NGC offers several designations for coins with a documented date of release. These special designations are used by NGC when coins are accompanied by documentation or received by NGC for certification within a specified time-window. NGC's conventions for their use are described on this website.
The U.S. Mint in official statements has indicated that for certain coins it begins production several weeks before the coins are scheduled to be released (“the official release date”). By the official release date, the U.S. Mint may have produced a significant portion of the projected sales numbers for certain coins. The U.S. Mint issues coins through the Federal Reserve which in turn makes arrangements with banks and other financial institutions to insure that the coins are in their inventories up to two weeks prior to the official release dates. Coins received by NGC for designation as Early Releases, First Day of Issue, and First Year of Issue on or prior to their official release dates may come from a number of commercial or individual submitters.
Early Releases
NGC offers the Early Releases designation for U.S. Bullion Coins released by the US Mint during the first month of release. Coins receiving this designation will be encapsulated in an NGC holder with special label, with the words EARLY RELEASES appearing beneath the year of issue and denomination on the NGC label.
To qualify for Early Releases designation all coins must be received by NGC within 30 days of their release by the US Mint, or documented as being received by an NGC approved depository within this same 30-day period. Coins being sent directly to NGC do not need to be accompanied by original packaging or shipped in sealed mint boxes, but must arrive within the time period described above. The Early Releases request must be noted on the submission invoice, and additional service fees apply for the special label and designation verification.
All Proof and Mint State Silver, Gold, and Platinum Eagle and Buffalo issues are eligible.
We also make available an information card that includes the definition used by NGC for Early Releases. These cards are the size of the NGC holder and are designed to accompany each individual “Early Releases” coin. NGC strictly adheres to this definition during its certification process, and these cards will enable a thorough comprehension of its use and meaning.
Cards are available from NGC at no charge, and can be requested by contacting us at consumerawareness@ngccoin.com.
First Strikes
During 2006, NGC used the term "first strikes" for U.S. bullion coinage shipped from the U.S. Mint within the first month of their official release. This designation is no longer in use by NGC. First strikes designated coins are eligible for inclusion in the NGC Registry and are reported individually on the NGC Census.
From Mint Sealed Boxes
The US Mint releases bullion coins to a network of Authorized Purchasers. For distribution purposes, they use sealed heavy-gauge plastic boxes, sometimes called "monster boxes." Each of these boxes has a date slip sealed inside the box, indicating the date that the box was packed.
At the submitter's request, NGC will indicate the date that appears on this slip by including this date on the certification tag, for example:
FROM MINT SEALED BOX 01/07
This designation means that the encapsulated coin was removed by NGC from a box packed by the US Mint in January 2007, according to the date tag inside the sealed Mint packaging. These coins are encapsulated with a regular NGC label.
Sealed US Mint boxes are of standard quantities. Silver and Gold coins are issued in full boxes of 500 ounces each, regardless of denomination. Platinum $100 coins (1 ounce) are issued in boxes of 500 coins, and Platinum $50 and $25 coins (1/2 ounce and 1/4 ounce, respectively) are issued in boxes of 600 coins. Platinum $10 coins, (1/10 ounce) are released in boxes of 1,000 coins.
Note that, according to a US Mint announcement, "The date on the box represents the date that the box was packed, verified as 500 ounces and sealed, and the date of packaging does not necessarily correlate with the date of manufacture." The complete announcement appears on the US Mint Website: http://usmint.gov/consumer/index.cfm?action=HotItems
Numbered First Struck Editions
On several occasions, NGC has received coinage with official mint documentation stating that a particular group of coins were among the first examples produced. These will be represented on their certification label indicating that the encapsulated coin belongs to this edition. The size of the edition is also included (e.g., ONE OF FIRST 1000 STRUCK; ONE OF FIRST 50,000 STRUCK). This designation can also be applied to foreign coins when satisfactory supporting documentation is available.
First Day of Issue
NGC will designate FIRST DAY OF ISSUE on circulating US Coins that have an official release date. To qualify, coins must be received by NGC on the official release date or by overnight mail or air carrier on the day immediately following the official release date. Alternatively, coins still packed in sealed US Mint issue First Day Covers are eligible for this designation. Private issue covers are not accepted.
Coins designated FIRST DAY OF ISSUE are encapsulated with regular format NGC labels.
First Year of Issue
NGC has developed a special label for use with US Mint first year of issue coins. A first year of issue is the coin from the first dated year of a new design type. For example, the Silver American Eagle was first issued in 1986; all American Silver Eagles dated 1986, in both Proof and Mint State, are eligible for encapsulation with this designation and special label which is green with the words FIRST YEAR OF ISSUE at bottom and in overprint at top. A complete list of eligible coins appears on our website. Additional certification fees apply, and no supplementary documentation or packing is required when submitting coins for this designation.
First Strike Ceremony Coins
There are other types of coins of early release which can be designated by NGC. In some cases the words FIRST STRIKE have appeared on a regular NGC label. This designation indicates that the encapsulated coin was struck during a first strike ceremony at the U.S. Mint and NGC has received appropriate substantiation of the fact. When the U.S. Mint releases a new coinage design, a special event can be held during which notable figures related to that coinage will be invited to strike the first of these coins. This has been used on States Quarters and other circulating and commemorative issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How many Early Releases coins has NGC graded? |
A. Early Releases designated coins have their own line item in the NGC census report, and appear beneath the non-designated issues. |
Q. Do Early Releases receive a point premium in the NGC Registry? |
A. No. They are weighted the same as non-Early Releases coins in the NGC Registry. |
Q. Are Commemorative coins or Proof Sets eligible for the Early Releases designation? |
A. No. NGC's criteria and designation of Early Releases applies to bullion issues only. |
Q. Does the US Mint sell “first strike” coins? |
A. The US Mint does not currently use this term on any coins that it sells. On their website, they state that, “Currently, there is no widely-accepted and standardized numismatic industry definition of ‘first strike.’” The designations and terms described on this webpage are conventions developed by NGC for the certification of early release coinage. The US Mint announcement on “first strike” coinage can be viewed on their website: |
Last Updated November 19, 2007.