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 Replies: 16 / Views: 1,694 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
670 Posts |
I am new to submitting coins for grading. I looked a PCGS but they want me to pay a yearly fee before I can submit coins for grading. I do not plan on having very many coins graded but have 3 Lincoln cents that I would like to send in. These coins are likely high AU or low MS.
So, my question is twofold...
Can I get them submitted without signing up for membership with these companies
and which one is the best. PCGS, NGC or other....
Thank you for your advice.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19107 Posts |
One factor that should be considered...is your intent to eventually sell the slabbed coins (looking for the very best return), or keep them indefinitely?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6448 Posts |
I have recently become quite intrigued by CAC Grading. Members like HumbledPie speak highly of them. One thing that I really like is their very clear coin images. Apparently they have some kind of arrangement where you join for $99 but receive that amount as grading credits. Perhaps someone could enlighten us on how that works? Their submission fees and particularly variety attribution fees seem quite reasonable.
It all depends on the coin(s), though. For registry set coins, possibly PCGS is the main route.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
670 Posts |
I plan on keeping them for my collection. Maybe someday way down the road might upgrade but that would be a long time or never.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10470 Posts |
If price is a concern I do believe ANACS is the most economical.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2213 Posts |
If you have a local coin store they may be members of the TPG, sometimes they will send a coin to be graded for you for a fee, may be cheaper than joining a TPG yourself. Or maybe a local coin club has members who would send one in for you. You could post pics of them here on CCF, get opinions if they are worth grading. Sometimes collectors lose money sending coins in for grading that really aren't worth paying the fees. Check the TPG online sites for prices and join fees. Choosing which grader to use...you decide. My impression is for expensive USA coins PCGS is preferred a little more. For less inexpensive coins, doesn't matter which to use in my opinion. Edited by livingwater
12/16/2025 9:47 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6448 Posts |
livingwater, my LCS and PCGS authorized dealer told me that they would charge me more for a submission than a PCGS membership would cost. I think they just didn't want to do it (which calls into question why they are a PCGS authorized dealer), but coin shops don't seem to be a viable path for TPG submissions. |
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Pillar of the Community
Taiwan
606 Posts |
Can you share with us the coins you would like to submit. ?
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Valued Member
United States
106 Posts |
Agree with above. What type and dollar value of the coins you wish to submit is important.
If we are talking about a 1909-S VDB or similar higher dollar amount coins, I would recommend getting a PCGS silver membership which includes 4 grading vouchers for $149.00. Basically the membership, in a fashion, pays for itself.
For error coins, lower dollar amounts or others recommendations would be different.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1502 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
670 Posts |
Quote:
Can you share with us the coins you would like to submit. ? Almost hate to look like a newbie but when I started collecting Lincoln cents in the spring, I had a different outlook on things. My goal was to find circulated cents and fill every hole in my album. So somewhere in there I purchased a 1912D LWC AU58 (ANACS) and a 1910S LWC AU58 (NGC) which I could not find in circulation, and I cracked them open to put them in the albums behind the plastic sheets. Well, I really wish now I had not done that. The other coin is a 1915S I purchased as a raw coin. I think it may be in the higher AU range - see pic. Let me know what you think. The line across Lincolns cheek is a hair. Thanks   Edited by FsdWarp10
12/18/2025 12:16 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
670 Posts |
Thanks to everyone for the great input. It is appreciated.
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Quote: So somewhere in there I purchased a 1912D LWC AU58 (ANACS) and a 1910S LWC AU58 (NGC) which I could not find in circulation, and I cracked them open to put them in the albums behind the plastic sheets. Well, I really wish now I had not done that. Try to not regret it. I have cracked three slabs to get coins into my Dansco albums and I believe they look better there.  Quote:
The other coin is a 1915S I purchased as a raw coin. I think it may be in the higher AU range - see pic. Let me know what you think. The line across Lincolns cheek is a hair. Thanks Grading might be worth it if it did grade high AU, but I would just keep him in the album.  You might want to create a new topic in the grading subforum to get opinions on it. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2001 Posts |
For me as well, I seldom have the need for submitting a coin for grading and the memberships with PCGS and NGC don't warrant my joining. I recently had a submission to ANACS (No membership fee). Their 15 day tier service cost $24 per coin and $29 return shipping up to $1000 value. You could get your three coins slabbed by ANACS for $72 plus $29 return shipping. Total of $101. You can print out a submission form online at ANACS.com
Edited by MisterT
12/18/2025 10:00 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2001 Posts |
Comparing your 1915S to PCGS Photograde, It looks like AU- 50 to me. The flatness an the cheek, jawline and upper ear match perfectly. There is no guarantee that the 10S and 12D will come back as the previous grade of 58 You have to ask yourself is it worth spending $101 plus your shipping cost to have thee coins slabbed worth perhaps $400-$500 total or are they just fine left to fill album holes?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6448 Posts |
Quote:
I cracked them open to put them in the albums behind the plastic sheets. Well, I really wish now I had not done that. Ok, but why do you wish you hadn't cracked them out? Because it confused the value? Because the slab was a safer place for an expensive coin? If your goal is to protect the coin, then most commercial TPG slabs will accomplish that. If your goal is to document the value in an economical way, then ANACS seems like a good option. If your goal is to share online pictures in an economical way, then CAC seems like a good option. If your goal is to resell the coin—and I don't know how much early rare Lincoln cents cost—then I would take the advice of the resale savvy folks. |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 1,694 |
Posted 12/16/2025 7:00 pm
