Quick answer
For common-date modern American Eagles, Maple Leafs, and similar bullion coins, certification fees plus two-way shipping routinely exceed the resale premium a slab earns. MS69 examples of most modern issues trade close to melt-plus-spot on the secondary market. Grading makes economic sense only for conditionally scarce pieces, strong MS70 markets, coins where authentication matters, and virtually all pre-1933 gold.
Stackers ask this question constantly: the coins look brilliant, a third-party grade might add value, so why not send them in? The honest answer depends on three numbers you need to check before spending a dollar on shipping.
What coin grading actually costs
Two services dominate professional coin certification in the United States: PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service, founded 1985) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company). Both charge per-coin fees that vary by service tier and declared coin value, plus two-way shipping and insurance.
Fee schedules change periodically. Before submitting any coin, verify the current tier pricing directly at pcgs.com and ngccoin.com, since the numbers on those pages are the only ones that count at submission time.
That said, the general cost structure has looked like this for years:
| Cost component | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grading fee (per coin, economy/standard tier) | $20 to $50+ | Verify current tiers on pcgs.com or ngccoin.com before submitting |
| Express or Walkthrough tier | $100 to $300+ per coin | For time-sensitive or high-value submissions; turnaround as fast as same day at shows |
| Two-way shipping and insurance | $30 to $80+ round trip | Registered Mail + declared value insurance; see USPS Registered Mail for the safest option |
| Minimum submission requirements | Varies by tier | Both services have minimum coin counts or dollar thresholds for certain service levels; submit multiple coins to dilute per-coin overhead |
Add it up: a five-coin PCGS standard submission at current rates, with round-trip shipping and insurance, can easily cost $200 to $350 total before you get a single slab back. Spread across five coins, that is $40 to $70 per coin in pure certification overhead, not counting the coin’s own value.
The problem with MS69 modern bullion
Modern U.S. Mint bullion coins (American Gold Eagle, American Silver Eagle, American Platinum Eagle, American Buffalo) are struck to very high tolerances. A significant fraction of any given year’s production grades MS69. This abundance is exactly why the MS69 premium has compressed on most common-date issues.
Sold listings on major numismatic marketplaces show that common-date American Silver Eagles in PCGS MS69 or NGC MS69 holders frequently trade at $2 to $8 over spot, while raw coins in similar condition often sell at $1 to $5 over spot at local coin shops or on collector forums. When your certification cost was $40 to $70 per coin, recovering that overhead from a $2 to $5 premium gap is not realistic for most common-date moderns.
Check current sold listings before submitting. Population reports matter. If a given date has 150,000 MS69 examples already certified, the market is saturated and the slab adds little to resale value.
When MS70 changes the math
Not every modern date is common. Some issues have low production runs, high quality standards that make MS70 difficult to achieve, or special labels (First Strike, First Day of Issue, Early Releases) that command genuine premiums from type collectors. On those specific coins, an MS70 grade can still add meaningful value over spot.
How meaningful? On a common-date Silver Eagle, an MS70 might earn $20 to $60 over a raw example. On a conditionally scarce date with low MS70 populations, that premium can reach hundreds of dollars. The key variable is the population report: check PCGS CoinFacts or NGC’s population data to see how many examples in MS70 exist before you submit.
If fewer than a few hundred MS70 examples exist for a given date, and the raw-to-MS70 spread in recent sales justifies your cost of submission, the math can work in your favor.
Five situations where grading is almost always worth it
Pre-1933 gold coins
Certification is close to mandatory for selling pre-1933 U.S. gold in any serious venue. Buyers demand it because counterfeits and cleaned examples are common. A raw Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle or Liberty Head $20 gold piece faces heavy buyer skepticism without a PCGS or NGC holder.
Key dates and low-mintage issues
Any coin with documented scarcity benefits from third-party authentication. The grade confirms genuineness and assigns a specific numeric value that collectors use to price. A raw 1916-D Mercury Dime or 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent trades at a steep discount to an authenticated, graded example.
Coins with strong MS70 markets
Certain modern issues have real MS70 collector bases: Burnished Silver Eagles, First Spouse gold coins, First Strike and Early Releases labels on popular dates. If current sold data shows MS70 commands $100 or more over MS69, and you believe your coin has a reasonable shot at MS70, the submission cost may be justified.
High-value coins where authentication protects the buyer
Any coin worth $1,000 or more as a raw piece should probably be certified before sale. The cost of grading is trivial relative to the value at risk from disputes over authenticity or cleaning. PCGS and NGC certification also makes the coin easier to insure and transport.
Coins you plan to hold in a precious metals IRA
Self-directed IRAs accepting physical precious metals require coins to meet IRS fineness standards. Third-party certification can help confirm a coin’s purity status, though the custodian and depository ultimately determine eligibility. For this use case, consult your IRA custodian on what documentation they accept before sending coins to a grading service.
The decision framework: two worked examples
Run this arithmetic before committing to a submission. The question is simple: what premium does a grade add, minus what the grade costs?
| Raw coin value (spot + typical dealer premium) | ~$35 |
| Grading fee (standard tier, one coin) | ~$40 to $50 (verify at pcgs.com) |
| Round-trip shipping and insurance | ~$35 to $50 |
| Total cost to grade one coin | ~$75 to $100 |
| Resale as MS69 slab (common date) | ~$37 to $45 |
| Net outcome | Loss of $30 to $60 per coin |
Figures illustrative only. Current fees and market prices can differ. Verify fee schedules at pcgs.com or ngccoin.com and check recent sold listings before submitting.
| Raw coin value (estimated, no certification) | ~$2,300 to $2,600 (market at melt + collector discount for raw) |
| Grading fee (high-value tier, PCGS or NGC) | ~$80 to $150 (verify at pcgs.com) |
| Round-trip shipping and insurance (high declared value) | ~$50 to $80 |
| Total cost to grade | ~$130 to $230 |
| Resale as PCGS AU-55 or AU-58 slab | ~$2,600 to $3,200+ depending on date and grade |
| Net outcome | Potential gain of $300 to $900 or more |
Figures illustrative only. Pre-1933 gold values depend heavily on the specific date, mint mark, and grade. Consult a numismatic dealer or recent auction records for your specific coin before deciding.
How to use the decision framework before you submit
Work through these four steps on any coin you are considering:
- Look up the PCGS or NGC population report for the specific date, mint mark, and denomination. If MS69 population exceeds 50,000, assume the premium over raw is minimal.
- Check recent sold listings on eBay (sold, not just listed), Heritage Auctions, or PCGS CoinFacts price guide. The gap between raw sold price and slabbed sold price is your expected premium.
- Get current fees from pcgs.com or ngccoin.com at submission time. Estimate total costs including two-way shipping and insurance.
- Do the math: expected premium minus total cost. If the result is positive and covers your time, submit. If it is negative or near zero, sell raw or hold.
One practical tip: submitting multiple coins in one package reduces the per-coin shipping overhead. If you have five coins where the premium math is borderline, submitting them together at the minimum required quantity may tip the decision into positive territory.
A note on third-party grades for IRA-held metals
If you hold or are considering precious metals inside a self-directed IRA, the certification question takes on a different dimension. The IRS sets fineness requirements for IRA-eligible coins under Internal Revenue Code Section 408(m). Certification from PCGS or NGC can help confirm a coin’s identity, but the custodian and approved depository are the ultimate gatekeepers on what they will accept. Consult your tax advisor and custodian before making IRA-related decisions about grading.
For general information on IRS precious metals standards, see IRS Publication 590-A and IRS Publication 590-B. Consult your tax advisor for your specific situation.
To learn more about how gold IRA companies handle IRS-approved coins in their product offerings, read our primer on coin grading for investors.
Thinking about selling your graded or raw bullion coins?
Goldiew’s free request board on goldiew.com/sell-gold/ connects individual sellers with up to 15 verified precious metals buyers. Post your coins once, receive sealed offers, and compare. No listing fees, no obligation. You can also browse the marketplace to see current buy prices from vetted dealers.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth grading an American Silver Eagle?
For most common-date American Silver Eagles, no. The MS69 population for major dates runs into the hundreds of thousands of certified coins, which keeps the slabbed premium small. Certification costs typically exceed the premium earned on common dates. The exception is conditionally scarce dates with low MS70 populations, or first-year issues that collector demand keeps elevated. Check the population report for your specific date before submitting.
What is the cost to get a coin graded by PCGS or NGC?
Both PCGS and NGC charge tiered fees based on service level, turnaround time, and declared coin value. Economy-tier services start lower; express and walkthrough tiers can cost $100 to $300 or more per coin. Add round-trip shipping and insurance, typically $35 to $80. Fees change over time. Always verify the current schedule directly on pcgs.com or ngccoin.com before submitting.
Does a higher grade always mean a higher price?
Not for modern bullion. On common-date issues with large certified populations, the price difference between MS69 and MS70 can be a few dollars, not enough to cover submission costs. On scarce dates, limited-mintage specials, or older collector coins, a grade jump can add significant value. The relationship between grade and price is always specific to the coin, the date, and what buyers are currently paying in the secondary market.
What coins should you get graded?
Focus on: pre-1933 U.S. gold (near-mandatory for legitimate resale), key-date coins in any series, any coin worth $1,000 or more in raw condition, modern issues with documented MS70 scarcity, and coins where you need third-party authentication to establish genuineness. Avoid grading common-date modern bullion, low-value coins under $100, or anything where the arithmetic shows you will lose money.
How long does coin grading take?
Turnaround depends on the service tier. Economy submissions at PCGS or NGC have historically taken 30 to 90 business days or longer during peak periods. Standard tiers typically run 15 to 30 business days. Express and Walkthrough tiers can be completed in days or hours at shows. Actual turnaround times fluctuate with submission volume. Check current estimated turnaround times on both services’ websites before choosing a tier.
Can graded coins be held in a gold IRA?
Certified slabbed coins can be held in a self-directed precious metals IRA if the underlying coin meets IRS fineness requirements under Internal Revenue Code Section 408(m). The slab itself does not confer IRA eligibility. Your IRA custodian and the approved depository make the final call on what physical coins they accept. Consult your tax advisor about whether certified coins are appropriate for your retirement account.
What is the difference between MS69 and MS70?
MS69 means “Mint State 69” on the 70-point Sheldon grading scale: a coin with full mint luster and only the most minor imperfections visible under magnification. MS70 is the highest grade possible, representing a coin with no detectable flaws under 5x magnification. In practice, MS70 is rare on hand-struck or die-struck coins. On modern U.S. Mint bullion coins produced to tight tolerances, a portion of each year’s production achieves MS70, but not all dates. The price premium for MS70 over MS69 varies widely by issue.
What is coin grading?
Coin grading is the process of assessing a coin’s condition and assigning it a numeric grade on the Sheldon scale (1 to 70). Third-party grading services like PCGS and NGC authenticate the coin, assign the grade, and seal it in a tamper-evident plastic holder called a slab. The holder includes a barcode linked to the coin’s certification record in the service’s online database. Grading standardizes condition descriptions so buyers and sellers can transact without needing to examine the coin directly. Learn more in our coin grading primer.
Should I clean my coins before sending them to PCGS or NGC?
No. Cleaning a coin almost always damages its surfaces and dramatically lowers or eliminates any collectible premium. Both PCGS and NGC can detect cleaning and will designate cleaned coins with a “Details” grade, which makes them essentially unsaleable to serious collectors at coin prices. Never clean a coin you intend to grade or sell.
Is it better to sell graded or raw bullion coins?
For common-date modern bullion, raw coins often sell faster and at prices close to graded examples after you account for the certification cost. Buyers who want bullion are mostly paying for metal content. For collectible, scarce, or high-value coins, a certified grade from PCGS or NGC nearly always yields a better price and a faster sale, because buyers can evaluate the coin remotely with confidence. See our guide on pre-1933 gold vs. bullion for more context.
Sources and methodology
- IRS Publication 590-A, Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)
- IRS Publication 590-B, Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)
- FINRA Investor Insights: Precious Metals Fraud (2026)
- SEC Investor Alert: Investing in Gold and Other Precious Metals
- PCGS CoinFacts population report data and price guide (pcgs.com, consulted 2026)
- NGC Coin population reports and price guide (ngccoin.com, consulted 2026)
- PCGS submission fee schedule (pcgs.com/services, consulted 2026; verify before submitting)
- NGC submission fee schedule (ngccoin.com/services/submit, consulted 2026; verify before submitting)
- eBay sold listing data for American Silver Eagle MS69/MS70, sampled 2026
- Heritage Auctions archive for pre-1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle realized prices (2026 data)
Worked examples in this guide are illustrative only. Actual grading fees, shipping costs, and market prices change over time. Verify current fee schedules on pcgs.com and ngccoin.com and check recent sold listings for your specific coin and date before making any submission decision. This is not investment or tax advice. Consult a qualified professional for decisions related to your retirement accounts.