How to sell graded coins.

What the slab tells a buyer

• The grade: a number from 1 to 70, as in MS-65 or PR-69; see coin grades explained.
• The certification number: printed on the label. PCGS and NGC both let anyone look it up on their websites to confirm the coin and grade match the holder.
• Designations: notes such as "First Strike", "Early Releases", or a variety name. Some add value to collectors; many add little.

When the grade adds value

For scarce dates and older collector coins, a high grade can be worth many times the coin's metal. For modern bullion coins, such as an MS-69 or MS-70 Silver Eagle, the grade usually adds only a modest premium over a raw coin, because so many are graded that high. A slabbed coin is worth whatever buyers pay for that date in that grade, not its metal plus a fixed amount.

How to sell them

• Leave them in the holders. Cracking a coin out of its slab throws away the grade and the buyer's confidence.
• Photograph both sides and the label. The label's certification number lets a buyer check the coin before making an offer.
• Get offers in writing, coin by coin, so you can compare them.
• Don't send a scratched or cracked holder as is: mention it, because a damaged slab may need reholdering.

We price graded and collector coins individually: send photos of the coins and labels for a free written estimate, coin by coin. Common bullion in slabs is also priced on its metal, at our published bids.

Coin guides: Coin grades explained · Proof vs bullion coins · Selling a coin collection · Mint marks · Old U.S. gold coins · Morgan dollars

We pay top dollar for gold, at published rates set before you sell.