PCGS and NGC announced updated grading standards for ancient coins effective February 1. The changes address centering, strike quality, and surface preservation criteria.
Both services collaborated with ancient coin specialists to develop more consistent evaluation methods. The updates aim to reduce grading discrepancies between services.
Key Changes
Centering now receives greater weight in overall grade assignments. Coins with severe off-center strikes will see lower technical grades regardless of surface quality. Strike quality criteria were clarified for Greek, Roman, and Byzantine issues.
Crossover submissions between services should see higher success rates under the harmonized standards. Dealers and collectors generally welcomed the changes as improving market transparency.
