Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) has added an “Early Production” designation to its 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 dated on or before Jan. 31 of the coin’s year of issue.
“Many customers have asked NGC to recognize early strikes from both current year and ‘backdated’ coins,” according to a recent statement from the U.S.-based third-party grading service. “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 Jan. 31.
For example, a sealed box of Mint State (MS) 1996 American Silver Eagles – the official U.S. silver bullion coin – is eligible for the Early Production designation if the box is dated on or before Jan. 31, 1996.
In some cases, coins are struck and packaged before their year of issue. For these Early Production coins, NGC may include an additional attribution on the certification label (“Struck in [Year]”) to indicate the actual year in which the coin was struck.
For example, a sealed box of MS 2012-S American Silver Eagles dated on or before Dec. 31, 2011, can be attributed as “Early Production, Struck in 2011.”
The Early Production designation joins NGC’s other 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,” according to NGC.
For more information about NGC’s releases designations, as well as the complete definition of the Early Production designation, visit NGCcoin.com/releases.