Submitting a note to PCGS Currency or PMG without doing your homework first can cost you real money in grading fees on notes that won’t return the investment. This comprehensive pre-screening checklist walks you through the exact criteria professional graders use, so you can make smarter submission decisions and spot upgrade candidates hiding in your collection.
Read More →Not every National Bank Note benefits equally from professional third-party grading, and submitting the wrong notes can cost collectors more in fees than they gain in resale value. This guide breaks down exactly which charter issues, denominations, and condition thresholds justify the cost of PCGS Currency or PMG encapsulation, and which ones are better left raw.
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Fractional currency grading is one of the most nuanced disciplines in American paper money collecting, where a millimeter of margin or the depth of a security impression can swing a note’s value by hundreds of dollars. This guide breaks down exactly what PCGS, PMG, and experienced collectors look for when evaluating these Civil War-era miniatures.
Read More →When it comes to certifying and grading US paper money, two names dominate the hobby: PCGS Currency and Paper Money Guaranty (PMG). This in-depth comparison breaks down their grading scales, holder quality, market acceptance, and submission strategies to help you make the smartest decision for your notes.
Read More →In 2010, Paper Money Guaranty quietly updated its holder design and internal grading standards, creating a generation of ‘old holder’ notes that sometimes grade differently on resubmission. Understanding this shift can mean the difference between a savvy upgrade and a costly mistake for currency collectors.
Read More →EPQ, or Exceptional Paper Quality, is one of the most misunderstood designations in currency grading, and its presence or absence on a certified holder can swing a note’s value by hundreds of dollars. This deep-dive explains exactly what PCGS Currency and PMG evaluate when awarding the EPQ qualifier, why pristine uncirculated notes still fail to earn it, and how collectors can identify EPQ-worthy material before submitting.
Read More →A period ink inscription on a banknote can be a fascinating window into history or a grade-crushing defect, and knowing the difference is one of the most nuanced skills in currency grading. This guide walks collectors through how PCGS Currency, PMG, and independent graders evaluate manuscript notations, with specific examples from Civil War-era demand notes to Depression-era small-size issues.
Read More →Net grading is one of the most misunderstood concepts in paper money collecting, yet it directly affects the value of thousands of notes in today’s market. This guide breaks down exactly how PCGS Currency, PMG, and independent dealers apply net grades, and what that means when you are buying, selling, or submitting notes for certification.
Read More →Understanding the line between acceptable conservation and problematic restoration can mean the difference between a slabbed, graded note and a details-qualified piece worth a fraction of the price. This guide breaks down exactly where PCGS Currency and PMG draw the line, and how collectors can protect their holdings.
Read More →A $5,000 budget can take you surprisingly far in building a meaningful, graded US currency type set, if you know which series to prioritize and where to compromise on grade. This guide breaks down exactly how to allocate your budget across denominations and note types for the broadest, most impressive collection possible.
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