You may have heard the term “Top Pop” when it came to coins. But what exactly does it mean?
Here is the solution:
- Top: This refers to the coin having received the highest numerical grade assigned by a particular certification company (such as PCGS or NGC).
- Population (Pop): This is short for “population” and indicates the total number of coins of this particular type and condition that have been certified by the company.
So a “Top Pop” coin is essentially the champion – the highest graded example of its kind within that particular certification company’s database.
Here are some additional details to keep in mind:
- “Top Pop” usually refers to only a single certification company. A coin may be “Top Pop” for PCGS, but not necessarily for NGC.
- Sometimes sellers use “Top Pop” with an addendum like “tied for highest grade.” This means that there could potentially be other coins of the same type with the same top rating.
- The meaning of a “Top Pop” designation can vary depending on the rarity and general demand of the coin.
Overall, “Top Pop” is a way for collectors and dealers to highlight the exceptionally good condition of a coin within a particular certification service.
Where can you find out more about it? Let’s take the coin in the picture, which was certified by PCGS, as an example.
Many certification companies, including PCGS, offer online tools to learn more about coin grading and verify the authenticity of their certificates.
Here’s how to find out if a coin graded by PCGS is a “Top Pop”:
- Search for “Quickly Verify Authenticity and Quality”: This search term can be found on the PCGS website ( https://www.pcgs.com/cert ).
- Enter the “PCGS Certificate Number”: Find the unique certification number on the PCGS mount (usually a 7 or 8 digit number). Enter this number in the field provided on the verification page.
- Click on “Verify”: Once you have entered the number, click on the “Verify” button. The PCGS website will then display information about the specific coin, including its grade, designation (such as “Top Pop,” if applicable), and certification details.
This verification tool allows you to confirm the authenticity of the PCGS grade and see if the coin holds the coveted “Top Pop” status within the PCGS database.
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