NGC & PMG Coin Grading UK: Complete Guide
Submission steps, how to value your coin, and how our pricing compares to submitting direct
If you own coins or banknotes you suspect are valuable — inherited, collected over years, or bought without certification — grading is the step that turns "I think this is worth something" into a documented, independently verified, market-recognised fact. As an authorised NGC and PMG dealer based in London, Pashiz Numismatics handles the entire submission process on your behalf. This guide walks through exactly how it works, how declared value is worked out, and — with figures pulled directly from NGC's and PMG's own published UK fee schedules — precisely how our pricing compares to submitting on your own.
Section 1What is Coin & Banknote Grading?
Grading is independent authentication and condition assessment by a recognised third party — NGC for coins, PMG for banknotes and paper money. The item is examined by trained specialists, authenticated as genuine, assigned a numerical grade (typically on a 1–70 scale for coins, or a comparable descriptive/numeric scale for notes), and sealed in a tamper-evident holder carrying a certification number anyone can independently verify.
Why it matters
- A graded coin or note is easier to sell, easier to insure, and commands more buyer confidence — often a meaningfully higher price than the same item ungraded.
- It protects you from disputes: once graded, condition is no longer a matter of opinion.
- For rare or high-value ancient and Islamic coins especially, grading is close to essential for serious buyers, since attribution and authenticity questions are more common in these areas than in modern coinage.
Section 2The Submission Process, Step by Step
Here's exactly what happens, from the moment you contact us to the moment your certified coin or note is back in your hands — based on our actual NGC and PMG submission forms.
- Initial assessment Bring or send your item to us for an honest, free assessment. We'll give you a genuine view on whether grading is worthwhile for that specific piece, and a realistic sense of which tier it's likely to fall under.
- Complete the submission form You (or we, on your behalf) fill in your customer details, select the grading service tier, and list each item — country, year, denomination, metal, weight, and declared value. A handling fee (VAT included) applies per submission form — £13.20 for NGC coin submissions, £12.00 for PMG banknote submissions — this is NGC/PMG's own fee, charged the same whether you submit through us or directly.
- Choose your delivery preference Collect from our London office (Unit B11, Alfies Antique Market, 13–25 Church St, NW8 8DT), or have your graded item shipped back to you insured — cost depends on declared value, from £15 for items up to £2,000 via Royal Mail Special Delivery, up to £45 via FedEx for items above £10,000.
- We submit on your behalf As an authorised NGC and PMG dealer, we handle the entire submission — paperwork, packaging, and shipping to NGC/PMG — using our dealer account, so you don't need to register as an individual member or navigate their systems yourself.
- Grading NGC or PMG examine the item, authenticate it, and assign a grade. Turnaround varies by tier and current workload — NGC's and PMG's own published estimates for most standard tiers run around 30–60 working days, with faster tiers (Express, WalkThrough) available for time-sensitive submissions.
- Payment — after grading, not before Payment is calculated and invoiced once your submission has been processed and graded, not upfront when you first hand the item over. Your item will not be released to you until the balance is cleared — but you're never asked to pay on the promise of a result you haven't seen yet.
- Return Your item comes back sealed in its certified holder, ready to sell, insure, or keep — collect from our office or receive it by insured shipping, whichever you selected.
Section 3How Declared Value is Worked Out
Declared value matters more than it might seem — it determines which fee tier applies, and it sets your insurance coverage while the item is in transit and under examination. Here's how we help you get it right.
What we look at with you
- Recent comparable sales — auction records and dealer sales of the same or closely comparable type, ideally in similar condition.
- Published price guides — including NGC's own World Coin Price Guide and equivalent references for the specific series your item belongs to.
- Condition estimate — a rough pre-grading condition assessment, since value can shift substantially between adjacent grades, particularly for rarer types.
- Rarity factors — mint, date, variety, and any documented provenance, which can all move a specific piece well above the "typical" value for its broader type.
A word of caution on declaring value: underdeclaring can mean insufficient insurance coverage if anything goes wrong in transit, and — particularly with PMG — submission forms that need correcting for undervalued items can attract an adjustment fee. Overdeclaring, meanwhile, can push you into a higher (and more expensive) fee tier than necessary. This is exactly why we go through this with you before submission, rather than leaving you to guess.
Section 4NGC Pricing: Pashiz Numismatics vs. Submitting Direct
Below is a direct, tier-by-tier comparison between our NGC submission pricing and NGC's own published UK rates (correct as published on ngccoin.uk at time of writing — always worth checking their live page, as rates can change). All figures are per coin, VAT included.
| Tier | Max Value | NGC Direct | Pashiz Numismatics | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern (1965–present) | £2,000 | £22.80 | £20.00 | £2.80 (12%) |
| Economy | £250 | £27.60 | £26.00 | £1.60 (6%) |
| Standard | £2,500 | £50.40 | £43.00 | £7.40 (15%) |
| Gold | £4,000 | £50.40 | £43.00 | £7.40 (15%) |
| Express (US / World) | £7,500 | £84.00 | £79.00 | £5.00 (6%) |
| Express (Ancient) | £7,500 | £156.00 | £145.00 | £11.00 (7%) |
| WalkThrough (US / World) | £20,000 | £270.00 | £255.00 | £15.00 (6%) |
| WalkThrough (Ancient) | £20,000 | £378.00 | £350.00 | £28.00 (7%) |
| Unlimited WalkThrough (US / World) | Unlimited | £360 + 1.2% FMV | £340 + 1.2% FMV | £20.00 flat fee (5.5%) |
| Unlimited WalkThrough (Ancient) | Unlimited | £480 + 2.4% FMV | £420 + 2.4% FMV | £60.00 flat fee (12.5%) |
Gold tier now matches NGC's own £4,000 cap. Conservation services and NGC add-ons are priced separately (see Section 6).
Section 5PMG Pricing: Pashiz Numismatics vs. Submitting Direct
The same comparison for PMG banknote grading, against PMG's own published UK rates on pmgnotes.uk. All figures per note, VAT included.
| Tier | Max Value | PMG Direct | Pashiz Numismatics | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern (1957–present) | £250 | £24.00 | £22.00 | £2.00 (8%) |
| Economy | £750 | £39.60 | £37.00 | £2.60 (7%) |
| Standard | £2,500 | £68.40 | £58.00 | £10.40 (15%) |
| Express | £7,500 | £147.60 | £128.00 | £19.60 (13%) |
| WalkThrough | £20,000 | £348.00 | £307.00 | £41.00 (12%) |
| Unlimited Value WalkThrough | Unlimited | £348 + 2.4% FMV | £307 + 2.4% FMV | £41.00 flat fee (12%) |
| Consecutive Bulk (min. 50 notes) | £250 | £16.80 | £16.00 | £0.80 (5%) |
| Modern Bulk – Mixed Types | £250 | £18.00 | £17.00 | £1.00 (6%) |
| Vintage Bulk – Mixed Types | £250 | £24.00 | £22.00 | £2.00 (8%) |
| Bond/Stock Certificate (Economy) | £750 | £54.00 | £50.00 | £4.00 (7%) |
| Bond/Stock Certificate (High Value) | Unlimited | £84.00 | £78.00 | £6.00 (7%) |
Only the Consecutive Bulk tier requires a minimum of 50 notes — Modern and Vintage Bulk (Mixed Types) no longer carry that minimum.
Section 6Add-On Services
Both NGC and PMG offer optional add-ons on top of the base grading tier — here are the ones most relevant to our customers, at NGC/PMG's own published rates (charged in addition to your selected tier fee):
- Early / First Releases designation Tier fee + £17.50 (coins) / £18 (notes)
- Special Label Tier fee + £8 (coins) / £8.40 (notes)
- VarietyPlus (coins) Tier fee + £17
- Variety attribution (notes) Tier fee + £9.60
- Mint Error review (coins) Tier fee + £17
- Oversize Holder Tier fee + £24 (coins) / £21.60 (notes)
- Pedigree (notes) Tier fee + £4.80
- Internet Imaging (digital photos of your certified item) £4.80
We'll walk you through which, if any, of these are genuinely worth adding for your specific item — most everyday submissions don't need any add-ons at all.
Section 7Why Submit Through Pashiz Numismatics
Beyond the pricing itself, here's what submitting through an authorised London dealer actually saves you.
No hassle
We complete the paperwork, select the correct tier, and handle every detail of the submission — you don't need to learn NGC or PMG's systems yourself.
No travel required
NGC and PMG's grading facilities are based abroad — submitting through us means you never need to ship internationally yourself or attend an event in person.
No payment until graded
You're invoiced after your item has been processed and graded — not upfront on a result you haven't seen yet.
We handle the shipping
Packaging, insurance, and dispatch to NGC/PMG are handled by us using our established dealer shipping arrangements, reducing the risk of loss or damage in transit.
Genuine tier guidance
We'll tell you honestly which tier suits your item's real value — and when grading isn't worth it at all — rather than defaulting you into the most expensive option.
Zero fees if you auction with us
Coins graded through us and later consigned to a Pashiz Numismatics auction are eligible for zero auction fees — a genuine additional saving if you're planning to sell.
Section 8Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be an NGC or PMG member to submit through Pashiz Numismatics?
No — submitting through an authorised dealer like us means you don't need your own individual membership; we submit under our dealer account on your behalf.
How is the final fee actually calculated?
It's based on the grading tier matching your item's declared value, plus the applicable per-form handling fee (£13.20 for NGC, £12.00 for PMG), plus any add-ons you choose. We'll confirm the full, itemised total with you before submission.
What if my coin is worth more than I thought once it's graded?
Declared value determines the tier and insurance at the point of submission; if a coin turns out to be significantly more valuable than expected, we'll discuss this with you directly rather than silently adjusting anything.
Can I submit ancient or Islamic coins specifically?
Yes — NGC Ancients grades ancient and many world/Islamic coin types; note that Ancient-tier fees are typically higher than standard US/World tiers, reflecting the additional research often required.
Should you grade every coin you own?