PCGS didn’t just become a leading, trusted third-party grader in the numismatic world. It earned that claim, and it did so over the course of 40 years, becoming the go-to name early on as a pioneer in the industry. PCGS further cemented its place in the hobby through decades of innovation, growth, and evolution. Let’s take a look back over the last 40 years at some of the defining moments in the history of PCGS.
1986
PCGS is established on February 3, 1986, and within days is grading coins. The first to receive a consensus grade? A 1934 Light Motto Washington Quarter.
1988
PCGS is making waves amid a boom in the rare coin market. The advent of sight-unseen trading, somewhat resembling how stocks are bought and sold on Wall Street, was fueled by PCGS and leads the third-party grader to the encapsulation of its millionth coin on December 21, 1988.
1992
PCGS ventures into new and exciting holder designs with its Regency holder. This larger, green-colored holder saw limited production over the course of the mid-1990s and was mostly reserved for the encapsulation of rare or special coins. The first PCGS Special Labels and customized labels also premiered with the Regency holder.
1994
PCGS splashes onto the silver screen as a main plot point in Getting Even with Dad, a summer comedy starring Ted Danson and Macauley Culkin. PCGS has a central role in this feature-length film that is based on a rare coin heist led by Danson’s character, who must go to great lengths to make things right with his estranged son.
1999
CoinFacts, a popular online numismatic encyclopedia, debuts online. PCGS begins making major overhauls to CoinFacts in 2004.
2001
After years of operating on an analog-based system, the PCGS Set Registry hits the internet. It becomes the first online coin-collecting platform of its kind.
2005
PCGS begins offering its TrueView photographs to customers. The proprietary imaging service affords collectors the opportunity to have a high-resolution photographic record of their coins and the ability to share high-quality photos of their coins with others for personal use.
2010
PCGS launches its Secure Plus service to help thwart a rise in artificial alterations and excessive resubmissions as well as help identify stolen coins. The service is elevated in 2018 with the debut of PCGS Gold Shield service.
2019
PCGS announces it would begin implementing Near-Field Communication technology in its holders to help combat counterfeits, a rising issue in third-party holders. PCGS becomes the first and still remains the only numismatic grading company to offer this anticounterfeiting technology, which is now automatically included with every new holder.
2020
The long-anticipated PCGS Banknote grading service debuts, with half-pack and full-pack grading options giving collectors the chance to keep coveted serial number runs intact. Service is available for large- and small-size currency as well as paper currency from throughout the diverse United States catalog and nations around the world.
2025
PCGS enters its ancients era, unrolling this service with grading options for the Chinese cash coinage of the Qing Dynasty. Along with PCGS Ancients is the adoption of a new 10-point grading system that is poised to become the industry standard for this area of numismatics.