Ngc

Founded in 1987, the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) provides professional third-party grading services to those who need the condition of rare coins evaluated. In the world of rare coins, differences in grade can lead to significant differences in price. One of the purposes of a company like NGC is to help create consistency and standardization in the grading of rare coins.

Consistency in grading helps reduce price volatility, and makes the market in rare coins more stable. NGC's system of grading includes the use of three different rare coin experts, none of whom are allowed to buy or sell rare coins themselves, and who evaluate each coin individually. A grading finalizer gives the coin a final grade.

Coins that have been graded by a professional company such as NGC are considered to be certified. Graded coins are sealed in a plastic holder that protects the coin from wear, and which provides evidence that the coin has not been tampered with subsequent to grading. Since the grade given a particular coin may vary from one professional coin service to another, some rare coin collectors will submit their coins to more than one service for grading.

NGC will also provide, for a fee, photos and reports on coins the company has certified. The photos can aid individuals who want to sell their rare coins, for they allow potential buyers to examine the coins in detail without removing them from their protective holders. The reports detail the background and significance of the certified coin in question, placing the coin in its historical context.