PCGS – “NO GRADES”, GENUINE SERVICE, AND DESIGNATIONS

No Grades

PCGS will not grade and encapsulate any coins with the following problems:

86 No Opinion – our experts are unable to determine a coin’s authenticity – fee refunded
87 Not Eligible For Service Selected – the coin is too valuable for the chosen service level – fee refunded
90 Questionable Authenticity – the coin is most likely a counterfeit.
91|N-1 Questionable/Artificial Toning (or Questionable Color for copper)
92|N-2 Cleaned – surface damage due to a harsh, abrasive cleaning
93|N-3 Planchet Flaw - Metal impurity or defect in the planchet – depends on severity
94|N-4 Altered Surface - Whizzed, harsh cleaning, thumbed over (using a pasty substance to cover defects or alter the appearance).
95|N-5 Scratch - depends on the severity of the scratch
96|N-6 No Service – coins we do not certify (i.e. medals, some privately made issues, etc.) or cannot certify (i.e. over-sized coins)
97|N-7 Environmental Damage – i.e. corrosion, coating (lacquer), excessively heavy toning, etc.
98|N-8 Damage – deliberate surface damage, i.e. graffiti, spot(s) removed, etc. – depends on severity
99|N-9 PVC (Poly-Vinyl-Chloride) – a plasticizer used to produce vinyl that will leach out of the holder and onto the coin, eventually damaging the surfaces.

GENUINE Service

Coins with any of the problems listed above (except codes 86, 87, 90, 96, and 99) may be submitted under the PCGS Genuine Service. Holders and inserts for the Genuine service will be identical to the normal PCGS holder except that the insert will read “GENUINE” in place of the usual grade. No grade will be assigned to these coins, but they will be eligible for inclusion in the PCGS Set Registry with a grade value of 1. Genuine service coins will be covered under the PCGS Guarantee of Authenticity but not under the PCGS Guaranty of Grade. PCGS reserves the right to reject any coins submitted under the Guarantee Service, including coins that are excessively damaged, altered to such a degree that making a determination of authenticity is difficult or impossible, or which have surface contaminants that may harm the coin in the future. In such cases, PCGS will refund the fee and related shipping charges for that coin. Customers should submit all coins for the Genuine Service on a regular PCGS submission form, marking “GENUINE SERVICE” in the “Other” box. The fee for the Genuine service is $100 per coin. Turnaround times for the Genuine Service will be approximately two weeks. The Genuine Service is a stand-alone service and is not available in combination with any other service levels. “No-grades” from other service levels must be resubmitted under the Genuine Service in order to be encapsulated.

Designations

PCGS assigns the following attributes where appropriate:

Full Band (FB) - Mercury Head Dimes – the central bands on the fasces on the reverse should be completely separated from left to right, without any breaks, marks or gaps. Note: PCGS may designate in grades of 60 and higher.

Full Head (FH) - Standing Liberty Quarters.

1. Three leaves must be clear and distinct in Liberty’s hair.
2. Earhole must be present.
3. Hairline must be distinct from top of forehead to back of neck.

Note: PCGS may designate 1918/7 Quarters as Full Head in grades of XF40 and higher.

Full Steps (FS) - Jefferson Nickels. MS60 or better, at least five complete steps must appear on Monticello. Any steps that join or fuse together, whether created that way or subsequently damaged, cannot be considered for the Full Steps designation.

Full Bell Lines (FBL) - Franklin Half Dollars. MS60 or better. Must exhibit complete, uninterrupted lower lines on the Liberty bell.

Proof Like (PL) - Morgan Dollars.

1. Clear reflection in the fields on both sides from 2-4 inches away.
2. A misty effect or striations may impede the reflectivity.

Deep Mirror Proof Like (DMPL) - Morgan Dollars.

1. Clear reflection in the fields on both sides from at least 6 inches away.
2. 2. Must be full, undistorted reflectivity on both the obverse and reverse.

Cameo Proofs (CAM) - 1950-1970 Proof Coinage.
The obverse and reverse must exhibit devices which are at least lightly frosted and create a contrast with the fields.

1. Frostiness on the devices may be heavier yet contain areas where the frost is lacking or brilliance is evident.
2. A coin that exhibits Deep Cameo attributes on one side and Cameo attributes on the other side is considered only a Cameo.

Deep Cameo Proofs (DC) - 1950-1970 Proof Coinage

1. Heavily frosted devices on both the obverse and reverse, with no areas of the main devices unfrosted.
2. Heavy contrast between the fields and devices.

Copper Coinage -

• BN - Brown – less then 5% original red color
• RB – Red and Brown – between 5% and 95% original red color
• RD - Red – more than 95% original red color

Specimen (SP) – struck well like a Proof, but with a satiny, sometimes matte, semi-granular looking

Circulated Grades - from Poor to About Uncirculated

Uncirculated Grades - from Mint State-60 to Mint State-70

Grade Prefix -

1. MS = Mint State (grades from 60-70)
2. PR = Proof (may be any grade, but usually PR-50-70)
3. AU = About or Almost Uncirculated (grades 50, 53, 55,or 58)
4. XF = Extremely or Extra Fine (grades 40 or 45)
5. VF = Very Fine (grades 20, 25, 30, or 35)
6. F = Fine (grades 12 or 15)
7. VG = Very Good (grades 7, 8, or 10)
8. G = Good (grades 4 or 6)
9. AG = About Good 3
10. Fr = Fair 2
11. Po = Poor 1

PCGS Holder/Slabs - Our holders have been lab tested and will not discolor coins. We can not disclose any information regarding our holders. Refer to The Official Guide to Grading and Counterfeit Detection, check out our link to purchase: The Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection, for details on PCGS grading.