Certified Silver Coins

Certified Silver Coins at Provident Metals

In terms of silver products, silver coins will always hold immense value for investors and collectors. To add more value to your silver coin, you can look into certified silver coins which give you the peace of mind of knowing with certainty you’re buying what you want to buy. Learn more about the certification process and Certified Silver Coins in general, right here at Provident Metals.

What are Certified Silver Coins?

A Certified Silver Coin is a coin that is sent in and graded by a professional coin grading service. Grading a coin adds inherent value as you know with the utmost certainty what coin you’re receiving, as well as the condition it will arrive. The two most well-known coin grading providers on the market currently are the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) and the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS).

Certification Process

The certification process is similar, regardless of which provider you send your coin to. The coin grading provider receives coins, and then at least two numismatists will meticulously grade them. The coin grading service will then encapsulate the coin in a protective plastic slab, to preserve the graded condition, and send it back to the owner.

Grading Terminology

For those new to the world of coin certification, there are a lot of terms that can be confusing at first. The NGC and the PCGS each use the Sheldon Scale of 1 to 70 to grade each coin. However, this grade is combined with a term or several terms that further categorize the coin. These include the following:

• MS – Mint State: This identifies a coin struck in the same format as circulation coins. This applies to coins graded from 60 to 70.
• PF/PR – Proof. This identifies a coin that is a proof strike.
• SP – Specimen. This identifies a coin that has a hybrid strike between a Mint State and a Proof.
• DCAM/ UCAM – Deep Cameo/ Ultra-Cameo. This term is reserved only for proof strike coins. This term indicates that a coin has a strong, frosted finish with a mirrored background.
• FS/ ER – First Stike/ Early Release. This designation is given to coins that are received for grading within the first 30 days of issue by the mint.
• FDOI – First Day of Issue. This designation is given to coins that are received for grading within 24 hours of issue by the mint.

As mentioned above, coins are graded between 1 and 70. Coins graded between 60 and 70 are regarded as mint state strikes. Coins between 50 and 58 are regarded as about uncirculated. Coins graded between 40 and 45 are classified as extremely fine. And coins given a grade between 20 and 35 are delegated as very fine.

Popular Options

There are many popular options for Certified Silver Coins. While there are no restrictions on what coin can be certified, there are a few that stand out as being more popular than others.

• Certified American Eagle Silver Coins: American Eagle Silver Coins are the official silver bullion coin of the United States. This coin, issued annually by the US Mint, has been released every year since 1986. These coins are released in three different variations – BU, burnished, and proof strikes.
• Certified Canadian Maple Leaf Silver Coins: Serving as the official silver bullion coin of Canada, the Maple Leaf Silver Coin is among the more popular options for investors and collectors. These coins have been issued annually since 1988. As of 2024, coins now feature the effigy of King Charles III on the obverse. This is the first time in the overall series that someone other than the Queen has been pictured.
• Certified ATB Silver Coins: Another popular choice from the US Mint is their line of America the Beautiful Coins, also known as ATB coins. This 56-coin collection was issued from 2010 to 2021 and features one unique coin for each state plus 6 territories.
• Certified Silver Dollars: Silver Dollars are a popular option as they have been around since before the 1900s, and even made a comeback in 2021. With so much history, the certification process helps you which Silver Dollars are more valuable than others.

Investing in Certified Silver Coins at Provident Metals

For all questions about Certified Silver Coins, contact the Provident Metals customer service team. Our dedicated team can be reached via email, through our online chat feature, or by calling our toll-free number at 1-800-313-3315.