NGC Star Designation Guide

Franklin Half Dollar With NGC Star

The NGC star designation confuses a lot of coin collectors, novices and pros alike.  On Sunday, I went to a local coin show where I bought my first slabbed coin with the NGC star designation.  It is a beautiful PR-67* 1962 Franklin Half Dollar.  But, to tell you the truth, I didn’t know what the NGC star designation meant on the coin holder.  All that I knew is that it was the nicest looking proof Franklin Half Dollar I saw that day.

As soon as I got home from the show, I started researching what the NGC star designation means.  Hopefully this guide will help other beginning coin collectors.

What is the NGC Star Designation?

In its simplest terms the NGC star designation designates a coin with superior eye appeal as compared to other coins of the same grade.  But the NGC grading service has more criteria that are pretty fascinating.

For Mint State coins, NGC has one set of criteria for toned coins and a different criteria for untoned coins. Proof coins have a different set of criteria.

For an untoned coin to receive the star designation it must have the following characteristics:

• full vibrant luster
• no planchet irregularities
• no spots or blemishes

Toned coins must display the following:

• it must be attractively toned
• the toning can be a single color or multi-colored, but it may not have areas that are dark brown to black
• full luster that is not obscured by the toning
• no planchet irregularities
• no spots or blemishes

Proof coins must display all of the criteria for toned coins plus one of these additional characteristics:

• cameo or ultra cameo on the obverse
• cameo contrast on both sides of coins just short of NGC’s minimum standard for cameo designation
• qualify for the cameo designation on the reverse but have an ultra cameo obverse
• qualify for the ultra cameo designation and have exceptionally intense between devices and fields on both sides – this must exceeds the typical standards for ultra cameo designation

For any coin to receive the star designation, the NGC graders must unanimously agree that the coin deserves the NGC star designation.  This unanimous agreement helps to make sure that only coins that truly have exceptional eye appeal receive the star.

What the NGC Star Designation Does Not Mean

It is important for coin collectors to realize that the NGC star designation does not mean that the coin is on the high end of its particular grade.  Many people selling coins will say that the star means that the coin is of Premium Quality.  That is not true, except to state that the coin has exception eye appeal.

Many think that the NGC star designation is just a marketing gimmick.  But, I think that it is cool.  I love my Franklin Half Dollar with the NGC star designation.  I think that I want to collect a complete set of Proof Franklin Half Dollars with the star designation.

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