Slab Your Sports Coins with CGC!

Posted on 25/11/2024

CGC has developed a new, crystal-clear holder tailored specifically to the unique sizes of sports coins in addition to TCG and non-sports coins.

Sports coin collectors, rejoice! CGC® is excited to announce that sports coins are now eligible for authentication, grading and encapsulation in the new, state-of-the-art holder that is specifically tailored to the unique sizes of TCG, sports and non-sports coins. The crystal-clear holder is designed to secure and protect sports coins while also seamlessly stacking with the standard CGC Cards holder, which is considered by many to be the industry's best due to its sleek look, clarity and attractive labels.

Click images to enlarge.

CGC is one of the few third-party grading services that has developed a special holder specifically for sports coins, securely fitting both vintage and modern sports coins that are around 1.5 inches in diameter. With the introduction of the new holder, all sports coins should be submitted to CGC Cards rather than Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®), CGC's affiliated coin grading service (with the exception of legal tender that feature sports-based themes struck by world mints, which should continue to be submitted to NGC).

What are sports coins?

As the 1950s came to an end and the 1960s began, a new collectible for baseball fans started to rival sports cards: sports coins. Card makers and advertisers created various forms of metal baseball coins that featured some of the top MLB stars of the era. Some companies, like Citgo, issued sports coins to customers as a promotion with the purchase of gasoline or by mail-in offer. However, the most popular sports coins were inserted into baseball card packs in Topps sets.

While there have been many sports coins created through the years, the 1964 and 1971 Topps baseball coins are arguably the most coveted and well known of the bunch. Inserted into Topps baseball card packs, the metal coins feature full color images of MLB players with their name on the front. Similar to baseball cards, the backs contained a coin number and a short bio.

Each Topps baseball coin is a 1.5-inch metal disc that has a rolled front edge. They have an appeal similar to baseball cards but are much more durable due to tougher materials. The coins became so popular that by the 1980s, only trading cards trumped sports coins when it came to collectability in the hobby.

After years of the coins taking a backseat to serial-numbered parallels, jersey patches, autographs and other inserts, sports coins have once again gained traction with sports collectors. Whether tracking down vintage coins of Hall of Fame players of the past or ripping packs to chase modern coins of today's All-Stars, collectors can now turn to CGC Cards to accommodate their prized sports coins with new state-of-the-art holders. Don't wait; submit your sports coins today!

How to submit sports coins for CGC certification

Collectors can now submit their sports coins for CGC certification using the CGC Cards online submission form. The pricing is only $20 per coin in the US; £17 (excluding VAT) in London; € 20 (excluding VAT) in Munich; and $22 (USD) in Hong Kong. All you need is a free CGC account to submit, but paid members receive discounts on certification services. Associate and Premium members save 10%, and Elite members save 20%. Memberships start at just $25 per year. Ready to join CGC or upgrade your account? Select your membership level here.

Please note: Cardboard sports coins are encapsulated in the standard CGC Cards holder with a protective sleeve.

Need more info?

For more information on how to submit to CGC Cards, go here. If you have questions about CGC Cards' services, please contact Customer Service:

  • For CGC Cards headquarters in Sarasota, Florida, please contact CGC Cards Customer Service at [email protected] or call or text 1-855-GRADE10.
  • For the London office, please contact CGC Cards Customer Service at [email protected] or call (+44) (0) 20 3968 3848.
  • For the Munich office, please contact CGC Cards Customer Service at [email protected] or call +49 (0) 89 550 66 780.
  • For the Hong Kong office, please contact CGC Cards Customer Service at [email protected] or call (+852) 2115 3639.

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray and more.


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