PCGS Expands Barcode to Maximize Efficiency
PCGS is switching from a 16 digit to a 22 digit barcode. The barcode is still in the "Interleave 2 of 5" format.
Old format:
| 1-6 |
Coin/spec number |
| 7-8 |
Grade |
| 9-16 |
Certification number |
New format:
| 1-3 |
Reserved for future use |
| 4-9 |
Coin/spec number |
| 10 |
Service identifier |
| 11 |
Reserved for future use |
| 12-13 |
Grade |
| 14 |
Grade modifier |
| 15-22 |
Certification number |
Examples:
Coin/spec number: 123456
Grade: 65
Cert number: 98765432
New barcode: 0001234560065098765432
Old barcode: 1234566598765432
Coin/spec number: 5555
Grade: 68
Cert number: 88881234
New barcode: 0000055550068088881234
Old barcode: 0055556888881234
Coin/spec number: 2246
Grade: 55
Cert number: 1234322
New barcode: 0000022460055001234322
Old barcode: 0022465501234322
Coin/spec number: 9870
Grade: 8
Cert number: 5454681
Barcode: 0000098700008005454681
Old Barcode: 0098700805454681
New Barcode Position Detail
| Position |
Valid Data |
Description |
| 1 |
0 |
Future use |
| 2 |
0 |
Future use |
| 3 |
0 |
Future use |
| 4 |
0-9 |
First digit of coin/spec number left padded with 0’s to 6 places |
| 5 |
0-9 |
Second digit of coin/spec number left padded with 0’s to 6 places |
| 6 |
0-9 |
Third digit of coin/spec number left padded with 0’s to 6 places |
| 7 |
0-9 |
Fourth digit of coin/spec number left padded with 0’s to 6 places |
| 8 |
0-9 |
Fifth digit of coin/spec number left padded with 0’s to 6 places |
| 9 |
0-9 |
Sixth digit of coin/spec number left padded with 0’s to 6 places |
| 10 |
0-9 |
Service identifier (future use) |
| 11 |
0 |
Future use |
| 12 |
0-9 |
First digit of grade left padded with 0’s to 2 places |
| 13 |
0-9 |
Second digit of grade left padded with 0’s to 2 places |
| 14 |
0-1 |
Grade modifier - 0 -- False, 1 – True (future use) |
| 15 |
0-9 |
First digit of cert number left padded with 0’s to 8 places |
| 16 |
0-9 |
Second digit of cert number left padded with 0’s to 8 places |
| 17 |
0-9 |
Third digit of cert number left padded with 0’s to 8 places |
| 18 |
0-9 |
Fourth digit of cert number left padded with 0’s to 8 places |
| 19 |
0-9 |
Fifth digit of cert number left padded with 0’s to 8 places |
| 20 |
0-9 |
Sixth digit of cert number left padded with 0’s to 8 places |
| 21 |
0-9 |
Seventh digit of cert number left padded with 0’s to 8 places |
| 22 |
0-9 |
Eighth digit of cert number left padded with 0’s to 8 places |
