How to submit coins to NGC, step by step
The submission itself is paperwork. The decision before it is where the money is — which coins go in the box, at what declared value, on which tier.
Submitting coins to NGC is the process of sending raw coins to Numismatic Guaranty Company for authentication, grading and encapsulation. You join or submit through a dealer, pick a service tier, declare each coin's value, complete the form, then ship insured. Turnaround runs 3 to 60 days depending on tier, at roughly $20 to $300+ per coin.
Before you fill in anything
Every coin in the box costs you money whether it grades well or not. That's the part people skip. A submission fee is charged on the coin that comes back MS62 exactly as it is on the one that comes back MS66, so the screening you do beforehand decides whether the whole batch pays.
Run each candidate through a free grade estimate first. If the likely grade doesn't support a price above your all-in cost, leave it out. Our page on how grading apps differ from identifiers covers why an identification app can't answer this — it tells you the coin type, not its condition.
The seven steps
- Get submission accessJoin NGC directly, or submit through an authorized dealer or a club group submission. A dealer charges a handling fee but saves the membership cost if you submit rarely.
- Pick your service tierTiers are capped by declared value and priced by turnaround. Match the tier to your most valuable coin — one coin above the cap pushes the whole form up a level.
- Set a declared value per coinThis drives both the tier and the insurance. Guessing high costs money; guessing low caps what you can claim if the package is lost.
- Complete the submission formList each coin with date, mint mark, denomination and declared value. Add designations you're claiming, such as Full Bands or a variety attribution.
- Put each coin in a flipNon-PVC flips only. PVC leaches over time and leaves a residue that turns into a details grade.
- Pack the box properlyFlips in a rigid box, padded so nothing shifts. Loose coins move in transit, and movement is contact marks you paid to have documented.
- Ship insured, signature requiredInsure for the total declared value. Keep the tracking number — it's the only proof the package existed if it goes missing.
Choosing a tier
Tiers trade money for time. The right one depends on whether a sale is waiting, not on how much you care about the coin.
| Tier type | Turnaround | Value cap | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy / bulk | Longest | Lowest | No deadline, modest coin values |
| Standard | Moderate | Mid | Most collector submissions |
| Express | Short | Higher | An auction or sale date is fixed |
| Walk-through / show | Same day to days | Highest | You're at the show anyway |
NGC turnaround runs 3 to 60 days depending on tier. Exact fees, caps and times change — check ngccoin.com for the current schedule before you commit to a tier.
Declared value, explained
Declare too high
You overpay on two lines at once.
- Pushes the coin into a more expensive tier
- Raises the insurance premium on both shipping legs
- Doesn't improve the grade by a single point
Declare too low
You save a little and risk a lot.
- Caps what you can claim if the package is lost
- May breach the tier's terms if the coin grades high
- Leaves you underinsured on the return leg, which carries a graded coin
Declare what the coin is worth at the grade you realistically expect. That's another reason to estimate the grade first — the declared value and the submit-or-not decision come from the same number. If you're still working out what the coin is, a free online appraisal is the step before this one.
Declared value also picks your tier, so it decides the bill. The full schedule is in NGC grading fees, and it's worth checking against PCGS and ANACS before you commit — the entry tiers run $20, $22 and $14 respectively.
Mistakes that cost money
- Cleaning a coin before sending itThis is the expensive one. A cleaned coin comes back in a details holder, which states the problem permanently and usually leaves it worth less than it was raw.
- Submitting coins that can't clear the feeCommon circulated coins near melt rarely gain enough from certification to cover the cost.
- Using PVC flipsCheap now, a details grade later.
- Sending one coin at a timeShipping and insurance are per shipment. Twenty coins share the cost a single coin carries alone.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an NGC membership to submit coins?
Not necessarily. You can submit through an authorized dealer or a collector club's group submission instead. A dealer adds a handling fee, which is usually still cheaper than your own membership if you submit only occasionally.
How long does NGC grading take?
Between 3 and 60 days, driven almost entirely by the tier you pay for rather than by the coin. Economy tiers sit at the long end; express and show walk-through tiers can return coins in days.
How much does it cost to submit a coin to NGC?
Roughly $20 to $300+ per coin depending on tier and declared value. Budget more than the headline fee: insured shipping both ways and insurance at 1–2% of declared value often add as much again on a small submission.
How many coins should I send at once?
As many as clear the fee, in one shipment. Shipping and insurance are charged per package, so batching is the single biggest lever on per-coin cost. Screen each candidate first so you're not paying to grade filler.
Can NGC refuse to grade my coin?
They won't refuse it, but they may return it without a numeric grade. Cleaned, damaged or altered coins come back in a details holder naming the problem, and counterfeits are labelled as such. You still pay the fee either way.
Should I use NGC or PCGS?
Both are top tier and widely accepted. NGC has the broader world-coin coverage; PCGS often carries a slightly higher resale premium on classic US series. Match the service to the buyers you expect, and pre-check the grade either way.
Screen the batch before you pack it
A free grade estimate takes under ten seconds per coin and tells you which ones are worth the fee. No account, no card.