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Welcome to Rick's Certified Coins



NGC Certified Lincoln CentWelcome to Rick’s Certified Coins.  Rick’s Certified Coins specializes in NGC & PCGS Certified modern high grade rare Lincoln Cents, Jefferson Nickels, Roosevelt Dimes, State Quarters, Kennedy Half,  Presidential Dollar, Golden Dollar and Top Pop or Registry Grade Certified coins in Business Strike and Satin Mint Finishes.

The coin to the left was certified by NGC and is a Top Pop coin with a Registry population of only 3 at this grade and none graded higher. It is exciting to find coins under 10 years of age with high values. These are the types of coins we look to offer on our website.

The article below is a very good article by Robert D. Taylor, JD., about collecting Certified Coins. The coins you will find on Rick's Certified Coins will be graded by the Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC) and the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) which are the Top 2 Coin Grading companies and carry the best resale values. Occasionally we will have coins graded by Independent Coin Grading (ICG) company which I believe is #3 of the Top 4 Certified Coin Grading Companies.

Why should a coin collector and investor buy and collect professionally graded and certified coins? Commonly called "slabs", they are housed in a protective plastic holder. There are many companies - over a dozen are less than 2 years old - which will put your coin in a slab after Certifying that it is Authentic, and assigning a Grade to the coin. The first reason for buying and collecting Certified and Graded Coins applies to all of these companies. However, the most important reasons apply only to the Top Four companies: PCGS, NGC, ANACS, and ICG.

Why should a coin collector and investor buy and collect professionally graded and certified coins? Commonly called "slabs", they are housed in a protective plastic holder. There are many companies - over a dozen are less than 2 years old - which will put your coin in a slab after Certifying that it is Authentic, and assigning a Grade to the coin. The first reason for buying and collecting Certified and Graded Coins applies to all of these companies. However, the most important reasons apply only to the Top Four companies: PCGS, NGC, ANACS, and ICG.

You want and need to know that your coin is not only the Real Thing, but that it has not been altered (changing a mint mark - fraud) or changed, for example by cleaning, polishing, changing the appearance or surface of the coin, in any way that would render your coin unfit to collect. If it is unfit to collect, there won't be many Buyers or Sellers. Many coins graded by lesser companies, end up getting rejected by one of the Top Four, for these reasons.

Is that 1909 Lincoln penny a VCB? Did you overlook the "S" mint mark? Is it a Type 1 or Type 2? These little identifying marks can mean the difference between a $20 coin, and one worth $35,000. We all make mistakes and overlook or miss mint marks, details, and certain other identifying factors which make up "varieties" of each coin. It is the professional's duty to look for, and establish these things to determine a coin's true Identity.
A coin's Grade is what determines its Value. You want Good Value when you buy the coin. You want to get what you pay for (or more) and not get cheated. When you get ready to Sell or Upgrade, you want to get the most for your coin. The Grade is always an Issue when Buying and Selling a Collectible Coin. Having the coin Professionally Certified and Graded, virtually eliminates this Issue, and the Arguments. The Professional Grading Company, is Your Neutral Third Party

NGC Certified Sacagawea Golden Dollar CoinThe Top Four companies are Consistent, Reliable and Trustworthy. They have Established and Respected Reputations. Their Standards are the Highest and the Best. You are taking a Risk when buying a certified and graded coin from any other company.

It is possible to buy and sell a coin that is Certified and Graded by one of the Top Four, sight unseen, and know exactly what you are getting. From a description of the coin (e.g.: 1903 O, MS66, NGC, Morgan #034), you know what you are buying, and what to expect. It always helps to have a little description of the coin's appearance, such as "white hot" or slight reverse toning", since there is one limitation to selling a Certified and Graded coin sight unseen: It is still possible to buy and ugly coin. But that is why we have scanners, fax and email.


Therefore, as a Coin Collector and Investor, always collect Certified and Graded coins by one of the Top Four. It is the most reasonable way to verify authenticity and identity of every coin in your collection, as well as to establish a reliable Value. Every source of prices for any coin, be it a yearly book, magazine, a weekly or monthly newsprint; all base their prices on the Grading Standards of the Top Four grading companies, which strictly follow the ANA guidelines. If the Grade of your coin does not measure up to these Standards, then you are only guessing at the Value.

Robert L Taylor, JD
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