Crossover grading—moving a coin from one grading service's holder to another's—can unlock significant value in the right circumstances. A coin in an NGC holder might command higher premiums in PCGS plastic, or vice versa depending on the coin and market. However, crossover involves costs, risks, and uncertainty that dealers must carefully evaluate.
This guide covers the complete crossover process, from identifying good candidates to calculating economics and managing risks. Whether you're considering your first crossover or refining an existing strategy, understanding these factors helps you make profitable crossover decisions rather than costly mistakes.
What Is Crossover Grading?
Crossover grading involves submitting a coin certified by one grading service to a different grading service for re-evaluation:
Types of Crossover
- NGC to PCGS: Most common direction for US coins seeking PCGS premium
- PCGS to NGC: Less common, sometimes done for world coins or specific reasons
- Other services to major: Moving from ANACS, ICG, etc. to PCGS or NGC
What Happens During Crossover
- Submission: You submit the coin in its current holder with crossover request
- Evaluation: The receiving service grades the coin independently
- Decision: Service determines if coin meets their standards at the grade
- Result: Coin either crosses (new holder) or doesn't cross (returned)
Possible Crossover Outcomes
| Outcome | Description | What You Receive |
|---|---|---|
| Cross at same grade | Coin meets standards for stated grade | New holder at same grade |
| Cross at higher grade | Coin exceeds original grade | New holder at higher grade |
| Cross at lower grade | Coin doesn't meet original grade | New holder at lower grade (if accepted) |
| No cross - returned | Coin doesn't meet standards | Original holder returned intact |
| Details grade | Problem detected | Original holder OR details grade holder |
Critical Understanding
Crossover is not guaranteed. The receiving service grades independently and may disagree with the original grade. You must accept this uncertainty before crossing coins.
Why Crossover Coins?
Market Premium Capture
The primary motivation for crossover is capturing higher premiums:
- PCGS premium: For some US coins, PCGS commands higher prices
- NGC premium: For world coins, NGC often preferred
- Premium magnitude: Can be 5-20%+ for classic US coins in high grades
Grade Upgrade Potential
Some coins may have been undergraded by the original service:
- Conservative grading: Original service may have been strict
- Old holder standards: Grading standards may have changed
- Service differences: Services may interpret grade differently
Registry Considerations
Collectors building registry sets need coins in specific holders:
- PCGS Set Registry: Only accepts PCGS coins
- NGC Registry: Only accepts NGC coins
- Collector demand: May pay premium for registry-eligible coins
Holder Condition
Damaged or old-style holders may warrant crossover:
- Cracked holders: Coin needs new encapsulation
- Old rattler holders: Updating to modern security features
- Combined benefit: New holder plus potential service premium
The Crossover Process
PCGS Crossover Service
- Create submission: Online at PCGS Submission Center
- Select crossover: Choose crossover service tier
- Set minimum grade: Specify lowest grade you'll accept
- Ship coin: Send in existing holder
- Await result: PCGS evaluates and determines outcome
NGC Crossover Service
- Create submission: Online at NGC Submission Center
- Select crossover: Choose crossover service option
- Specify preferences: Set minimum acceptable grade
- Ship coin: Send in existing holder
- Await result: NGC evaluates and determines outcome
Crossover Fees
| Service | Fee Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PCGS Crossover | $30-100+ | Varies by tier and declared value |
| NGC Crossover | $25-75+ | Varies by tier and declared value |
| Shipping (both ways) | $40-80 | Insured, tracked |
Minimum Grade Options
Both services allow you to set a minimum acceptable grade:
- Same grade minimum: Only cross if coin meets or exceeds current grade
- One grade lower: Accept slight downgrade for service change
- No minimum: Accept any grade (risky for valuable coins)
Minimum Grade Strategy
For most crossovers, set minimum at the current grade. If the coin doesn't meet that grade, you get it back in the original holder. Only accept lower grades if the service premium justifies the potential downgrade.
Crossover Economics
Calculating Crossover ROI
Use this framework to evaluate crossover decisions:
Expected Value = (Probability × Value if Crosses) + ((1 - Probability) × Current Value) - Crossover Cost
Worked Example
Example: NGC MS-65 to PCGS Crossover
Coin: 1881-S Morgan Dollar NGC MS-65
Current value (NGC): $280
Value if crosses (PCGS): $320
Crossover cost: $50 (fee + shipping)
Estimated crossover probability: 70%
Expected value:
(0.70 × $320) + (0.30 × $280) - $50
= $224 + $84 - $50
= $258
Current value: $280
Result: Expected value ($258) < Current value ($280)
Decision: Don't cross—economics unfavorable
When Economics Favor Crossover
Crossover makes sense when:
- Premium exceeds cost: Value gain covers crossover expense
- High success probability: Coin likely to cross at grade
- Upgrade potential: Coin might grade higher
- Significant premium difference: Service premium is substantial
Identifying Good Crossover Candidates
High-Value Classic US Coins
- Morgan Dollars: MS-65+ where PCGS premium is meaningful
- Walking Liberty Halves: Premium coins in gem grades
- Classic Gold: Where authenticity and brand matter
- Type coins: High-grade examples with significant value
Coins That Appear Undergraded
- High-end for grade: Coins that look like they could grade higher
- Old holders: Graded conservatively by past standards
- Exceptional eye appeal: May earn plus grade or star
Coins with Significant Premium Differential
- 10%+ premium difference: Enough to cover costs and profit
- Registry-sensitive coins: Where collectors need specific holder
- Condition rarities: Where holder matters for sale
Coins in Damaged or Outdated Holders
- Cracked or scratched holders: Need new encapsulation anyway
- Very old holders: Lack modern security features
- Combined opportunity: Fix holder and gain premium
Coins to Avoid Crossing
Low-Value Coins
- Under $200 value: Premium likely doesn't justify cost
- Common dates: Minimal premium difference between services
- Low grades: Little market preference for holder
Modern Coins
- Equal premiums: PCGS and NGC trade equally for moderns
- Abundant supply: No scarcity advantage to specific holder
- Cost sensitivity: Margins don't support crossover expense
Problem Coins
- Questionable surfaces: May receive details grade on crossing
- Light cleaning: Other service may catch what original missed
- Artificial toning: Risk of details grade outweighs potential gain
Already-Optimal Holders
- World coins in NGC: NGC is already preferred—no benefit to PCGS
- Coins with CAC: CAC status may be lost; re-approval not guaranteed
- Special labels: Pedigree or commemorative labels have value
Factors Affecting Crossover Success
Grading Standard Alignment
- Strict to strict: Similar standards, higher success rate
- Generous to strict: Lower success rate expected
- Service reputation: Perceived differences affect outcomes
Coin Quality
- High-end for grade: Solid coins more likely to cross
- Borderline grades: May fail to meet new service's standard
- Problem-free: Clean coins cross more successfully
Holder Age
- Old holders: May have been graded by different standards
- Recent grading: More aligned with current standards
- Standard changes: Some grades have tightened over time
Typical Success Rates
| Scenario | Estimated Success Rate |
|---|---|
| High-end for grade, same grade minimum | 70-85% |
| Average for grade, same grade minimum | 50-65% |
| Low-end for grade, same grade minimum | 25-40% |
| Upgrade attempt (one grade higher minimum) | 10-30% |
Managing Crossover Risk
Set Appropriate Minimums
- Same grade minimum: Protects against downgrade
- Consider economics: Would downgrade still be profitable?
- Never no minimum: Unless you're prepared for any outcome
Assess Before Submitting
- Honest self-evaluation: Is this coin truly solid for grade?
- Surface check: Any issues the original service may have missed?
- Expert opinion: Consult if uncertain about coin quality
Batch Strategy
- Diversify submissions: Don't cross all similar coins at once
- Track results: Learn which types succeed
- Adjust strategy: Refine based on actual outcomes
Accept the Math
- Not every coin crosses: Factor non-crosses into overall strategy
- Portfolio approach: Profitable overall even with some failures
- Avoid emotion: Don't take non-crosses personally
Reholder vs. Crossover
Reholder (Same Service)
Moving a coin to a new holder at the same grading service:
- Purpose: Update holder, fix damage, add services
- Risk: Lower—coin stays at same service
- Cost: Usually less than crossover
- Grade change: Generally maintains grade (may regrade differently)
When to Reholder vs. Crossover
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Damaged holder, happy with service | Reholder at same service |
| Want TrueView/PhotoVision | Reholder with imaging |
| Seeking service premium | Crossover |
| Old holder, uncertain grade | Consider crossover for fresh look |
| Adding variety attribution | Reholder with attribution |
Key Takeaways
- Crossover moves coins between grading services to capture premiums
- Success is not guaranteed—services grade independently
- Calculate expected value including probability of non-cross
- Best candidates: high-value coins with significant premium differentials
- Avoid crossing: low-value coins, moderns, problem coins
- Set minimum grade to protect against unfavorable outcomes
- High-end for grade coins have better success rates
- Track results and adjust strategy based on actual outcomes
- Reholder for same-service updates; crossover for service change
- Think portfolio: profitable overall despite some individual failures
Manage Your Certified Inventory
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Request a Demo →Frequently Asked Questions
What is crossover grading?
Crossover grading is the process of submitting a coin already certified by one grading service (like NGC) to a different service (like PCGS) for re-evaluation. If the receiving service agrees with or exceeds the original grade, the coin is placed in their holder. If not, the coin is returned in its original holder or at a different grade.
Why would I crossover a coin from NGC to PCGS?
The main reasons are: PCGS may command higher premiums for certain US coins, collectors may need PCGS holders for registry sets, the coin may be undergraded and could receive a higher grade at PCGS, or you may need to update an old or damaged holder while also changing services.
What happens if a coin doesn't cross?
If the receiving service doesn't agree with the original grade and you've set a minimum grade, the coin is returned in its original holder—no harm done except the fee and time. If you didn't set a minimum and the coin grades lower, it may come back in the new holder at a lower grade.
How much does crossover cost?
Crossover fees typically range from $25-100+ depending on service tier and declared value, plus shipping both ways ($40-80 total). All-in costs are usually $65-150+. You pay the fee whether the coin crosses or not, so factor this into your economics.
What is a good crossover success rate?
Success rates vary by coin quality. High-end for grade coins crossing at the same grade minimum see 70-85% success. Average coins see 50-65%. Low-end coins may only succeed 25-40% of the time. Upgrade attempts (hoping for higher grade) succeed 10-30%.
Should I crossover modern coins?
Generally no. Modern coins trade at equivalent premiums in PCGS and NGC holders—there's no meaningful premium difference to capture. The crossover cost typically exceeds any potential benefit. Save crossover for classic coins where premium differentials justify the expense.
What is the difference between crossover and reholder?
Reholder keeps the coin at the same grading service but puts it in a new holder (to fix damage, add imaging, etc.). Crossover moves the coin to a different grading service. Reholdering is lower risk since you stay with the same service; crossover involves re-evaluation by a new party.
Will my coin lose its CAC sticker during crossover?
Yes, CAC stickers are on the original holder which is destroyed during crossover. You would need to resubmit the coin to CAC after receiving the new holder. CAC re-approval is not guaranteed—evaluate whether losing CAC status offsets any crossover benefit.
How do I calculate if crossover is worthwhile?
Calculate expected value: (probability of crossing × value if crosses) + (probability of not crossing × current value) - crossover cost. If expected value exceeds current value, crossover may be profitable. Be conservative with success probability estimates.
What minimum grade should I set for crossover?
For most coins, set minimum at the current grade—this ensures you get the coin back unchanged if it doesn't meet standards. Only accept lower grades if the service premium at that lower grade still makes economic sense. Never submit valuable coins with no minimum unless you're prepared for any outcome.
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