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Knowledge Center
Guides to grading, labels, metals and U.S. coins, plus a glossary, tools and live metal charts. If your question isn't answered here, call 866-997-8544 and ask a dealer.
Signers library
Who signs the labels?
Profiles of the Treasurers, Mint directors, engravers and grading-service founders whose signatures appear on PCGS and NGC labels: who they are, what they designed and which labels they sign.
Grading & labels
How PCGS and NGC grade coins, what the label tells you and how to check it.
- How Coin Grading Works: The 70-Point Sheldon ScaleThe Sheldon scale from 1 to 70 explained: MS, PF and SP prefixes, grade bands, what 69 vs. 70 means, details grades, and who grades coins.
- How to Verify a PCGS or NGC Graded CoinLook up a cert number at PCGS or NGC, match the photos and label, check holder security features, and learn what verification can and can't prove.
- Coin Label Guide: FDOI, FYOI, Early Release & First StrikeWhat NGC/PCGS labels mean — FDOI, FYOI, Early Release, First Strike, signed labels, and whether they’re worth a premium. A graded-coin dealer’s guide.
- MS70 vs PF70 vs MS69: What You’re Actually Paying ForMS70, PF70, MS69 explained — what the grades mean, why MS70 costs more, and when the premium is worth it. A graded-coin dealer’s guide.
- NGC vs PCGS: Which Graded Coins Should You Buy?NGC vs PCGS compared — grading scale, trust, registry sets, and resale value. A graded-coin dealer’s plain-English guide to choosing between the two.
Metals & bullion
Troy ounces, purity, spot price and premiums, explained without the sales pitch.
- Bullion vs. Numismatic Coins: What’s the Difference?Bullion coins are valued for their metal; numismatic coins for rarity, condition and history. How to tell them apart, with the main U.S. bullion coins.
- What Is a Troy Ounce?A troy ounce is 31.1035 grams, about 10% heavier than a regular ounce. Learn grains, pennyweights, the troy pound and a full conversion table.
- Gold Purity Explained: Karats and FinenessHow karats and fineness work, why the Gold Eagle is 22 karat, and how to calculate the actual gold weight of common U.S. gold coins.
- What Is the Spot Price of Gold and Silver?What the spot price means, where it comes from, how bid and ask work, and why coins sell above spot because of minting, grading, rarity and labels.
U.S. coins
The series we handle most: American Eagles, Morgan dollars, mint marks and more.
- Proof, Uncirculated and Bullion Finishes ExplainedHow bullion, burnished, proof, reverse proof and enhanced coins are struck, what the W mint mark means on Eagles, and how each finish is graded.
- U.S. Mint Marks: P, D, S, W, CC and OWhat each U.S. mint mark means, the years each mint used it, where the mark appears on the coin, and why some coins have no mint mark at all.
- American Eagle Coins: The U.S. Mint's Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium ProgramLaunch years, sizes, fineness and designers of the U.S. Mint's American Eagles, plus Type 1 vs Type 2 and bullion vs proof vs burnished.
- Morgan Dollar Key Dates: 1893-S, 1889-CC & 1895The key dates that define a Morgan dollar set — 1893-S, 1889-CC, the proof-only 1895, Carson City issues, and condition rarities. A collector’s guide.
- American Silver Eagle Collector’s Guide (1986–Present)A collector’s guide to the American Silver Eagle — series history, key dates, MS70 vs PF70, signed labels, and how to build a graded set.
Collecting basics
Bullion or numismatic, how to store your coins, and building a set.
- How to Store and Handle Coins and SlabsHold coins by the edges, avoid PVC and damp air, store slabs upright, keep cert-number records, and know what safe deposit boxes do not cover.
- How to Build an NGC or PCGS Registry SetA step-by-step guide to building a competitive NGC or PCGS registry set — choosing a set, grade targets, sourcing key coins, and common mistakes to avoid.
Buying & selling
What to know before you buy or sell graded coins.
The Journal
Dated articles, label news and collecting notes. 7 articles so far. Read the Journal