Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), a U.S.-based third-party grading firm, will soon expand the kinds of elongated coins it grades to include the numerous pieces catalogued in the authoritative handbook known as Yesterday’s Elongateds.
The 1981 book by Lee Martin and Dottie Dow has been updated three times over the decades. It lists hundreds of popular elongated coins, which are collectible pieces made from legal-tender coins that have been flattened in a machine and imprinted with a special logo or design.
“As the leading third-party coin grading company, PCGS continues expanding its grading services to include many areas of the hobby,” said PCGS President Stephanie Sabin. “Elongated coins are one of the most popular areas of exonumia, and the pieces cataloged in Yesterday’s Elongateds constitute some of the classic core pieces found in the cabinets of collectors. It was natural that PCGS would provide full authentication, grading, and encapsulation of these important collectibles.”
The earliest elongated coins include those produced at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. In the following years, hundreds of other landmarks offered the coin-rolling equipment that could turn ordinary circulating coins into special mementos, many of which are catalogued in Yesterday’s Elongateds and now eligible for grading at PCGS.
“At PCGS, we are quite often propositioned to either create or expand some of the numismatic series that we certify and encapsulate,” added Steve Feltner, the director of numismatic education and grading team leader for PCGS. “This comes as no surprise when one considers the market support and acceptance that having a numismatic item authenticated, attributed, and graded by PCGS brings. When internally discussing the possibility of opening Elongateds further, it was met with resounding support. We are proud to help support all areas of the market and will continue our vision of making numismatics safe, easy, and fun.”
For more information on submitting elongated coins or other items to PCGS for grading, visit pcgs.com/onlinesubmission.