The NGC Certified Coin Registry

In the world of coin collecting, competition traditionally has meant displaying one’s collection at a club meeting or coin show. While these avenues are still widely pursued, technology has given hobbyists a far more secure and to some, more gratifying means of competing . . . the Internet. Coin collectors, particularly the more advanced ones, are typically well educated people who are quick to accept the challenges and opportunities presented by Internet usage, and this has led to the creation of on-line competition among collectors in the form of web site registries.

While NGC did not pioneer this concept, we are pleased with how much has been achieved with our Certified Coin Registry. An extensive selection of coin sets is offered, and more are being added on a regular basis. Each date and mint combination is scored over a broad range of grades to reflect the individual rarity of each entry in those respective grades. A date/mint combination that is rare in the higher grades receives a significantly greater number of points than a common date in the same grade, reflecting the greater collecting challenge posed by the rarer coin. In this way, a collection’s ranking is truly reflective of the effort and expense that went into assembling it.

Both NGC and PCGS coins may be submitted to the NGC Certified Coin Registry, permitting greater flexibility for those who own coins graded by either of the two major grading services. Coins certified with special designations such as ‘FS’ (full steps) or ‘FBL’ (full bell lines) receive greater points than those lacking such designations, the exact amount of the extra weighting being reflective of that date/mint combination’s actual rarity with the supplemental designation. In the case of proof coins, CAMEO and ULTRA CAMEO pieces receive higher points that likewise reflect the greater rarity and value of such coins. Finally, examples carrying the coveted NGC star () designation receive an additional 25% in bonus points, as these are coins of superior eye appeal. The NGC ‘W’ designation for untoned coins, while favored by many collectors, does not earn additional points within the NGC Certified Coin Registry.

Persons wishing to participate in this registry may do so by enrolling in the NGC Certified Collectors’ Society. This can be done on-line at the Collectors’ Society web site, www.collectors-society.com, or by calling our Customer Service Department at 1-800-NGC-COIN.