Coin grading and slabbing in UK

Hello everyone. I have a few coins that I would like to grade and put in slabs for myself.

Since I am a quite ‘newbie’ in this question, which services would you recommend?

Thank you in advance.

For the vast majority of coins I wouldn't bother grading/slabbing.

UK collectors normally don't bother, unless it is a particularly rare coin, then a grading company guaranteeing the authenticity of the piece can be helpful, but it's not usually worth the expense.

NGC is a respected grading company the world over…

https://www.ngccoin.uk/submit/how-to-submit/

But with membership fees, grading fees, postage/packaging it can get expensive very quickly.

…and generally speaking will not increase the value of the coin.

inc7007

For the vast majority of coins I wouldn't bother grading/slabbing.

 

UK collectors normally don't bother, unless it is a particularly rare coin, then a grading company guaranteeing the authenticity of the piece can be helpful, but it's not usually worth the expense.

 

NGC is a respected grading company the world over…

https://www.ngccoin.uk/submit/how-to-submit/

But with membership fees, grading fees, postage/packaging it can get expensive very quickly.

…and generally speaking will not increase the value of the coin.

Thanks for the info really appreciate it.

I do this a lot, it depends on the situation, 

What I have found out from actual experience:

So far it seem to me for foreign coins, PCGS

and for American Coins use NGC. They well better at an actual auction house.

*make sure you coins are worth enough to grade, add $40 to it, then decide?

I just sold a very large batch to a hole-sale dealer, so the grading helped in my case.

- I have used exclusively NGC for the last 200 coins I got graded, it cost on average $40 a coin, you got to pay for shipping back and forth, etc. Insurance, --AND the previous poster was right, it rarely increases your coins value. I do not like their grading on foreign coins at all. and Honestly going PCGS next time I do a batch. I got some horror stories about NGC, but I digress.

*it funny, NGC actually offers to clean your coins, called “preservation” LOL, LOL

It just a sonic bath, jeeze. I know as I was a machinist and my Mom a Jewelry Artist. Touchless? LOL, Right., digress again.

**However what it does, it guarantee's other places that your coin is real and graded properly.

SO if you intend to sell or Auction your coins, most places wont even look your way unless graded, Like Heritage Auctions.

If you plan on Paypal and the occasional sale, dont bother with grading. let the buyer decide with good pictures you take.

If you plan of preserving your coin, just buy a capsule.

The holders are Ugly, I prefer to hold a raw coin, I have cut many out of cases they called “details” or Cleaned, and nothing stinks worse when you get your coins back deemed “CLEANED” for $40, fun fun fun, have then pre-graded first at a coin shop to avoid this, I sure wish I did.

-Susie

SilverQueen

I do this a lot, it depends on the situation, 

What I have found out from actual experience:

So far it seem to me for foreign coins, PCGS

and for American Coins use NGC. They well better at an actual auction house.

*make sure you coins are worth enough to grade, add $40 to it, then decide?

 

I just sold a very large batch to a hole-sale dealer, so the grading helped in my case.

- I have used exclusively NGC for the last 200 coins I got graded, it cost on average $40 a coin, you got to pay for shipping back and forth, etc. Insurance, --AND the previous poster was right, it rarely increases your coins value. I do not like their grading on foreign coins at all. and Honestly going PCGS next time I do a batch. I got some horror stories about NGC, but I digress.

*it funny, NGC actually offers to clean your coins, called “preservation” LOL, LOL

It just a sonic bath, jeeze. I know as I was a machinist and my Mom a Jewelry Artist. Touchless? LOL, Right., digress again.

 

**However what it does, it guarantee's other places that your coin is real and graded properly.

SO if you intend to sell or Auction your coins, most places wont even look your way unless graded, Like Heritage Auctions.

 

If you plan on Paypal and the occasional sale, dont bother with grading. let the buyer decide with good pictures you take.

If you plan of preserving your coin, just buy a capsule.

The holders are Ugly, I prefer to hold a raw coin, I have cut many out of cases they called “details” or Cleaned, and nothing stinks worse when you get your coins back deemed “CLEANED” for $40, fun fun fun, have then pre-graded first at a coin shop to avoid this, I sure wish I did.

 

-Susie

 

Thanks for the advice really appreciate it.

Just to follow on from the others: NGC and PCGS are the two big hitters for the "Western World" coins, so for the UK, I'd start with them. Seen “horror stories” on both sides.

I only have three graded coins myself (all NGC), but that's how I bought them. And I only paid ~the same as I would have without the casing so wasn't worth it for whoever did send them off for grading.

However, for UK coins, there's very little I would ever consider sending off for grading & slabbing. Basically, anything dated after the great recoinage of 1816 probably isn't rare enough to be worth the effort. And even for the earlier stuff, it needs to be gold or extremely early silver.

Of course, some exceptions here & there.

Realistically, having the “professional” grading is only really any use if you're intending to sell (or insure) your collection as it's a big like a guarantee.

If you're just looking for the protective hardcover casings, you can buy them directly. I use some myself to protect my silver Britannia collection.

I like the Quadrum Square for my stuff, but you can get circular ones, or the tall rectangular ones where you can insert your own labels.

Again, probably not something you want for every coin (why buy a cover costing £1 if the coin inside could be replaced for 50p mentality). But perhaps a more affordable route if your main focus is preservation. 🙂

Just £10 or so online and easily found.

Has black and white photos of all British circulating coins from 1797 to 1970 and in 4 grades, EF, VF, Fine and Fair (G -VG). Plus copious notes, not perfect (Some pages a little dark) - but the fraction of the price of just a couple of slabs.

Its my go to bible, never need to slab a coin ever!