Professional Coin Grading Service
Learn about PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service), the most widely recognized coin grading company. Submission tiers, pricing, and what makes PCGS the industry standard.
Founded
1986
Headquarters
Santa Ana, California
About PCGS
PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) is widely considered the gold standard in coin grading. Founded in 1986 by a group of prominent coin dealers including David Hall, PCGS pioneered the concept of third-party coin grading and encapsulation. The company has graded over 200 million coins since its founding.
PCGS is headquartered in Santa Ana, California, and is a division of Collectors Universe (now part of Cohen & Company). Their grades are recognized worldwide as the benchmark for US coins, and PCGS-graded coins consistently command strong prices at auction and in dealer transactions.
What PCGS Is Known For
PCGS is best known for US coins — Morgans, Walking Liberty halves, gold coins, and key date rarities. Their Population Report tracks every coin they've graded, making it easy to see how many examples of a particular coin exist in each grade. PCGS coins often command a premium in the US market, particularly for high-grade and rare coins.
The PCGS CoinFacts database is one of the most comprehensive online resources for coin collectors, offering price guides, auction records, and detailed coin information for virtually every US coin issue.
Submission Tiers and Pricing
PCGS offers several submission tiers based on turnaround time and declared coin value:
- Economy — $22–$30/coin, 30+ business days, coins valued under $3,000
- Regular — $40–$50/coin, 15–20 business days
- Express — $75–$100/coin, 5–10 business days
- Walkthrough — $150+/coin, 1–3 business days (available at major shows)
PCGS requires a Collectors Club membership ($99/year basic) to submit coins directly. Alternatively, you can submit through an authorized PCGS dealer, often at a coin show.
PCGS Guarantee
PCGS backs every graded coin with a guarantee of authenticity and grade. If a PCGS-graded coin is later found to be counterfeit or overgraded, PCGS will buy the coin back at the current market value for the assigned grade. This guarantee is one of the key reasons dealers and collectors trust PCGS grades.