MS condition. Historic and rare coins that have been used as circulating money may fall into other groupings, such as AU-55 (About uncirculated), XF-40 (Extra Fine) or AG-3 (About Good). Proof issue coins are given a separate prefix, either PF or PR. 

A Montgomery Chandler professional can help you fully understand the significance of different grades and the sometimes sharp differences in value that can separate coins with scores separated by only a single digit. Call us and discover why we're a new kind of coin dealer.™