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NGC offers the "Early Releases®" and "First Releases®" designations for selected coins received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository during the first 30 days of release. The term "EARLY RELEASES" or "FIRST RELEASES" will be noted as part of the coin's description on the NGC certification label. For a list of eligible coins and cutoff dates, click here.

Early Releases and First Releases coins are listed separately in the NGC Census. They are also eligible for inclusion in the popular NGC Registry. In certain markets, NGC will offer bilingual Early Releases and First Releases labels. The same definitions, cutoff dates and NGC Registry treatment applies.

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Coins may be submitted by selecting an appropriate NGC grading tier and the Special Label/Releases service option. Specify Early Releases or First Releases under Special Label/Releases. Eligible submitters may also submit coins for Early Releases or First Releases through NGC's bulk submission services.

For US coin cutoff dates, click here. For world coin cutoff dates, click here.

NGC calculates the cutoff date for Early Releases and First Releases based on the "release date." A release date is the day that a new coin issue is first released from a mint. In some cases, the mint posts an official release date; in others, the release date is the first day that a mint actually makes a new coin issue available. The release date is not always the same as the sale date since many mints offer coins for sale before they are released.

Some mints have different release dates for their domestic market and for the international market. In China, for example, coins are generally released domestically several weeks or more before they are released internationally. In these cases, NGC will generally post two cutoff dates on its website - one for submissions received in or from the coin's country of origin, and one for submissions received in or from all other countries.

For US coin cutoff dates, click here. For world coin cutoff dates, click here.

No, coins do not need to be accompanied by original packaging or be shipped in sealed mint boxes, but must arrive before the cutoff dates posted on the NGC website. However, for coins being designated Early Releases or First Releases based on being part of a particular set released by a mint, a different requirement may apply. (See further questions below.)

Early Releases and First Releases are listed separately in the NGC Census and appear when the variety icon beneath a non-designated issue is clicked.

Yes, Early Releases and First Releases coins are eligible for inclusion in the popular NGC Registry. Early Releases and First Releases coins receive the same point score as non-designated issues.

Only certain coins and/or sets will be designated Early Releases or First Releases by NGC. View a list of eligible US coins and cutoff dates and a list of eligible world coins and cutoff dates.

For a detailed explanation of NGC's policy for coins released in various sets at different times, see the question "How does NGC assign the Early Releases and First Releases designations if the same coin is released in various sets at different times throughout the year?" below.

Certain Official Mint Medals are eligible for the Early Releases and First Releases designations. Privately issued medals are generally eligible for these designations only if the issuing mint has publicly identified a specific release date. For more details, see the question "Are medals eligible for the Early Releases and First Releases designations?" below.

Note: Regular submissions of the following coins to NGC in the United States are not eligible for the First Releases designation: Mint State American Silver Eagles, Mint State American Gold Eagles, Mint State Chinese Silver Pandas and Mint State Chinese Gold Pandas. The First Releases designation may be made available for these coins to select bulk submitters only.

The US Mint and other world mints often release coins individually and in various sets at different times throughout the year. For example, a coin may be released individually and later released as part of a multiple coin set.

NGC will start the Early Releases/First Releases period when a coin is first released, whether released individually or in a set, and NGC will give such coin a standard description on the NGC certification label. Subsequent releases of that coin in different sets or packaging may, at NGC's sole discretion, receive the Early Releases or First Releases designations with set description, provided NGC can sufficiently determine that the coin was received by NGC within 30 days of that particular set's release. This determination will generally require that coins be received in the sealed and postmarked shipping box from the mint. These subsequent releases will be listed separately in the NGC Census. Due to the additional verification required, NGC will generally assign the Early Releases or First Releases designations on subsequent releases only if these coins are submitted through NGC's bulk submission program.

NGC maintains a list of Early Releases and First Releases cutoff dates for US coins and world coins on its website. If a coin is released in multiple sets or packaging, NGC will post cutoff dates for the specific set, if eligible for the Early Releases and First Releases designations. A notation will be made on the list of cutoff dates to indicate which sets are accepted only through NGC's bulk submission program.

Certain Official Mint Medals, defined as those issued by a mint authorized to strike coins and medals on behalf of a government, are eligible for the Early Releases and First Releases designations. Eligible Official Mint Medals and cutoff dates will be listed with US coins or world coins, as applicable.

Privately issued medals are generally eligible for these designations only if the issuing mint has publicly identified a specific release date. If eligible, these privately issued medals will be listed with eligible US coins and cutoff dates or eligible world coins and cutoff dates, as applicable.