Selling Your Slabbed Coins Certified by Off-Brand Grading Services

Coin grading is one of the most important and complex skills required of a rare coin dealer. The quality of a rare coin is the single greatest factor impacting its value. Many companies offer coin grading and coin certification services, meaning they authenticate and numerically grade the condition of the coin. These are referred to as slabbed coins, encased in a sealed plastic holder and labeled with a numerical grade from Poor-1 to Mint State-70.

There are a multitude of coin grading companies in the market, many of whom are considered less precise in their coin grading standards. Many of the rare coin grading services listed below are known for inflating the grades of their slabbed coins. They also often ignore a number of grading criteria addressed by the major companies (PCGS, NGC and ANACS), such as cleaning or environmental damage. Because of these less rigorous coin grading standards, some rare coin dealers are reluctant to purchase coins certified by these “off-brand” companies, and if they do make an offer, it is often well below the true value of the coin.