With the selection of new 2023 coins soon to be offered, this is a question many will be asking, maybe even you. The encapsulation of coins is relatively new in the grand time of coin collecting. However, in this modern era it has really taken a lot of worry away from the collector. So, should all of your coins be certified and encapsulated?

So without further adieu, and with total confidence, the answer is... maybe! Don't flay me yet. There are several good reasons to have your coins certified. Let's talk about some of the reasons you would want to certify your coins and why you would not.

Value

Does the value warrant having your coin certified? From the two largest grading services, certification fees can be around $50 or more depending on options. Is the shiny new penny worth having it encapsulated? Probably not. What if you found a 1909-S VDB Wheat Cent in your change. Is it worth it now? Yes it is!

Condition

We can make an argument that condition and value go hand in hand, and you wouldn't be wrong but it is a major factor. A good example of this is the popular bullion Silver Eagles. These coins are often not that expensive but perfect MS70 coins demand quite a premium, and rightfully so. Especially on the older dates, grading a high condition coin would be worth your time. If it looks like someone rolled it down the street, then it's most likely a bad idea!

Confidence

In today's world of counterfeit coins, certified coins are good way to help navigate those worries. Back to the 1909-S VDB Wheat Cent, that's definitely a coin you would want to buy certified and not raw, a lot of risk there. Finally, that's the real reason certification has taken off like it has. It gives most collectors the confidence to buy with less risk. Even 50 years ago, coin collectors really needed some good knowledge to make wise choices. There are more coin collectors in the United States than ever before and graded coins makes it easier to purchase confidently.

In conclusion, certified coins are more popular and available than ever before. I do believe that most collectors are better off purchasing certified coins over raw coins. Of course, it still varies on the value of the coins, the purpose for why they are buying, and each collector's knowledge. All in all, grading your coins or purchasing already encapsulated coins is a good idea if you're a collector. Happy collecting!