I purchased the membership in NGC that came with the $150 credit for $99, and I have put together a group of coins (early Colonial coinage) that I'd like to submit - the value of the coins / tokens / medals is less than $500 per coin. I'm primarily confused about two things. 1. What should be included in one "submission" vs. split into a separate one? And 2. What should I do if I'm not confident in the variety attributed? I emailed NGC customer service but the response kind of missed my question and focused on coin value / tiers. I'm not in any rush and I'm frugal - so that's where I'm coming from. Now, as to specifics. I’d like to submit a 1644 Leeuwendalder, Dutch Republic KM 14.2 as this is a good example of early American colonial coinage – but it’s a foreign coin. Can I submit under standard on the same form as a 1795 Washington “Grate” Half-Penny, small buttons, reeded edge (which is actually a token, but is also considered a part of the American colonial coinage). I’m also submitting a 1786 Vermont Landscape (possible 6-E), 1783 Nova Constellatio, Crosby 2.B; 1788 Vermont, Bust Right RR-25; 1783 Washington & Independence (technically also a token), 1794 Talbot, Allum & Lee, New York (lettered edge) (technically also a token); 1766 Pitt Medal, Betts 515, and a 1797 Washington ½P Baker-18 (again, technically also a token, but a part of the early American coinage catalog). Now are these 3 submissions, 2 submissions or 1 submission? My understanding is that the lowest tier I can submit these under is "standard", is that right? All of these are considered early American coins, which is the reason I collected them, but for NGC submission purposes, how do I fill out the paperwork? Any insight would be immensely appreciated! For fun, I'm also submitting to ANACS (on their 10 coin special) and ICG (because I like ICG and it's easy, especially with the CoinTalk special) at the same time - so it will be fun to see how things come back graded and how long each one takes. Edited to add pictures of some of the coins - because pictures make it more interesting!
I'm fairly certain that the 1644 Leeuwendalder would have to be submitted under world coins. The rest I believe could be submitted together as US colonials. And I think you are correct about having to use "Standard" since Economy says: "All dates non-gold US (except US Colonials) or world coins, or US or world tokens and medals struck before 1990, both private and official." [relevant words bolded by me]. I looked up two of the ones you mentioned and NGC appears to place them in the colonial category: https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explor...795-r.e.-lg-buttons-washington-grate-1-2p-ms/ https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explor...83-large-bust-washington-and-independence-ms/
I’m fighting my way through this right now. So far I have 11 coins for the submission- 3 US gold, 1 US silver & 1 colonial, 5 World silver and 1 World gold. I’m thinking it has to be 4 forms. So 4 x $10 handling fees? I want NCS to “clean” the US gold. I also want them to ship complete so I don’t get 4 shipping charges. Still haven’t started the forms because I’m going to write everything down and get it straight beforehand.
This is something that has always annoyed me about NGC and PCGS. There are so many coins that can't be mixed together and some instances are not immediately clear where they should go. It would be nice if they could just keep it to a few categories-something like all US, all world, ancients, and everything else (tokens, medals, etc). On the other hand, maybe splitting it up into more categories lets them better sort the orders and assign them to the proper grading teams. Plus it helps the bottom line when you can get several handling charges instead of one (although it might also hurt if people aren't submitting at all because they don't have enough coins in each category to submit).
NGC also collects more for return shipping if a given number of coins is split into multiple orders. For a group of ten coins worth no more than $25k in aggregate, the return shipping is $28 if they are on the same order. If they are spread over 5 orders, NGC collects $140 for return shipping. And yes, it does cost them more to pack and ship 5 parcels compared to 1, but not that much more. Cal
Can one "Order" contain multiple submissions or is each Order a separate submission? The instructions appear to say we can include multiple submissions in the same shipment, but each submission form has a separate Invoice number on the top. So each submission has a $10 handling fee, I understand that (I think), but how do we calculate the return shipping costs? Also, do you know if you can choose the $18 VarietyPlus for just one or a few coins, so that they will attribute the variety on the label (that's what it means, correct?), or does selecting it for one mean that it needs to be a separate submission unless all the coins on that submission have the same service selected?
Each order is a separate submission, each with its own handling fee and return postage charged even if they arrived at NGC in the same box. I believe you can have a mix of coins on an order for which you want some to have variety plus service and some not. Just check the box for variety plus on the lines listing coins for which you want that service. Major varieties will be noted on the label at no extra charge (don't check the box or you may be charged anyway). Write the major variety name on the line on the form or it may not get put on the label. Examples of major varieties are large vs small motto 1864 2-cents and crosslet vs plain 4 for 1834 half eagles. It can be tricky to determine what is major in some cases. Generally if the variety is listed in the NGC registry or pop report or in the Red Book, it's a major variety. If in doubt, contact NGC by email. Cal
Unless NGC changed things, the handling fees are separate but shipping can be combined. Here is a thread from 2018 with a reply by one of their employees: https://boards.ngccoin.com/topic/413346-how-do-multiple-submissions-work/ "We are able to combine orders to save on shipping costs if the invoices are shipped to NGC in the same package and the invoices are notated properly. Please be sure to write "Ship With Invoice #_____," and include the other invoice number on each form. NGC can combine orders with NCS but not with PMG or CGC. You can calculate the return shipping by simply combining the total number of coins and total value and referring to the shipping chart"
This doesn’t always work and sometimes isn’t desirable. The reason is that if orders are shipped to NGC together, it’s often because they are different categories (conservation, US, world, ancient, regrade, reholder, crossover, etc.) or are in different value tiers. The different groups above are usually processed at different rates. NGC or you may not want to hold all the orders until the slowest processing order is complete (the time difference may be months). Combined return shipping works best when all the orders have coins in the same or close categories/tiers. This situation is most likely to occur when someone, often a dealer, is submitting coins belonging to different people. It’s worth the $10 handling fee per order to keep the bookkeeping and recharges simple, and the owner of the coins will be paying it anyway. Doesn’t hurt to ask for all to be shipped back together if you’re willing to wait for the slowest processed order. Cal
Sometimes it is not wanted but I think many collectors that aren't looking to resell in the near future would rather save the $28 per order on shipping and wait for everything to be done grading rather than get one of the orders back quicker.
I went through the same problems when I first started collecting. Finally, I decided that I would put them in the plastic containers and save a bunch. I have bought quite a few graded coins, but most of the ones I buy from ebay are already graded. Although my experience was quite a while ago, I still believe that my choice was the best for me. Best wishes on your processes.
I hear that, I had acquired a lot of graded slabbed PCGS, ANACS, NGC and ICG coins over the years before I did my first submission a couple years ago (to ICG) when I decided to move my top SLQ collection into graded slabs. Given the headache this NGC submission is proving to be, as a collector I don't think I'll ever bother with them again - I kind of regret buying the $99 membership with the $150 credit which I now feel obligated to use. It's kind of funny, I've asked NGC customer support questions over the years about coins they've graded and gotten great answers, but in terms of answers on something as basic as a first submission... sigh... it's a bit of an eye roller. Hah, they probably feel the same way - I suppose it makes sense for NGC and PCGS to be oriented towards dealers and high end collectors - not the plebes. I think I'll be fine with submitting to ICG and ANACS after I get this done. I do like to authenticate my coins and see how my judgment on grades is viewed by professionals.
I’m with you on this. I have plenty of coins I would like graded but it’s just too expensive. I’ve worked over my submission a few times and got it down to 2 forms by interpreting a coin in my favor - Liberty and Security colonial muled with the 1795 Irish Halfpenny submitted as a world coin instead of US colonial. I have your same promo so $150 credit on my account and if they combine shipping I’m still $308 out of pocket to grade 8 coins which could go up if a couple grade higher than expected and it increases the value.
Yeah, this is a nightmare submission. I just sent in two orders in same box and had them ship back together in one box. The option to ship with another order should be in the upper right corner of the form. There you can record the number of the other order that this order should ship with. They will straighten it out and should charge you correctly even if the the amount isn't right on the fillable form which doesn't know you're creating another order. Shipped back together, 1-10 coins should run $28 for FedEx return shipping. That gives you plenty of insurance but not the greatest shipping speed. On par with using USPS for the return in my experience. The handling fees per order is what gets you. Each different form type is $10 on the side. Then if you want variety plus added it's really nice and I like it, but $18 a pop on top of the grading fee. I opt for the scratch resistant slabs too. You get a discount on them for being in that member tier. $4.50 a piece. It's worth it to me. Have to remember to check the box if you want. Setting up an order is work. I wish it could be easier. I'm surprised they don't offer a service to have them set up your orders for a fee. Probably just don't have the time or the manpower.
