ANACS introduced the Clearview™ holder in 2006 to the numismatic community. It had a new sleek design with a variety of features that were unique and innovative. As the new design hit the market, ANACS received very important feedback and suggestions from collectors across the country. Based on these ideas and customer needs, ANACS redesigned the Clearview™ holder to the version we use today.

Modeled off the original sleek design, Clearview features the rounded top that allows for easy identification of coin type and grade. Reinforced weld points separate the coin compartment and label. The gasket, now a stylish round insert, keeps the clarity and protection of the former square design. Grooves on the front and back of the holder now allow for convenient stacking. A new hologram, the ANACS stamp of authenticity, is proof of our guarantee and commitment to excellence.

We have also retired the square classic holder, moving to a unity of encapsulation with the new Clearview holder. Problem coins will be graded and encapsulated in the new model, though they will be appropriately labeled with their problem designation.

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No. All coins encapsulated by ANACS fall under our Guarantee. As long as the holder conforms to the guidelines of our Guarantee then there will be no problem with crossing of coins from the old ANACS holder to the new Clearview.

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We believe the Clearview holder offers the very best in functionality and security, and have no plans to change it.

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Yes. ANACS is the only major grading service to grade cleaned, corroded, damaged, repaired, and other "problem coins". What will be displayed on the label will be the coin’s "detail grade" and the coin’s single most significant problem. The “details grade” reflects the amount of remaining detail on the coin, balancing actual wear with remaining sharpness. Such coins will be encapsulated in our Clearview holder. The ANACS guarantee for such coins applies only to their authenticity, not their grade.

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ANACS grades the following tokens:

• U.S. Hard Times Tokens (including Feuchtwanger pieces) in the Low/Rulau reference.
• U.S. Civil War, Patriotic, and Storecard Tokens in the Fuld references.
• So-Called Dollars (max. diameter 40.6 mm) in the Hibler-Kappen reference.

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Yes, we do grade and authenticate world coins as long as they are listed in the Krause Catalog of World Coins. Please e-mail us if you have questions about any specific world pieces.

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The below chart shows the break down of the grades.

Straight Grades (problem free)	Problem Grades (detail graded)
Mint State (MS) 70-60	MS60
About Uncirculated (AU) 58,55,53,50	A8 (AU58)
Extremely Fine (EF) 45,40	A5 (AU55)
Very Fine (VF) 35,30, 25, 20	A3 (AU53)
Fine (F) 15,12	AU (AU50)
Very Good (VG) 10,8	E5 (EF45)
Good (G) 6,4	EF (EF40)
About Good (AG) 3	V3 (VF30)
Fair (FR) 2	VF (VF20)
Poor (P) 1	FI (FI-12)
	VD (VG10)
	VG (VG8)
	GD (GD4)
	AB (AG 3)
	FA (FR2)
	PO (P1)

Other Grade Designations Used
GH (Genuine)	PV (PVC)
N8 (Non-eligible- wrong size for encapsulation, not something we grade, corrosion that is not PVC)	N9 (altered coin, not genuine, questionable authenticity, etc)

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The advent of modern minting technology has enabled the production of huge volumes of virtually identical coins. They are struck on high speed presses using tools called dies. Each die is a negative image of the coin it is intended to produce. The dies are in turn produced by being impressed by a tool called a hub which contains the features of one side of the coin it is designed to manufacture. The hubbing process is used to make dies of a consistent quality. Within a given year's production, slight but noticeable differences may occur in the die making process. Coins stuck from these dies are known as varieties.

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Coin collecting is an information driven hobby. Collectors of varieties of a particular series often rely on a standard reference book that lists all the known varieties or the most significant varieties of their chosen coin series. Listings in these books usually are numbered. When referring to such a listing, it is the standard practice to abbreviate the author or authors name(s) followed by the number they have assigned to a specific variety. For example, collectors of Capped Bust Half Dollars use the standard reference Early Half Dollar Die Varieties by Al Overton. A specific coin such as the 1823 "Ugly 3" would be listed as O-110a, the number Overton assigned to this particular variety. Works of this nature exist for many US coin series.

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No grading service attributes as many varieties as ANACS. You can either submit your coins with the attributions already included or you can ask ANACS to research the attribution for you. The cost for ANACS to look up your attribution and to verify it is just $5 per coin, plus the grading fee. The cost for ANACS to research an attribution for you is only $10 per coin, plus the grading fee. You must submit each of your coins for variety, attribution or error designation for verification or research on a separate submission form from all your other coins.

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Collectors of silver dollars refer to the Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan & Peace Dollars by Leroy Van Allen and A. George Mallis as a standard reference. Van Allen-Mallis numbers, abbreviated VAM are assigned for all recognized die pairs. New die pairings continue to be found and listings are continually updated by Mr. Van Allen. At this time, over 3000 distinct die pairs are known. ANACS offers attribution and verification services for all listed VAM numbers, including new discoveries. No other grading service comes even remotely close to the scope and breadth of VAMs that ANACS attributes.

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In order to maintain our strict independence, ANACS will only authenticate, grade, and attribute your coins. We will not appraise coins for value. If we discover a coin that is exceedingly rare, we will contact you to discuss your best options for insurance and shipping. The value of coins is continuously changing, but once you know the grade of a coin, there are a number of sources that allow you to determine its current value.

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No. ANACS will never do anything to alter the physical condition of a coin.

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A “crossover” is a coin that is submitted to ANACS in another grading service's holder. On crossover submissions, we will not remove coins from their holders unless they meet a minimum grade, as provided by you in the Minimum Crossover Grade column of the submission form. Any crossover coin that does not meet your minimum grade will be returned in its present holder. If you would like coins to crossover at any grade, you should write "Any" in the Minimum Crossover Grade column.

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Once a coin has been removed from an ANACS holder there is no guarantee that it will be given the same grade it once had. Furthermore, once a coin has been removed from the ANACS holder, the ANACS guarantee of grade and authenticity no longer applies.

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The following designation will be listed on the ANACS label whenever appropriate for coins graded MS or PF-60 and above, except for AU and better coins as noted:

Designation	Description	Notes	Update
FSB	Full Split Bands	Mercury and Roosevelt Dimes	Full Split Bands not designated on Proofs, save with reholders
FH	Full Head	Standing Liberty Quarters (AU 50 and above)
PL	Proof-Like	Business strike coins (AU 50 and above)
DMPL	Deep Mirror Proof-Like	Business strike coins (AU 50 and above)
UDM	Ultra Deep Mirror Proof-Like	Business Strike coins (AU 50 and above)
FBL	Full Bell Lines	Franklin Half Dollars	Full Bell Lines not designated on Proofs, save with reholders
5 STEPS	Five Steps	Jefferson Nickels	Steps not designated on Proofs, save with reholders
5.5 STEPS	Five And One Half Steps	Jefferson Nickels	Steps not designated on Proofs, save with reholders
6 STEPS	Six Steps	Jefferson Nickels	Steps not designated on Proofs, save with reholders
CAMEO	Cameo Contrast	Proof Coins and SMS Coins
DCAM	Heavy Cameo Contrast	Proof Coins and SMS Coins
RED	Red color	Copper Coins
RB	Red Brown	Copper Coins
BRN	Brown color	Copper Coins

Coins in which a reverse only superlative may describe the coin are not deemed appropriate by ANACS to list on the holder. For Example, ANACS does not designate a Proof Franklin Half Dollar with a reverse cameo contrast as REV CAMEO on the slab label.

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If you believe that you have an ANACS certified coin with an incorrect label, call our customer service department (1-800-888-1861). We are glad to check our records on any ANACS graded coin, and will make arrangements to correct any problems that might exist.

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Absolutely. Gold coins are often counterfeited. Having them graded and encapsulated assures their authenticity to any interested parties and should help make the sale of them considerably easier.

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PVC residue is a surface contaminant that may be caused by storing a coin in a soft, pliable vinyl flip. The amount of time a coin needs to reside in a vinyl flip before the PVC film develops will vary significantly, depending on temperature, humidity, the age of the flip, and the type of coin. Under optimal conditions, PVC residue can begin to form in as little as two weeks. At ANACS, we only use Mylar flips. Mylar flips are free of all PVC.

The composition of a coin is a strong factor with the formation of PVC residue.

A gold or platinum coin will be the most resistant, a silver coin is next, and a copper or copper-nickel coin will be the most susceptible. Copper and copper-nickel coins are also highly susceptible to corrosion and/or spotting from excessive moisture and high emperatures. Due to this, collectors need to be extra careful with their choices of storage materials for these coins.

During the manufacturing process for soft vinyl flips, an agent is added to increase pliability. The main reason for this is to allow the flips to be reused without breaking or tearing. This softening agent will migrate out of the plastic over time, and becomes the surface film that is called “PVC Residue.” As this film continues to degrade, it eventually turns into a mild acid, and begins to attack the surface of the coin. Until the film is removed from the coin, it is usually not possible to tell if the coin has been damaged. Additionally, this chemical reaction can continue even if the coin is sealed in an inert plastic holder. This is why ANACS does not encapsulate coins with active PVC contamination.

Recognizing PVC residue is not always easy. When the residue begins to form, it often appears as light milky spots on the coin. PVC residue also appears as streaks or a light haze, and ranges from nearly white to dark green or gray. If the coin has enough ontamination, and your sense of smell is good, you will detect an odor that imitates the smell of a new plastic shower curtain.

For most coins, removal of PVC residue is a simple process. Gold, platinum and silver coins are easier to decontaminate than copper and copper-nickel coins, and business strikes are easier than Proof coins, but as with any coin, proper caution must be utilized. Pure acetone is the best solvent for PVC residue removal, and like many solvents, acetone must be handled properly in a controlled environment.

When using acetone, proper ventilation is a necessity, and extended exposure is not recommended. Wearing chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection is a good precaution against accidental acetone contact with your skin or eyes. You also need to avoid any type of open flame or spark, as acetone is highly flammable. If you are uncomfortable with these types of procedures, it is recommended that you make use of a PVC removal service to decontaminate your coins.

Pour a small amount of pure acetone (the kind you can purchase in the paint section of a hardware or home improvement store) into a small glass or metal container. Acetone can eat through plastic, so using a plastic container is not recommended. With light PVC residue, gently swishing the coin back and forth in the acetone while holding the coin with a gloved hand will often remove the residue. Let the coin air dry afterwards on a soft cloth to avoid damaging the coin’s surfaces, and then inspect carefully.

With heavier residue, or contamination that has been on the coin for more than a month or two, more effort will be required. In these instances, the use of Q-tips can handle the residue. Begin by soaking the head of a Q-tip in the acetone, then carefully roll the head of the Q-tip across the surface of the coin. Make sure that the head of the Q-tip stays wet, as a dry Q-tip could scratch the coin. Continue to work the surfaces of the coin for about 15 seconds or so, then inspect the head of the Q-tip. If the process is working, you should see a green, gray or brown discoloration on the cotton tip.

Throw the first Q-tip away, and repeat the process with a second Q-tip. Continue until the head of the Q-tip remains white after working the surface of the coin. Once this happens, turn the coin over and perform the same operation on the other side. After all visible PVC residue has been removed, and the Q-tip stays clean, place the coin on a clean, soft cloth and let it air dry. You can also give the coin a few light swishes through the acetone, to remove any remaining traces.

As with any restoration process, proper care must be used at all times to prevent damage to the coin’s surfaces. Experiment with low-value coins first to familiarize yourself with the process. Done correctly, using pure acetone to remove PVC residue will not harm the surfaces of a coin, but if performed improperly, you could end up with a hairlined or otherwise damaged example.

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ANACS originally meant "American Numismatic Association Certification Services," and was created by the ANA in 1972 to root out and expose counterfeit and altered coins that were plaguing the hobby at that time. In 1990, the ANA sold ANACS, and has not controlled the company in any way since. While ANACS does not have an official relationship with the ANA, we are still proud supporters of that organization.

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All of the components for the new ANACS holder and the classic ANACS holder are manufactured for us. For security and proprietary reasons we do not release the names of these companies. One thing we definitely can tell you is that all components of the holder—the plastic, the label, the ink and the adhesives—have all been rigorously tested and are completely safe for your coins.

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A population report (or pop report as it is commonly called) is a full listing of all the coins a grading service has graded. The ANACS pop report is arranged by coin denomination, date, mintmark and grade.

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