PCGS Changes and the New Holder: A Coin-Ring Artisan’s Guide to Silver, Design, and Durability
October 2, 2026PCGS Buyer’s Guide: New Membership Tiers, a New Holder, and Raw vs. Slabbed Coins—Without Paying for Hype
October 2, 2026
Sometimes the slab really is holding the coin back. I understand the temptation to crack out a certified 2026 Presidential dollar, submit it from NGC to PCGS, and hope for a higher number—and a corresponding increase in numismatic value.
That hope deserves a healthy dose of collector discipline. The 2026 Donald J. Trump Presidential dollar may stir strong political reactions, but politics is only one part of its collectibility. It was authorized in enormous quantities, so its future value will depend on demand, the number of surviving examples, condition, and how many high-grade coins remain in private hands. Historical importance can make a coin desirable, but it does not automatically make it a rare variety.
If you already own a certified example, the immediate question is different. Should you remove an NGC-graded coin from its holder and submit it to PCGS? Will PCGS assign a higher numerical grade? Could that single-grade improvement justify the submission fee, shipping costs, labor, and risk? For many collectors, those expenses matter as much as the potential price difference.
From my experience handling and evaluating coins, a crossover is never guaranteed to be an upgrade. I examine the strike, luster, surface patina, eye appeal, and overall mint condition, while also considering rarity, provenance, certification history, and what collectors will actually pay for a particular grade or designation. Even a coin that appears to PCGS to have stronger surfaces may not earn a higher number. My rule is simple: inspect first, submit second, and never count on a higher grade.
First, Separate Historical Importance from Investment Value
The 2026 Presidential dollar is historically notable because it places a contemporary president on United States coinage, departing from the modern tradition of honoring deceased presidents. That moment matters to collectors and historians, but historical significance alone does not guarantee scarcity—or lasting numismatic value.
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