Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC) is excited to announce the addition of the Early Production designation to its industry-leading lineup of releases designations.
The Early Production designation is available for select coins received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository in mint-sealed packaging that is dated on or before January 31 of the coin’s year of issue.
Many customers have asked NGC to recognize early strikes from both current year and "backdated" coins. With the Early Production designation, NGC now showcases the importance and desirability of these early strikes.
Coins issued in prior years are eligible for the Early Production designation if they are still sealed in their original mint packaging with a date on or before January 31. For example, a sealed box of Mint State 1996 American Silver Eagles will be eligible for the Early Production designation if the box is dated on or before January 31, 1996.
In some cases, coins are struck and packaged prior to the coin’s year of issue. For these Early Production coins, NGC may include an additional attribution on the certification label: Struck in [Year], indicating the actual year in which the coin was struck. For example, a sealed box of Mint State 2012-S American Silver Eagles that is dated on or before December 31, 2011 can be attributed as "Early Production, Struck in 2011."
Bullion (non-mintmarked) 1986 American Silver and Gold Eagles will have a different cutoff date for Early Production due to the unique circumstances of their release.
Bullion 1986 American Gold Eagles were first released by the US Mint on October 20, 1986. Therefore, bullion 1986 American Gold Eagles received in mint-sealed packaging that is dated on or before November 19, 1986 are eligible for the Early Production designation.
Bullion 1986 American Silver Eagles were first released by the US Mint on November 24, 1986. Therefore, bullion 1986 American Silver Eagles received in mint-sealed packaging that is dated on or before December 24, 1986 are eligible for the Early Production designation.
The Early Production designation joins NGC’s other popular releases designations, including Early Releases, First Releases and First Day of Issue. These special designations are highly collectible because they capture the anticipation and excitement of a new coin’s release and distinguish them in the marketplace. For more information about NGC Releases Designations as well as the complete definition of the Early Production designation, visit NGCcoin.com/releases.
The Early Production designation is available for bulk submissions of eligible sealed US Mint boxes of bullion coins by special request for an additional fee. For more information about bulk submissions and the Early Production designation, contact Miles Standish at Miles@NGCcoin.com or 949-922-0515, or Scott Heller at Sheller@NGCcoin.com or 941-360-3990.
About Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®)
NGC is the world’s largest and most trusted third-party grading service for coins, tokens and medals, with more than 46 million collectibles certified. Founded in 1987, NGC provides an accurate, consistent and impartial assessment of authenticity and grade. Every coin that NGC certifies is backed by the comprehensive NGC Guarantee of authenticity and grade, which gives buyers greater confidence. This results in higher prices realized and greater liquidity for NGC-certified coins. To learn more, visit NGCcoin.com.
Wow, wtf won’t they do to create a label make $ & rip off poor morons who fall for it. Early releases, first strikes, early production, struck watching Leave it to Beaver…..ridiculous. Forget the slab, buy a coin. NGC Nationwide Grafting Conglomorate
I wonder why the grading companies haven’t figured out that the mint puts out “MONTHLY” sales numbers on silver eagles and why they don’t designate by month.some months have lower sales numbers than others,think how many more people they could ripoff doing that!
Perhaps we will see the even more rare “Intermediate Production”, or “Spring is in the Air” coins. WTF industry has this become.
NGC and USMINT working together to milk the heck out of who left as collector. This is getting out of hand. Just look at some NGC Silver Eagle Category Sets including all the eagles ever made. For the last several years there are so many eagle verities different mints and labels, it is hard to keep up. Hard to collect them all.
NGC, a private company which does not have to report to any government regulatory agency per se, (unlike PCGS which is publicly owned & answers to its shareholders & the USA government SEC etc.) seems to think that the day & month a coin is struck matters. It only matters if it is an official first day of issue ceremonial strike from the Mint’s officials & invited guests who can purchase those coins from a fresh set of two new dies upon release to the public, and is a very rare occurrence. The U.S. Mint does NOT officially recognize any… Read more »
Interesting, the same company that certified a mint bags of 1964 Kennedy Half’s over 50 years after being struck as “First Strikes”. Reason being it was for a Big shot that spends a lot of money in grading services name Rick and is a Half dollar expert. Yet they will not certify a unopened U.S. mint sealed 2016 Reagan Presendental dollar box as early releases. It’s not about grading its he who makes the most money for them gets their; deserving of privileges or special treatment seal.
Raphael – You are so right on your point! NGC gave coin dealer Rick Tomaska of a t.v. coin show, special treatment for his bag of silver 1964 JFK half dollars because he is an NGC authorized coin dealer (a special favor to a very wealthy coin dealer who uses NGC a lot to have his overpriced t.v. coin show coins graded/slabbed). NGC even knows when a major coin dealer sends in coins & the NGC management issues press releases to tell how honored NGC is to have been trusted to grade the dealer’s coins! Isn’t NGC supposed to be… Read more »
You are so right about the bag of Kennedy half dollars from 1964. NGC should look at it own rules (must be submitted with 30 days of release. Is it possible that the same submission form a ‘regular’ customer would not have received this label?
Might be interesting to know who the “private owners” are: dealers? mint personnel? ??
Do they know what “bullion” strikes are? Are they labeling the (WPMH coins) as “bullion”? (They stated/indicated the “West Point Mint Hoard” were: “prior-year bullion coins”).
I only have one graded coin by the grading services and it was not graded by NGC. This one is/was enough. It was only acquired because an ungraded one had not been found at the time the coin was wanted and acquired.