NGC Releases Designations

Coins may be submitted by selecting an appropriate NGC grading tier and the Special Label/Releases service option. Specify Early Releases or First Releases under Special Label/Releases. Eligible submitters may also submit coins for Early Releases or First Releases through NGC’s bulk submission services.

For world coin cutoff dates, click here.

NGC calculates the cutoff date for Early Releases and First Releases based on the “release date.” A release date is the day that a new coin issue is first released from a mint. In some cases, the mint posts an official release date; in others, the release date is the first day that a mint actually makes a new coin issue available. The release date is not always the same as the sale date since many mints offer coins for sale before they are released.

Some mints have different release dates for their domestic market and for the international market. In China, for example, coins are generally released domestically several weeks or more before they are released internationally. In these cases, NGC will generally post two cutoff dates on its website — one for submissions received in or from the coin’s country of origin, and one for submissions received in or from all other countries.

For world coin cutoff dates, click here.

No, coins do not need to be accompanied by original packaging or be shipped in sealed mint boxes, but must arrive before the cutoff dates posted on the NGC website. However, for coins being designated Early Releases or First Releases based on being part of a particular set released by a mint, a different requirement may apply. (See further questions below.)

Early Releases and First Releases are listed separately in the NGC Census and appear when the variety icon beneath a non-designated issue is clicked.

Yes, Early Releases and First Releases coins are eligible for inclusion in the popular NGC Registry. Early Releases and First Releases coins receive the same point score as non-designated issues.

Only certain coins and/or sets will be designated Early Releases or First Releases by NGC. View a list of eligible world coins and cutoff dates. See the following question for an explanation of NGC’s policy for coins released in various sets at different times.

For a detailed explanation of NGC's policy for coins released in various sets at different times, see the question "How does NGC assign the Early Releases and First Releases designations if the same coin is released in various sets at different times throughout the year?" below.

Certain Official Mint Medals are eligible for the Early Releases and First Releases designations. Privately issued medals are generally eligible for these designations only if the issuing mint has publicly identified a specific release date. For more details, see the question "Are medals eligible for the Early Releases and First Releases designations?" below.

Regular submissions of the following coins to NGC in the United States are not eligible for the First Releases designation: Mint State American Silver Eagles, Mint State American Gold Eagles, Mint State Chinese Silver Pandas and Mint State Chinese Gold Pandas. The First Releases designation may be made available for these coins to select bulk submitters only.

Mints often release coins individually and in various sets at different times throughout the year. For example, a coin may be released individually and later released as part of a multiple coin set.

NGC will start the Early Releases/First Releases period when a coin is first released, whether released individually or in a set, and NGC will give such coin a standard description on the NGC certification label. Subsequent releases of that coin in different sets or packaging may, at NGC’s sole discretion, receive the Early Releases or First Releases designations with the set description, provided NGC can sufficiently determine that the coin was received by NGC within 30 days of that particular set’s release. This determination will generally require that coins be received in the sealed and postmarked shipping box from the mint. These subsequent releases will be listed separately in the NGC Census. Due to the additional verification required, NGC will generally assign the Early Releases or First Releases designations on subsequent releases only if these coins are submitted through NGC’s bulk submission program.

NGC maintains a list of Early Releases and First Releases cutoff dates for world coins on its website. If a coin is released in multiple sets or packaging, NGC will post cutoff dates for the specific set, if eligible for the Early Releases and First Releases designations. A notation will be made on the list of cutoff dates to indicate which sets are accepted only through NGC’s bulk submission program.

Certain Official Mint Medals, defined as those issued by a mint authorized to strike coins and medals on behalf of a government, are eligible for the Early Releases and First Releases designations. Eligible Official Mint Medals and cutoff dates will be listed with US coins or world coins, as applicable.

Privately issued medals are generally eligible for these designations only if the issuing mint has publicly identified a specific release date. If eligible, these privately issued medals will be listed with eligible US coins and cutoff dates or eligible world coins and cutoff dates, as applicable.

A release date is the day that a new coin issue is first released from a mint. In some cases, the mint posts an official release date; in others, the release date is the first day that a mint actually makes a new coin issue available. The release date is not always the same as the sale date since many mints offer coins for sale before they are released.

Mints may release a coin on different dates for online purchases from the mint’s website and in-person purchases at a mint location. NGC will generally consider online purchases and in-person purchases to each have a release date. In the event that these release dates are different, NGC will require proof of purchase from its submitters.

Some mints have different release dates for their domestic market and for their international market. In China, for example, coins are generally released domestically several weeks or more before they are released internationally. In these cases, NGC will generally consider there to be two release dates — one for submissions in or from the coin’s country of origin and one for submissions in or from all other countries.

First Day of Issue is listed separately in the NGC Census and appears when the variety icon beneath a non-designated issue is clicked.

Yes, First Day of Issue coins are eligible for inclusion in the popular NGC Registry. First Day of Issue coins receive the same point score as non-designated issues.

Only certain coins and/or sets will be designated First Day of Issue by NGC. This designation is generally offered only for bulk submissions or at select trade shows. When this designation is available to all submitters of a particular coin an article will be posted to the NGC website with submission instructions.

Certain Official Mint Medals and privately issued medals may be eligible for the First Day of Issue designation. Privately issued medals are generally eligible for this designation only if the issuing mint has publicly identified a specific release date. The same policies and procedures that apply to submissions of coins for the First Day of Issue designation also apply to medals. For more details, see the question "Are medals eligible for the First Day of Issue designation?" below.

View eligible world coins.

Certain Official Mint Medals, defined as those issued by a mint authorized to strike coins and medals on behalf of a government, are eligible for the First Day of Issue designation. Privately issued medals are generally eligible for this designation only if the issuing mint has publicly identified a specific release date.

The First Day of Issue designation is generally offered only for bulk submissions or at certain trade shows. When this designation is available to all submitters of a particular medal an article will be posted to the NGC website with submission instructions.

If eligible, medals will be listed with eligible US coins or eligible world coins, as applicable.

First Day of Production is listed separately in the NGC Census and appears when the variety beneath a non-designated issue is clicked.

Yes, First Day of Production coins are eligible for inclusion in the popular NGC Registry. First Day of Production coins receive the same point score as non-designated issues.

Only certain coins and/or sets will be designated First Day of Production by NGC. This designation is offered only to submitters of bulk quantities of qualifying coins. An advance request and prior authorization from NGC is required. To qualify for First Day of Production, coins must be received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository accompanied by a copy of documentation from the mint that confirms that the coins were struck on the first day of that coin’s production.

NGC offers the Last Day of Production designation for select coins that are struck on the day that the mint ends production of that coin. To qualify for Last Day of Production, coins must be received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository accompanied by documentation from the mint that confirms that the coins were struck on the last day of that coin's production.

The Last Day of Production designation is made available only to submitters of bulk quantities of qualifying coins. An advance request is required and there is generally a higher grading fee for the special designation verification and attribution.

Last Day of Production is listed separately in the NGC Census and appears when the variety beneath a non-designated issue is clicked.

Yes, Last Day of Production coins are eligible for inclusion in the popular NGC Registry. Last Day of Production coins receive the same point score as non-designated issues.

Only certain coins and/or sets will be designated Last Day of Production by NGC. This designation is offered only to submitters of bulk quantities of qualifying coins. To qualify for Last Day of Production, coins must be received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository accompanied by documentation from the mint that confirms that the coins were struck on the last day of that coin's production.

NGC will from time to time offer a “Show Releases” designation for world coins that have a release date that coincides with the trade show or a release date shortly before the start of the trade show.

NGC may note the name of a particular trade show on the NGC certification label (without the term “Releases”) but, unlike US coins, this notation does not necessarily indicate that these coins were sold at that trade show.

Coins with Show Releases designations are listed separately in the NGC Census and appear when the variety icon beneath a non-designated issue is clicked. Coins with show pedigrees (e.g. coins labeled with the name of the show but not the term “Releases”) are not listed separately in the NGC Census and are grouped together with non-designated issues.

Yes, Show Releases coins are eligible for inclusion in the popular NGC Registry. Show Releases coins receive the same point score as non-designated issues.

NGC may list Numbered First Struck Editions separately in the NGC Census when the variety icon beneath the non-designated issue is clicked or it may group Numbered First Struck Editions into the population for the non-designation issue.

Yes, Numbered First Struck Editions are eligible for inclusion in the popular NGC Registry. Numbered First Struck Editions receive the same point score as non-designated issues.

Only Official Mint Medals, defined as those issued by a mint authorized to strike coins and medals on behalf of a government, that are received with a copy of the appropriate documentation are eligible for a Numbered First Struck Edition designation. Privately issued medals will not be attributed as Numbered First Struck editions.

Individually Numbered Strikes are grouped into the population for the non-designated issue in the NGC Census.

Yes, Individually Numbered Strikes are eligible for inclusion in the popular NGC Registry. Individually Numbered Strikes receive the same point score as non-designated issues.

Only certain coins are eligible for an Individually Numbered Strikes designation from NGC. This designation is generally offered only to submitters of bulk quantities of qualifying coins. An advance request and prior authorization from NGC is required. To qualify for Individual Numbered Strikes designations, the minting must be witnessed and documented by an authorized representative of NGC or the coins must be accompanied by a copy of official mint documentation that individually identifies the order in which the coins were struck.