The EPQ designation from PCGS Currency and PMG can add significant value to a graded banknote, but few collectors fully understand what examiners are actually looking for. This guide breaks down the technical criteria, explains how EPQ affects market premiums, and shows you how to develop the eye for paper quality before you submit.
Read More →Paper quality is the single most debated and least understood element of currency grading, capable of lifting a note two full grade points or sinking an otherwise attractive piece to problem status. This guide breaks down crispness, body, and the elusive concept of original paper so collectors at every level can grade with confidence.
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.
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