Beginning Tuesday, May 25, 2010, all eligible coins submitted to NGC for grading will be reviewed for the Plus Designation (). NGC assigns a to coins at the high end of their assigned grade, approaching the quality requirements for the next grade. In addition to their superior technical merit, coins receiving a must have above-average eye appeal.

NGC assigns the only to United States coins issued from 1792 to 1964, and the is available in combination with all grades from XF45 to MS68, inclusive. Coins submitted to NGC under applicable grading tiers including Economy, EarlyBird, Gold Rush, Specialty Gold, Express and WalkThrough tiers are automatically examined for during grading, and there is no additional fee or special service request.

All coins submitted for on-site grading at tradeshows and other events are also considered for at time of grading. The first on-site event where NGC will evaluate all coins during grading for the Plus Designation is the Long Beach Coin & Collectibles Expo, where on-site grading will be offered June 2 through June 4, 2010.

Coins already certified by NGC must be submitted for regrade using one of the above mentioned grading tiers to be evaluated for . Crossover submissions at applicable grading tier levels are also reviewed for during grading. More detailed information concerning submission requirements and answers to frequently asked questions can be found on NGC's website at www.ngccoin.com/plus.

"We have been overwhelmed by the flood of support and enthusiasm for the launch of the NGC plus designation. For a number of years, collectors and dealers have wanted NGC to recognize premium quality-grade coins because our unique capabilities allow us to distinguish these differences with accuracy and consistency – providing credibility and consumer confidence to this segment of the market," comments Mark Salzberg, NGC chairman and grading finalizer.

Salzberg continues: "Although we have used discriminators of premium quality internally at NGC for a number of years, the Plus Designation allows us to convey this information in a simple and straightforward way on our certification label. We listened very carefully to comments we received from throughout the numismatic community during the months that led up to this service launch, and in response we believe that we are offering our customers the best value and most-preferred services in the industry."

After first announcing the Plus Designation on March 25, NGC opened a 60-day comment period, inviting dealers and collectors to provide comments and questions. Customer feedback played a valuable role in developing this service, and additional comments are still accepted at plus@NGCcoin.com. Questions regarding submission procedures should be directed to NGC Customer Service at service@ngccoin.com or by phone toll-free at 1-800-NGC-COIN (642-2646)

A few website enhancements are being released in concert with the launch of the Plus Designation. Population figures of Plus Designated-coins will be reported in the NGC Census, beginning on May 25, 2010. Coins graded with a will receive a point premium in the NGC Registry. New Registry score tables will be available on the Collectors Society website on May 25, 2010.

PLUS & STAR DESIGNATIONS

The NGC coin grading scale is an efficient tool for communicating information about a coin’s condition. Precise numerical gradations make it extremely accurate and concise. There are times, however, when a coin will benefit from an additional description that cannot fully be encompassed by numerical grade alone. NGC uses two important symbols that, when applicable, appear after the numerical grade in order to describe the coin in greater detail. They are the plus and the star.

PLUS DESIGNATION

NGC assigns a to coins at the high end of their assigned grade, approaching the quality requirements for the next grade. In addition to their superior technical merit, coins receiving a plus designation must have above-average eye appeal.

For example, a coin graded NGC MS 64 is close to the quality of a coin graded NGC MS 65. The is synonymous with the term "PQ" or "Premium Quality."

Not all coins are eligible for . Coins grading from XF 45 to MS 68 or PF 45 to PF 68 may receive a , while lower- and higher-grade coins cannot. Additionally, the is only assigned to United States coins from 1792 to 1964.

Coins are automatically evaluated for during grading when submitted under the Economy, Early Bird, Gold Rush, Specialty Gold, Express and WalkThrough tiers. All on-site and CrossOver grading submissions are also automatically evaluated for . There is no designation review service for . Coins must be submitted for grading to receive this designation.

STAR DESIGNATION

NGC assigns a to coins with exceptional eye appeal for their assigned grade.

Eye appeal is the most subjective attribute of a coin, but there are norms and standards shared by numismatists. Exceptional eye appeal may include attributes such as vibrant, colorful toning; intense luster; or, in the case of Proof coins, especially strong cameo contrast. To receive a , coins must be free of any obvious planchet irregularities, and display no bothersome spots or blemishes. Toned coins can be of a single color or multicolored but cannot have any areas that are dark brown, approaching black.

It’s important to remember that designated coins can fall anywhere within the grades to which they are assigned. For example, an MS 64-graded coin could be at the lower end, mid-range or higher end of that grade.

NGC applies the to qualifying US coins in its normal course of grading. It is not used for non-US coins. As they are already of the ultimate grade, any coin graded MS 70 or PF 70 will not be eligible for the . Coins already certified by NGC can be resubmitted and reviewed for using the Designation Review Service, the fee for which is $10.