PCGS is a subsidiary of Collectors Universe. They began grading coins for the public in 1986. Since then they have graded millions of coins. Today there are some definite advantages to purchasing PCGS certified coins.

 PCGS Slabbed Coins Are Protected From Further Damage

Coins get accidentally dropped everyday no matter how careful you are when you are working with them. Whenever this happens, both their grade and their value are reduced. However, whenever you purchase certified coins they will come sealed in a hard plastic air-tight container that protects the coin from silly mistakes, as well as the elements (i.e. air pollution). This also makes it much easier to work with them without worrying about damaging them somehow. 

PCGS Slabbed Coins Return Their Grade

Once a coin receives a grade it will retain that grade unless you submit it for re-grading. With PCGS grading you can be fairly sure that the coin’s grade will remain consistent. This is not true with other grading services though. 

PCGS Slabbed Coins Demand A Premium

PCGS slabbed coins will demand a premium over other slabbed coins. For instance, the 1921 P Morgan dollar in MS65 condition commands a price that is upward of 50% more than similarly graded coins from other grading services. Of course, this is why it costs more to purchase PCGS graded coins than those coins from a different grading service. 

PCGS Slabbed Coins Provide Instant Credibility

Grading services came into existence so that people could buy and sell coins without having to see the coin first. This occurred before digital cameras and the Internet existed. In the beginning grading was quite arbitrary. However, since PCGS is an outside, disinterested party grading became more credible. 

In Conclusion

Whenever you are buying or selling graded coins you will want to make sure that you are dealing with the actual coin and not the grade itself. Even so, you will still need to be sure of the details of the coin and, whenever possible, you should also take a good look at it before purchasing it. This will help save you from purchasing any really ugly coins, regardless of how good their grade is. While these coins may be in good shape, they may also have some very unattractive toning and thus you may not have even bought it if you’d seen it first.