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Last updated 4 May 2026 · Written by Connor Jones, Editor

How to Get a Coin Graded UK: PCGS, NGC and CGS UK Step-by-Step

Sending a coin to a professional grading service ("slabbing") authenticates it, locks in a numerical grade and adds 10 to 30 per cent to resale value on rarities. The three main routes for UK collectors are PCGS, NGC and CGS UK; standard fees run roughly £25 to £50 per coin and turnaround four to eight weeks. This guide covers when to grade, which service to use, the submission procedure end-to-end, and the pitfalls that turn a routine submission into a permanent Details slab.

Last updated: 4 May 2026

In brief. Slab a coin if its expected value is £150 or more and authentication or grade is the price driver. Choose PCGS for international resale, NGC for general-purpose with London drop-off, or CGS UK for lower-value British coins. Fees from £25 per coin, turnaround four to eight weeks. Never submit cleaned coins; the Details grade is permanent. Always verify the slab number on the service's online tool when it arrives. Fees and turnaround change frequently — check the current price list before submitting.

Why slab a coin?

Encapsulation by a recognised third-party grader provides four things a raw coin cannot:

Authentication. The slab confirms the coin is genuine. Counterfeit risk on rare-date material is the single biggest barrier to international sale; the slab removes it.
Locked-in grade. The numerical grade on the slab is the trade reference for value. Buyers and sellers do not have to argue about whether the coin is MS-63 or MS-65; the slab decides.
Resale premium. Slabbed rarities sell for 10 to 30 per cent more than raw equivalents in most cases, sometimes considerably more. The premium reflects reduced buyer risk.
Tamper-evident packaging. The slab is sonically welded; opening it is visible. This protects the coin from substitution in shipping, consignment and storage, and from being mistakenly cleaned.

The three main grading services

Service	Country / UK route	Standard fee	Turnaround	Best for
PCGS	USA; UK via approved dealers, PCGS Europe, London Coin Fair drop-off	From £30 per coin (standard tier)	Roughly 6 to 8 weeks	International resale, US coins, premium UK rarities
NGC	USA; NGC London office, approved dealers	From £30 per coin (standard tier)	Roughly 4 to 8 weeks	General-purpose UK; first-time submitters
CGS UK	UK; direct submission	From £20 per coin (standard tier)	Roughly 4 to 6 weeks	Lower-value British coins; UK-only resale

All three services publish tiered fee schedules with caps on declared value at each tier. Fees above are indicative for the entry standard service; express, walkthrough and high-value tiers cost more (typically £80 to £200+ per coin for express, £500+ for walkthrough on premium coins). Turnaround targets vary; check current published rates on the service's submission page before posting.

PCGS in detail

Founded in California in 1986, PCGS is the largest grading service by volume and slab market cap. Slabs are accepted globally and the PCGS Population Report (the database of every coin they have graded) is the trade reference for population scarcity. UK submission routes:

Approved dealer. A BNTA-member PCGS authorised dealer accepts your coin, completes paperwork, and ships in bulk. Most UK collectors use this route. Dealer fee on top of grading is typically £10 to £25 per coin.
PCGS Europe. Direct submission to the European office (currently in Paris). Higher fees but faster routing for UK collectors.
London Coin Fair drop-off. PCGS hosts in-person submission at the London Coin Fair, twice yearly (typically February and November). Bring coins, complete paperwork on the day; coins ship to PCGS US for grading and return by post.

NGC in detail

Founded in Florida in 1987 and now part of the same parent group as PMG (paper money), NGC has a strong UK presence including a London office (NGC UK), which makes it the most accessible direct route for UK collectors. Submission routes:

NGC London office. Direct submission to the UK office; coins ship in bulk to NGC US for grading and return.
Approved dealer. BNTA-member NGC authorised dealers accept coins for bulk submission. Dealer fee on top is typically £10 to £25 per coin.
Major coin shows. NGC drops in at major UK coin fairs intermittently; check the show calendar.

CGS UK in detail

Coin Grading Services UK, owned by London Coins, is the established British grading service. Slabs are widely accepted in UK auction houses and on eBay UK; the service is less established internationally, which is the main reason high-value coins typically go to PCGS or NGC instead. Strengths: lower fees, faster turnaround for UK addresses, no international shipping. Best for British coinage where domestic resale is the goal and the price uplift would not justify higher PCGS or NGC fees.

Step 1: Decide if grading is worthwhile

Grading only pays back when the slab adds more to resale than it costs to obtain. The threshold is roughly:

Coin's expected raw value	Worth grading?	Reasoning
Under £50	No	Fee plus shipping exceeds any uplift; raw sells fine on eBay
£50 to £150	Borderline	Only if grade is genuinely top-end (MS-65+) where the slab confirms it
£150 to £500	Usually yes	Slab adds 10 to 25 per cent; CGS UK at £20 per coin is the rational choice
£500 to £5,000	Yes	Slab adds 15 to 30 per cent; PCGS or NGC standard tier
£5,000+	Yes, express tier	Authentication and grade are essential at this price; PCGS or NGC express; declared value matters for insurance

Three reasons not to submit even on coins above the threshold:

The coin is cleaned, polished or damaged. A Details slab is permanent and reduces value by 30 to 70 per cent. If you suspect cleaning, the slab will simply confirm it.
The coin is contentious or potentially fake. If the home six-check authentication is borderline, professional grading either confirms the coin (great) or returns it as "Not Genuine" (the fee is gone). Decide whether you can afford the latter.
The coin is common at the grade. A modern UK proof in original packaging often sells for the same price as a slabbed equivalent because the original packaging is itself authentication.

Step 2: Choose the service

Decision logic by coin type:

British coin worth under £500, UK resale only. → CGS UK. Lowest fee, fastest turnaround, well-recognised on UK eBay and in UK auction houses.
British coin worth £500 to £5,000, international resale possible. → NGC. Strong UK presence, internationally accepted, balanced fee.
British coin worth £5,000+, premium rarity. → PCGS or NGC. Both work; PCGS slab tends to command a slight premium on international auction.
US coin or international gold. → PCGS or NGC. Both dominate the US market; CGS UK is the wrong service.
Hammered, ancient or specialist (Roman, Greek, medieval). → NGC Ancients (specialist division) or specialist auction-house authentication; PCGS and CGS UK are not the right choice.

Step 3: Photograph and document

Before any coin leaves your possession, build a personal record. This protects you against in-transit substitution, supports any insurance claim, and gives you a baseline against which to compare what comes back.

Photograph obverse, reverse and edge. Daylight (5000K LED is ideal), white background, coin held by a reflective stand or balanced on its edge. Focus on detail.
Note weight, diameter and any distinguishing features. Marks, toning patterns, anything specific to that coin.
Record the declared value and submission tier you have chosen. Each tier caps insurance liability while the coin is in the service's care.
Save the dealer or service's acknowledgement when the coin is logged in. PCGS, NGC and CGS UK all assign a job number on receipt.

Step 4: Submit

The submission packet contains: the coin in an inert flip or capsule (one per flip), the completed submission form, payment (or dealer-mediated invoice), and a clear ID match between flip and form so the service knows which coin is which.

Packaging the coins for shipping

Each coin in an inert flip (Mylar) or capsule. Never PVC.
Bundle flips between two pieces of stiff cardboard, taped at the edges so coins cannot shift.
Wrap in bubble film and place in a rigid cardboard or plywood box with foam packing.
Tape securely. No coin-related markings on the outside (security).
Ship via Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed (insured to £2,500 standard, £20,000 with high-value top-up). For higher values, use Loomis or Brink's specialist courier.
Get a tracking number; do not hand the parcel to anyone without one.

The submission form

Each service publishes its current submission form online (PCGS: Submission Center; NGC: Online Submission; CGS UK: submission page). Key fields:

Member or customer ID — you may need to register first; some services require an annual membership fee for direct submission.
Service tier — matches declared value cap and turnaround. Match your coin's expected value to the right tier.
Declared value — realistic post-grade estimate. Under-declaring caps insurance recovery; over-declaring increases fees.
Coin description — year, denomination, mint mark, country, your "best estimate" grade.
Designation requests — e.g. "PL" prooflike, "DPL" deep prooflike, "CAM" cameo for proofs. Free to request; service decides.
Return shipping preference — insured, signature required.

Step 5: Receive the slab

When the slab arrives:

Verify the certification number online. PCGS: pcgs.com/cert. NGC: ngccoin.com/certlookup. CGS UK has a verification tool on its site. The lookup returns the recorded grade, denomination and often photographs of the coin. A number that does not match or returns no record indicates a fake slab.
Inspect the slab itself. The plastic should be unmarked, the label sharp and free of any signs of opening or tampering. Any visible seam line on the slab body indicates a counterfeit slab.
Confirm the grade matches the description. Year, mintmark, denomination and grade should all match the coin you submitted. If anything is wrong, contact the service immediately.
Store correctly. Slabs are robust but the corners can crack on impact. Use a slab sleeve or storage box; do not stack heavy items on slabs.

Indicative costs comparison

Service	Tier	Max declared value	Standard turnaround	Approx fee per coin
CGS UK	Standard	£500	4 to 6 weeks	From £20
CGS UK	High Value	£10,000	4 to 6 weeks	From £40
NGC	Modern (post-1955)	$3,000	4 to 8 weeks	From £30
NGC	Standard	$10,000	4 to 8 weeks	From £50
NGC	Express	$50,000	1 to 2 weeks	From £130
PCGS	Value (modern)	$300	6 to 8 weeks	From £30
PCGS	Regular	$2,500	6 to 8 weeks	From £50
PCGS	Express	$10,000	1 to 2 weeks	From £150
PCGS	Walkthrough (premium)	$100,000+	1 to 2 days	From £400+

Indicative figures based on published rates at time of writing; fees and tier caps change frequently and PCGS / NGC quote in US dollars. Always check the service's current price list before submitting. Add return shipping (typically £10 to £30) and dealer intermediary fee where applicable.

Common pitfalls

Submitting a cleaned coin. The Details slab is permanent and reduces value by 30 to 70 per cent. If you suspect cleaning, do not submit. See our cleaning guide for diagnostic signs of prior cleaning.
Submitting common coins. A common-date Elizabeth II shilling at grade VF is worth more raw than slabbed; the fee destroys value. Only submit where slab uplift exceeds fee.
Under-declaring value. Your insurance liability with the service is capped at the declared value. A £5,000 coin declared at £500 has only £500 of cover if lost in transit. Always declare honestly.
Wrong tier. Each tier has a maximum value cap. A £3,000 coin submitted on a £500 tier may be reassigned by the service to a higher tier with the higher fee, or returned ungraded.
Choosing the wrong service. PCGS for a common UK 50p is overkill; CGS UK for a $50,000 US gold piece is suboptimal for international resale. Match service to the coin's market.
Buying back-of-the-slab. Counterfeit slabs exist on eBay and in private sales. Always verify the certification number on the service's online tool before paying.
Skipping the photographs. Without before-photos, in-transit substitution claims are weakened. Always photograph in detail before shipping.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to get a coin graded in the UK?

For a single submission, expect roughly £25 to £50 per coin for standard service across PCGS, NGC and CGS UK. Express tiers (faster turnaround, higher declared value) cost more, often £80 to £200+ per coin. Add return shipping and insurance. Fees change frequently; always check the service's current price list before submitting.

How long does coin grading take?

Standard turnaround is typically four to eight weeks for NGC and CGS UK, and roughly six to eight weeks for PCGS. Express tiers cut this to one to two weeks at higher cost. Backlogs at major fairs (London Coin Fair, ANA World's Fair) can extend turnaround. Always check the service's currently quoted turnaround on its website at the time of submission.

Is PCGS or NGC better for UK coins?

Both are accepted and respected globally. PCGS slabs typically command a slight premium on US-themed coins and high-grade material; NGC has stronger UK presence with a London office and is often the easier first submission for UK-based collectors. CGS UK is the established British alternative with lower fees, well-suited to lower-value British coins where US service fees would be disproportionate. For coins worth more than £2,000 in international markets, PCGS or NGC is usually preferred.

Should I get every coin graded?

No. Grading only pays back where the slab adds more value than it costs. As a rule of thumb, only submit coins with expected value above £150 to £200. Below that, the £25 to £50 fee plus shipping exceeds the resale uplift. Never submit coins you suspect are cleaned, damaged or counterfeit; you will pay the fee for a "Details" or "Not Genuine" return. Use the home authentication six-check first.

Will a slab really add value to my coin?

On rare-date and high-grade material, yes — typically 10 to 30 per cent over a raw equivalent, sometimes more. The slab provides authentication (no fakes), a locked-in numerical grade and tamper-evident packaging, all of which reduce buyer risk and unlock international markets. On common-date circulated coins the slab adds little or nothing because the grade was never the bottleneck on price. Slab a coin where authentication or grade is the value driver.

What if my coin comes back as "Details, Cleaned"?

A Details grade is permanent and reduces realised price by roughly 30 to 70 per cent versus a straight-graded peer. PCGS and NGC assign Details when a coin shows evidence of cleaning, damage, repair, environmental contamination or alteration. The slab is still useful as authentication and tamper-evidence, but the grade designation never lifts. To avoid Details, never clean a coin and check carefully for tooling before submission. See our cleaning guide.

Can I submit directly to PCGS or NGC from the UK?

Yes for both. NGC operates a UK office (NGC London) for direct UK submission. PCGS Europe covers UK submissions and PCGS hosts in-person drop-offs at the London Coin Fair (twice yearly). Most UK collectors instead submit via an approved dealer (BNTA member who is a PCGS or NGC authorised dealer); the dealer handles paperwork, declared value and shipping for a small fee on top of the grading cost. CGS UK is UK-based and requires no intermediary.

How do I package coins for grading submission?

Each coin in an inert flip (Mylar) or capsule, individually labelled with your reference number. Bundle the flips between two pieces of stiff cardboard with bubble film around them. Place inside a rigid box with foam or paper packing so coins cannot shift. UK shipping should use Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed (insured to £2,500 standard, up to £20,000 with high-value top-up) or a specialist courier (Loomis, Brink's) for very high values. Always declare full value and include the submission form completed in advance.

What is a "declared value" and why does it matter?

On the submission form you declare the coin's estimated value. The grading service uses this to choose the appropriate fee tier (each tier has a maximum value cap) and to set their insurance liability while the coin is in their care. Under-declaring saves on the fee but caps your insurance recovery if the coin is lost; over-declaring costs more in fees. Match the declared value to a realistic post-grade estimate. Most services publish tier brackets on their submission pages.

What does a "Genuine" or "Authenticated" grade mean?

PCGS uses "Genuine" and NGC uses "Authenticated" or "Details" for coins that the service confirms are real but assigns no numerical grade because of cleaning, damage or other impairment. The slab encapsulates the coin and confirms authenticity, which is useful for resale, but the grade gap means lower realised prices than straight-graded peers. Some collectors specifically buy "Genuine" graded rarities at a discount, but resale liquidity is reduced.

Can I crack a coin out of its slab if I disagree with the grade?

Yes, but rarely worth it. The slab is designed to be tamper-evident; cracking removes that protection and the coin reverts to raw with no certified grade. You can resubmit a cracked coin to the same or a different service, which sometimes produces a different grade ("crack-out"); however, you have paid two grading fees and the coin may grade lower the second time. Crack-out only makes sense if you genuinely believe the original grade is several points wrong.

How do I verify a slab number is real?

Each PCGS, NGC and CGS UK slab carries a unique certification number printed on the label. Enter it into the service's online verification tool (pcgs.com/cert, ngccoin.com/cert, cgsuk.co.uk verification page). The tool returns the recorded grade, denomination, year and (for PCGS and NGC) often photographs of the coin. A number that does not match or returns no record indicates a fake slab. Always verify before paying serious money for a slabbed coin.