Understanding Coin Grades: What PCGS and NGC Numbers Mean

Anyone selling coins eventually meets grading: a coin called "MS-63," or one sealed in a plastic case marked PCGS or NGC. Because grade is one of the biggest levers on a collectible coin’s price, a little background pays off.

This guide covers the scale, what the certification companies actually do, and how grade shapes your offer.

A 1-to-70 scale

Coins are graded from 1 to 70, and a higher number means better condition. Heavily worn coins fall low, circulated coins sit in the middle, and uncirculated coins run from 60 up to a flawless 70.

The prefix matters as well. MS means Mint State, or uncirculated; AU means About Uncirculated; and PR or PF marks a Proof, a specially struck coin. So "MS-63" describes a solid uncirculated coin.

The role of PCGS and NGC

PCGS and NGC are the two leading grading services. Each verifies a coin, assigns it a grade, and seals it in a tamper-evident holder known as a slab. With an independent expert having checked it, a certified coin trades with far less uncertainty.

That certainty carries a price. A slabbed coin can be valued directly against published guides and auction records for its exact date and grade, while a raw coin leaves more of the risk with the buyer.

Why one grade can swing the price

For scarce coins, a single grade up or down can mean a large change in value, because top-grade survivors are much rarer than worn ones. That is how two coins of the same date can fetch wildly different sums.

It is also why cleaning backfires. Cleaning marks the surface and drops the grade, the exact opposite of what you are after.

Grade before you sell?

For most coins, no. Everyday coins get appraised raw all the time, and grading fees would erase any gain. For a small set of high-value coins, certification can raise the price enough to be worth the cost and wait, and a straight buyer will tell you when that is the case.

Key takeaways

The grading scale runs 1 to 70, and higher is better.
MS means uncirculated, AU near-uncirculated, PR/PF a proof strike.
A PCGS or NGC slab removes doubt and firms up the price.
Cleaning drops the grade, so leave coins untouched.

FAQ

Common questions

What does MS-63 mean?

MS stands for Mint State, meaning uncirculated, and 63 is its grade on the 70-point scale. An MS-63 is a clean uncirculated coin carrying only light marks.

Does a slab always mean more money?

On a common coin, certification adds nothing, but on a scarce coin it clears up doubt and generally underpins a stronger price. We buy raw and certified coins alike.

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