Catalog Evaluation Workflow Knowledge Base Home We estimate; PCGS and NGC certify. Identification is a starting point, not a slab.House Rule
Photo notes Even, diffuse light. No flash. The cameraflash on a coin's surface kills the strike detail Spotter relies on. Coin fills the frame. Crop tight; we resize anyway, but the embedding works on what it can see. Plain, contrasting background. Wood grain or a busy tablecloth competes for attention. Obverse first — that's the side with the date and the portrait. Reverse is helpful but optional. Hold by the edges if the coin is loose. Fingerprints are forever; finger oils etch into the surface and a grading service will note it. What we do Identify the coin from our catalog with a confidence score and the closest alternates. Surface the catalog entry — designer, mintage, key dates, varieties — once we have a confident match. Cite our sources. Photos carry the original CC-BY-SA attribution; numbers cite PCGS or NGC where they're the authority. What we don't We never recommend cleaning a coin. Cleaning destroys numismatic value; PCGS and NGC will not certify a cleaned coin as problem-free. If yours has active corrosion, talk to a professional conservator.We don't quote a single number. Coin values are a range that depends on grade and eye appeal. The Appraiser agent (when wired) will quote ranges with sources; we never imply one price.We don't grade. PCGS and NGC certify; we estimate. If you see a Sheldon range from us, take it as orientation, not certification.