How to get coins graded: step by step, with costs
Published Oct 23, 2026
To get a coin graded, pick a grading service such as PCGS or NGC, then submit directly (PCGS now accepts non-member submissions through its Direct tiers; NGC requires a membership, free for ANA members) or through an authorized dealer. Choose a fee tier based on the coin's value, fill out the submission form, pack and insure the shipment, and wait for the coin to come back sealed in a graded holder.
Bullion Price Check doesn't grade, submit, buy or sell coins, and it has no affiliate or business relationship with any grading service. PCGS and NGC are trademarks of their respective owners. Bullion Price Check is not affiliated with or endorsed by either. We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this site. How we earn money. This guide explains the process using each grader's own published rules, read on Oct 23, 2026. Fees change, so confirm them before you submit. We don't publish price-guide values or population counts.
Who grades coins?
Several third-party grading services authenticate coins, grade them and seal them in holders. In alphabetical order:
- ANACS: began in 1972 as the American Numismatic Association Certification Service (About ANACS, checked Oct 23, 2026).
- CAC Grading (CACG): CAC's grading service, set up in 2022; it uses the 1-70 Sheldon scale (CAC Grading, checked Oct 23, 2026).
- NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company): established in 1987 (NGC, checked Oct 23, 2026).
- PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service): began serving the public on February 3, 1986 (PCGS, checked Oct 23, 2026).
For PCGS and NGC fees, guarantees and holder features in one table, see comparing PCGS and NGC side by side.
Should you get your coin graded? Check melt first
Grading costs real money per coin. Before you start, compare that cost with what the coin is worth as metal.
When grading usually isn't worth it
- The coin trades near melt or spot. Common-date bullion coins, circulated common Morgan and Peace dollars and worn common pre-1933 gold are usually priced on their metal. Check the silver dollar melt calculator or what a $20 gold piece is worth in gold.
- It has been cleaned or damaged. Such coins usually can't get a numeric grade and come back with a Details or Genuine designation instead (NGC Details, checked Oct 23, 2026), (PCGS, checked Oct 23, 2026). Don't clean coins before grading.
- You plan to sell to a bullion buyer who pays on metal value anyway.
Melt value vs. grading cost
| Coin | Fine metal | Melt value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 oz American Silver Eagle | 1 troy oz silver | $49.25 |
| Morgan or Peace silver dollar | 0.77345 troy oz silver | $38.10 |
| $20 Double Eagle (pre-1933) | 0.9675 troy oz gold | $3,750.42 |
As of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET. . Melt = fine metal × spot (gold-api.com), recalculated on every Bullion Price Check price refresh. Melt is metal value only, not a dealer quote.
Entry-tier grading on Oct 23, 2026: $20 per modern coin at NGC (Modern), plus $10 handling per submission, before membership and round-trip shipping and insurance. For PCGS's current per-coin fees, see its full price list. If the coin is worth about melt, grading costs are a large share of its value.
A simple break-even check
Add up the total cost: membership (if your route needs one) + the per-coin fee + the handling fee + shipping and insurance both ways. Grading makes sense only if the graded coin is expected to sell for more than the raw coin by more than that total. Look up comparable sold, graded examples yourself; NGC's verification tool and PCGS's research pages are a place to start. We publish no values.
When grading often makes sense
Grading is commonly considered for authenticating a coin before a private sale, for possible key dates or high-grade examples, and for insurance or estate records. For estate gold, see inherited gold coins: melt vs. collector value. None of these guarantees a higher price.
How to get coins graded, step by step
- Pick a grading service. Compare published fees, turnaround and services for your coin. Our PCGS vs NGC guide sets two of them side by side.
- Pick a route: direct or an authorized dealer. PCGS now accepts raw coins from non-members under its Direct service tiers (PCGS FAQ, checked Oct 23, 2026); paid Collectors Club members can use its other tiers, or you can pay a PCGS Authorized Dealer to submit on your behalf (PCGS How to Submit, checked Oct 23, 2026). NGC direct submission needs an Associate or higher NGC Collector membership, many NGC Authorized Dealers accept submissions from the public, and NGC says American Numismatic Association members can sign up for a free NGC submission membership (NGC submission FAQs, checked Oct 23, 2026).
- Choose a service tier. Tiers depend on the coin's declared value, its type and how fast you want it back. The current tables are in the cost section below. NGC says it will move a coin to a higher tier if it judges the coin's value to be above the tier's maximum (NGC terms, checked Oct 23, 2026).
- Fill out the submission form. NGC members find the forms under My Submissions in their account (NGC, checked Oct 23, 2026); for PCGS, follow the steps on its site. List each coin, its declared value and any variety, label or other add-on you want.
- Pack and ship. Follow the grader's own packing and shipping instructions, and insure the package. NGC says damaged, unsealed or poorly sealed packages will be rejected and asks for reinforced tape (NGC shipping FAQs, checked Oct 23, 2026); PCGS gives instructions with the PCGS submission process.
- Track and wait. NGC members can track submissions online (NGC, checked Oct 23, 2026). Published turnaround estimates are not guaranteed.
- Receive and verify. Look up each new cert number on the grader's site and check the label against the coin. See spotting counterfeit holders.
How to get coins graded by PCGS
Send raw coins yourself under PCGS's Direct tiers, with no membership (PCGS FAQ, checked Oct 23, 2026); join the Collectors Club (Silver $69, Gold $149 or Platinum $249 for one year, checked Oct 23, 2026) for its other tiers (Join PCGS, checked Oct 23, 2026); or go through a PCGS Authorized Dealer (PCGS, checked Oct 23, 2026). PCGS's dealer directory lists Authorized Dealers. Then pick a tier from PCGS's full price list and follow PCGS's submission instructions.
How to send coins to PCGS
There is a $10 handling fee per submission, plus a $5 per-order fee if you use your own shipping account, per PCGS's fee schedule dated Aug 1, 2026 (PCGS fee schedule PDF, checked Oct 23, 2026). Follow the packing instructions PCGS provides with your submission.
Can you get coins graded for free?
No. Grading is a paid service. PCGS's Gold and Platinum memberships include a voucher for 4 or 8 complimentary gradings, but you pay for the membership (PCGS, checked Oct 23, 2026). NGC's Premium and Elite memberships include a $150 credit, also with a paid membership (NGC, checked Oct 23, 2026). NGC offers ANA members a free submission membership, which removes the membership cost, not the grading fees (NGC submission FAQs, checked Oct 23, 2026). Apps and websites that offer “online grading” from photos give an opinion; they don't authenticate the coin or seal it in a guaranteed holder, so that isn't third-party certification.
How much does it cost to get a coin graded?
The bill has five parts:
- Membership, if your route needs one (PCGS Silver $69, Gold $149, Platinum $249, though its Direct tiers need none; NGC Associate $39, Premium $159, Elite $329 per year).
- The per-coin tier fee, set by declared value, coin type and speed.
- A handling fee per submission: $10 at NGC (NGC, checked Oct 23, 2026); $10 at PCGS, per PCGS's fee schedule dated Aug 1, 2026 (the PCGS fee page doesn't show one) (PCGS fee schedule PDF, checked Oct 23, 2026).
- Optional add-ons: variety attribution, special labels, imaging. NFC anti-counterfeiting technology is now included in all PCGS service levels, and Gold Shield and TrueView are included from Regular up (+$5 below that), per PCGS's fee schedule dated Aug 1, 2026.
- Shipping and insurance both ways.
We don't list PCGS's per-coin fees. Its full price list at pcgs.com/services matches its fee schedule dated Aug 1, 2026; the summary on /services/fees shows different figures.
| NGC tier | Eligible coins | Max. value per coin | Fee per coin | Est. turnaround (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern | U.S. or world coins struck 1965 to date | $3,000 | $20 | 60 working days |
| Economy | Non-gold U.S. or world coins (some exclusions) | $300 | $25 | 60 working days |
| Standard | All U.S. or world coins | $3,000 | $45 | 30 working days |
| Gold | All gold coins | $5,000 | $45 | 10 working days |
| Express | All U.S. or world coins | $10,000 | $80 | 7 working days |
| WalkThrough | All U.S. or world coins | $25,000 | $175 | 7 working days |
| Unlimited WalkThrough | All U.S. or world coins | Unlimited | $350 + 1% of fair market value | 7 working days |
NGC Collector member direct submissions, checked Oct 23, 2026 (NGC Services and Fees). NGC adds a $10 handling fee to every submission; shipping is extra. A Fast Track add-on ($15 per coin) halves the estimate for the Modern, Economy and Standard tiers. NGC says turnaround times are estimates only and are not guaranteed.
Worked example: five modern coins, each valued under $300
Using the published figures on Oct 23, 2026, before shipping and insurance:
- Direct to NGC (Modern tier): Associate membership $39 + 5 × $20 + $10 handling = $149.
PCGS and dealer submissions follow the same structure with different inputs. A second batch within the membership year skips the membership line, and a dealer submission replaces it with whatever the dealer charges.
Is PCGS or NGC cheaper to grade with?
It depends on the tier your coin falls in and how many coins you send; the PCGS vs NGC comparison sets the entry tiers side by side.
Coin grading cost vs. the coin's melt value
For a 1 oz Silver Eagle or a common circulated silver dollar, the melt table above is the yardstick: the worked example above comes to about $30 per coin (the NGC example) before shipping, a large share of a coin worth about melt. For a $20 Double Eagle the same fee is a much smaller share of its gold value.
How long does coin grading take?
PCGS: Turnaround times vary by service tier; see PCGS's services page for current estimates. NGC: NGC listed 7 to 60 working days depending on the tier (NGC, checked Oct 23, 2026). Both say these are estimates and not guaranteed. Add shipping time both ways.
After grading: selling a graded coin
Graded coins are sold through coin dealers, auction houses and collector marketplaces. Get more than one offer, and compare any bid on a bullion-type coin with its melt value. Our guide to selling a coin once it's graded covers bids and scams, where to sell silver coins lists melt benchmarks, and how dealer bid sheets work explains why offers sit below retail.
Sources
All pages checked Oct 23, 2026: PCGS How to Submit · PCGS FAQ · Join PCGS · PCGS full price list · PCGS services and fees · PCGS fee schedule dated Aug 1, 2026 (PDF) · PCGS story · PCGS dealer directory · NGC services and fees · NGC membership · NGC submission FAQs · NGC shipping FAQs · NGC terms · NGC Details · NGC buying guide · ANACS · CAC Grading. Spotted an error? Email hello@bullionpricecheck.com.
FAQ
How do I get my coins graded?
Choose a grading service such as PCGS or NGC, then submit directly (PCGS now accepts non-member submissions through its Direct tiers; NGC requires a membership, free for ANA members) or through one of the grader's authorized dealers. Pick a service tier, complete the submission form, and ship the coins following the grader's packing instructions.
How much does it cost to get a coin graded?
You pay a per-coin fee that depends on the service tier and the coin's value, plus a handling fee per submission, shipping and insurance both ways, and a membership if your route requires one. Check each grader's current fee page for exact prices.
Is it worth getting a coin graded?
It is usually not worth it when a coin trades near its melt value, because grading fees and shipping can take up much of the coin's worth. It can make sense for authentication, key dates or coins in exceptional condition.
Can I get coins graded for free?
No. PCGS and NGC charge for grading. Some PCGS membership levels include grading vouchers, but the membership itself is paid.
How do I get coins graded by PCGS?
Send raw coins to PCGS under its Direct service tiers, which need no membership, or join the paid Collectors Club to use its other tiers. You can also hand them to a PCGS Authorized Dealer, who submits them for you.
Where can I get coins graded?
At a third-party grading service such as PCGS, NGC, CAC Grading or ANACS. You can submit to them directly or through one of their authorized dealers. They authenticate the coin, grade it and seal it in a holder.
How long does coin grading take?
It depends on the service tier and the grader's current workload. Graders publish estimated turnaround times, which are not guaranteed.