NGC: Numismatic Guaranty Corporation

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) provides coin grading services. The Company offers grading of ancient, shipwreck, bullion, and gold coins. Numismatic Guaranty serves customers worldwide.

NGC, the world's largest and most respected third-party coin grading service, was founded in 1987. From the beginning, NGC has committed itself to developing an impartial, trusted standard of consistent and accurate grading.

NGC is a privately owned, international coin certification service that has certified more than 47 coins. NGC certification consists of authentication, grading, attribution, and encapsulation in clear plastic holders. NGC is a member of Certified Collectibles Group (CCG), which owns five million collectible certification services. 

NGC has been the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) since 1995 and the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) since 2004

NGC along with PCGS dominate the field of third-party grading services. 

Similarities and Differences Between NGC and PCGS

There are several strong similarities between NGC and PCGS. For most collectors, they are effectively equivalent. They both provide the same service. The collector can submit the coins to them to be certified. Whether one uses NGC or PCGS, the coins will be examined by a whole team of experts. When it’s received after the process is complete, it will be housed in a permanently sealed slab. However, there are some differences between these services. For example, since NGC are certifying coins in the same way, they have slightly different terminology for some equivalent certifications. NGC has the First Releases and Early Releases designations. 

The First Strike designation offered by PCGS requires very similar qualifications. Another example is the prefix that these companies use for their proof coins. NGC coins receive a PF prefix and coins submitted to PCGS receive a PR prefix.

The overall design of their holders and labels also diverges in both aesthetics and production.

When choosing a grading service, it’s best to choose one of the two top-tiered companies PCGS or NGC.