You pulled something promising from the ground, brushed away the dirt, and now you’re staring at what might be a valuable coin. Before rushing to submit it for grading, take time to evaluate whether professional certification makes financial sense for your particular find.
Which Finds Are Worth Grading
Not every metal detecting find deserves grading service fees. The economics are straightforward: grading costs typically run $30-150 per coin depending on service level and tier. Your find needs to be worth significantly more graded than raw to justify this expense.
Key date coins almost always warrant grading if they’re in collectible condition. A 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent, even in lower grades, benefits from authentication and encapsulation. Colonial coins, early American large cents, and pre-1933 gold coins generally deserve professional evaluation regardless of condition.
Common date coins need to be in exceptional condition to justify grading. That 1964 Kennedy half dollar you dug up probably isn’t worth submitting unless it somehow survived underground looking nearly mint state. For common coins, you generally need MS-63 or better grades to break even on grading costs.
Cleaning Considerations for Dug Coins
Here’s where metal detecting finds face unique challenges. Ground recovery coins typically show environmental damage: corrosion, discoloration, pitting, and encrustation. Standard advice says never clean coins, but dug coins often need some intervention just to identify what you’ve found.
Light rinsing with distilled water to remove loose soil is generally acceptable. Soaking in olive oil for days or weeks can slowly loosen encrustation without mechanical abrasion. Some detectorists use electrolysis for heavily corroded finds, though this definitely leaves evidence of cleaning.
The reality for most metal detecting finds is that environmental damage already limits their grade potential. A coin that spent 150 years underground rarely emerges in collectible condition. Grading services will assign “Details” grades to coins showing corrosion, cleaning, or environmental damage, accurately reflecting their condition.
Grading Services Overview: PCGS and NGC
PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation) dominate the third-party grading market. Both use the standard 1-70 Sheldon scale and employ teams of professional graders to evaluate coins.
For most purposes, coins graded by either service trade at similar premiums. PCGS tends to command slightly higher prices for certain series, particularly Morgan dollars and classic commemoratives. NGC generally offers faster turnaround times and lower prices for lower service tiers.
ANACS and ICG represent additional options with generally lower costs. Their holders trade at modest discounts compared to PCGS and NGC, but for authentication purposes, they provide legitimate certification.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grading
Run the numbers before submitting. Basic economy grading starts around $30-40 per coin with extended turnaround times of 8-10 weeks. Standard service at $50-65 returns coins in about four weeks. Express services run $75-150+ for faster turnaround.
Add shipping both ways, insurance for valuable items, and handling fees. A realistic minimum cost is $50-60 per coin by the time everything is included. Your find needs to be worth at least $150-200 graded to make basic economic sense, and preferably more.
For high-value potential finds, grading becomes essential. Buyers pay significant premiums for certified coins because authentication eliminates counterfeiting concerns. A raw coin might sell for 60-70% of its slabbed equivalent due to buyer uncertainty.
Documentation for Provenance
Metal detecting finds carry inherent provenance questions. Document your discovery thoroughly: photograph the find in situ, record GPS coordinates, note the date and conditions. This information supports the coin’s story and may add value for historically significant discoveries.
For particularly notable finds, consider having the detection witnesses sign statements. Check local laws regarding treasure trove and artifact reporting requirements, which vary by state and country. Some jurisdictions require reporting significant finds to archaeological authorities.
Keep research records showing the property’s history. A colonial coin recovered from land with documented 18th-century occupation tells a more compelling story than one from an unknown location.
Common Valuable Finds
Certain discoveries consistently warrant professional evaluation. Indian Head cents from the 1860s-1870s, particularly in better condition, often have value exceeding grading costs. Large cents from before 1857 deserve assessment regardless of condition due to their age and collector interest.
Silver coins from the Walking Liberty half dollar series, Standing Liberty quarters, and Barber coinage frequently emerge from metal detecting. These 90% silver coins carry base value even when damaged, but better specimens may grade into collectible ranges.
Gold coins represent the ultimate finds. Any gold coin should be professionally evaluated for authenticity and grade. The counterfeit market for gold pieces is substantial, and certification protects both the finder and eventual buyers.
When NOT to Submit Coins
Common coins in average circulated grades rarely justify grading costs. That worn Buffalo nickel from your hunt is worth $2-3 raw and wouldn’t bring more slabbed. Common date wheat cents, most Jefferson nickels, and post-1964 clad coins almost never make sense to grade unless in exceptional condition.
Heavily damaged coins won’t grade straight. If your find shows severe corrosion, cleaning, scratches, or environmental damage that clearly affects surfaces, expect a Details grade. For common coins, Details grades provide minimal market premium over raw.
Consider your goals honestly. If you’re keeping finds for personal enjoyment rather than resale, grading costs may not make sense. Many detectorists build impressive collections of unslabbed discoveries that provide just as much satisfaction as certified coins.
The decision to grade metal detecting finds ultimately balances potential value against costs and realistic condition assessment. When finds warrant certification, professional grading protects your investment and facilitates future sales. When they don’t, your money stays in your pocket for more detecting adventures.
