In the United States, a significant number of private mints produce bullion which is not legal tender and is targeted at investors and not at coin collectors. Most of these are in precious metals, but there is also a significant market in copper "rounds" (so called because they are not coins, not being legal tender).
This copper round commemorates the 35th anniversary of PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Services), which was founded in 1986 to establish uniform and independent standards for grading and certification in the coin industry.
The PCGS grading scale is based on numbers 1-70 of the Sheldon scale and is the guideline for coins to be graded. Since then, the PCGS standard has stood for the reliable protection and assurance of the collector, as well as the highest precision in determining the value of coins.
These rounds are an APMEXclusive release, produced in collaboration with PCGS. The obverse design is by Justin Kunz, and the reverse by Ron Sanders. |