Based in Toronto, Ontario, ICCS has been grading and authenticating coins and tokens since 1986. Over the years, the company has certified more than one million coins, with a particular specialization in Canadian numismatics.
What Does ICCS Do?
ICCS provides independent third-party certification services including coin grading, authentication, variety attribution, grade qualification, and other numismatic determinations.
While the company grades Canadian, British, U.S., and other world coins, it is particularly well known for its expertise in Canadian coins and Canadian silver dollars.
Unlike many international grading companies that encapsulate coins in rigid plastic holders, ICCS uses its recognizable soft-flip certification system. The coin is sealed inside an inert PET envelope, while its grading certificate is protected separately within the flip.
Understanding ICCS Grades
Like other major grading services, ICCS uses the internationally recognized 70-point Sheldon grading scale.
Collectors will commonly encounter grades such as:
VF20 – Very Fine
EF40 – Extremely Fine
AU50 / AU55 – About Uncirculated
MS60 to MS70 – Mint State
PL – Prooflike
The assigned grade can have a major impact on the market value of a collectible coin. This is especially important for rare dates, varieties, and high-grade Canadian coins where even a small difference in grade can represent a significant difference in value.
Why ICCS Certification Matters
Professional certification gives collectors additional confidence when buying or selling a coin. ICCS can help confirm that a coin is authentic, establish an independent opinion of its condition, and identify important varieties.
ICCS also states that it does not buy or sell coins, allowing the company to remain focused on grading and authentication rather than dealing in the coins it evaluates.
For collectors building a serious Canadian collection, an ICCS-certified coin offers something extremely valuable: an independent professional assessment of the coin’s authenticity, variety, and grade.
After more than four decades in Canadian numismatics, ICCS remains an important part of the Canadian coin-collecting market and a name collectors regularly encounter when searching for premium certified Canadian coins.