How to spot fake PCGS slabs

Professional Coin Grading Service. Text-only guide, no grader logos. Every tell links to its public source.

Community and public-source information only. This is not an authentication. Slab Watch is independent and not affiliated with PCGS, NGC, PSA, Beckett (BGS), SGC, CGC or any grading service. Always verify on the grader's official site and contact the grader directly.

Step 1: official cert lookup

https://www.pcgs.com/cert

Type this address yourself. A matching cert is step one, not proof.

Reported tells

Copied certs

PCGS says counterfeiters may use real cert numbers; a database match is not proof.

Source

NFC holders

Holders with NFC (since Oct 2020) carry an NFC shield symbol; tap with the official PCGS Cert Verification app.

Source

Holder plastic

Contains an inert additive detectable by a reader given to select PCGS Authorized Dealers.

Source

Fake verify sites / QR

QR codes on fakes led to imitation sites or added "cn" to the cert. Only pcgs.com is real.

Source

Label & hologram

Reported tells: off-center text, wrong font, weak hologram, barcode that won't scan.

Source

Coin vs. cert image

Repeated CoinWeek cases: coin did not match the genuine cert image; counterfeit Morgan reverses reused across dates.

Source

Alerts for PCGS

Suspected fake PCGS verification websites and QR codes (Reported (third-party publication))
Counterfeit 1881-CC Morgans reported in fake PCGS-style holders (Reported (third-party publication); cert later shut down by PCGS per source)
Counterfeit 1883-CC Morgans reported in fake PCGS-style holders (Reported (third-party publication))
Counterfeit 1893-CC Morgans: QR code adds "cn" to a real cert number (Reported (third-party publication))
Counterfeit 1921-D Morgan in a fake PCGS-style MS64 holder (Reported (third-party publication; author bought the item))

Run the coin checklist Report a suspected fake PCGS slab