Coins
Each in its own 2×2 holder or inert flip. Never staple through the holder. Group inside a rigid cardboard tray; pad with one inch of foam on every side.
Services
Five disciplines.
One uncompromising standard.
Each discipline is led by a senior specialist with decades of trade experience. Items are graded by two independents and reconciled by a third — a system we have used unchanged since 2014. The grade, the certificate and the holder are unified under one house standard.
Department Head
Augustus Veil, FRNS
Director of Numismatics · 28 years at Spink and Heritage
Plate 01 · Numismatics
Coins
From Greek staters to British proofs and modern commemoratives. Our numismatists hold collective experience of over 120 years across ancient, world and modern issues, including hammered gold, Renaissance medallions and decimal-era patterns.
Specialisms
- ·Ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine gold and silver
- ·British hammered, milled and proof coinage
- ·United States type and key-date issues
- ·Continental and world gold (1600 onwards)
- ·Modern commemoratives, proofs and patterns
- ·Errors, varieties and die marriages
Methods
- ◇70-point Sheldon grading scale, with strike, lustre and eye-appeal notes
- ◇Comparative die analysis on key dates and varieties
- ◇XRF spectroscopy for metallurgical composition
- ◇Cleaning, tooling and altered-surface detection
- ◇Archival, UV-stable encapsulation with embedded NFC
Coins — Collector FAQ
What grade can a circulated coin reach?
Honest circulated material is graded VF-20 through EF-45 on the Sheldon scale — our Circulated band. A coin with traces of original lustre and only the faintest high-point wear may reach AU-58 (Choice Circulated).
How do you detect cleaning or tooling?
Raking-light microscopy at 30× and 60×, comparative die imaging, and where applicable XRF surface analysis. Hairlines from a polishing cloth, recut field lines and pressure-tooled high points are flagged in the certificate notes.
Can a PCGS or NGC coin be reholdered with Xene?
Yes. The coin is removed from its existing holder in our presence, graded fresh by two independents, and rehoused in a Xene holder. Original slab is returned intact.
Do you grade ancient coins on the Sheldon scale?
We grade ancients on Sheldon for surface and detail, but issue a parallel descriptive grade (Mint State, Choice Extremely Fine, etc.) familiar to the ancients trade. Strike, centring and patina are noted separately.
Is the certificate transferable on sale?
Yes. The certificate is bearer-style; the registry entry is updated by online addendum at the point of sale.
Department Head
Sophie Aldhurst
Senior Notaphilist · formerly British Museum Department of Coins and Medals
Plate 02 · Notaphily
Bank Notes
Historic paper currency, specimen, proof and error notes from every continent. We are recognised by major auction houses for our work on early Bank of England issues, Imperial Russian notes, and the entire run of British Empire colonial issues.
Specialisms
- ·Bank of England (white notes through to polymer)
- ·Imperial Russia, Soviet, Russian Federation
- ·British Empire and Commonwealth colonial issues
- ·United States large size, small size and Fractional
- ·Specimen, proof and error notes worldwide
- ·Emergency, military and prisoner-of-war issues
Methods
- ◇PMG-compatible 70-point grading
- ◇Substrate, watermark and security thread verification
- ◇Pressing, washing and restoration detection
- ◇Climate-stable sleeve with archival board
- ◇Detailed pedigree and provenance ledger
Bank Notes — Collector FAQ
Will original folds disqualify a Gem grade?
A single, gentle counting fold may still permit a Choice Uncirculated grade (PMG 63–64); two or more folds, or any fold breaking the substrate, cap the grade at About Uncirculated.
How is pressing detected?
Watermark imaging under transmitted light reveals flattened embossing; corner geometry and rag-fibre orientation are also examined. Pressed notes are graded honestly and labelled 'Pressed' on the certificate.
Do you grade replacement and specimen notes?
Yes — replacement (star) notes, specimen overprints and printer's proofs are graded and recorded distinctly in the Population Report.
Can a PMG-graded note be cross-certified?
Yes, under the standard cross-certification protocol. The note is removed, regraded fresh and resleeved in a Xene archival mount.
My note has a small ink mark from a previous owner. Does that affect the grade?
Yes — collector marks are treated as post-issue alterations and noted on the certificate. They typically cap the grade at Very Fine regardless of underlying condition.
Department Head
Marcus Brent
Director of Cartophily · 18 years at Heritage and Goldin
Plate 03 · Cartophily
Trading Cards
Vintage sport, non-sport and modern TCG. From T206 tobacco-era issues to modern parallels and one-of-one inserts. Sealed product authentication, factory resealing detection and trimming detection are core competencies of the department.
Specialisms
- ·Pre-war tobacco, candy and gum (1880–1941)
- ·Post-war baseball, basketball, football and hockey
- ·Modern parallels, inserts and 1-of-1s
- ·Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh!
- ·Sealed boxes, packs and wax — factory and reseal detection
- ·Autograph and patch authentication, paired with JSA where requested
Methods
- ◇Centring, corners, edges and surface — graded to 0.5 increments
- ◇Print-line and registration analysis under raking light
- ◇Trimming detection via micron-scale edge profiling
- ◇Sealed product authentication (wrappers, factory seals, hologram)
- ◇Tamper-evident slab with security NFC tag
Trading Cards — Collector FAQ
How is trimming detected?
Micron-scale edge profiling against archived factory-cut reference. Trimmed cards show characteristic chatter and a square-cut corner where the original would be slightly rounded. Trimmed cards are not encapsulated; they are returned with a written report.
What is the difference between a 9.5 and a 10?
A Xene 10 is a card with perfect 50/50 centring on both axes, four pristine corners under 30× magnification, sharp uncut edges, and a surface free of any print line, scratch or hold-back. A 9.5 differs by one minor sub-grade only.
Can I cross-grade a PSA, BGS or SGC card?
Yes. The card is broken out, regraded blind by two specialists, and rehoused in a Xene holder. Original holder is returned intact.
Do you grade sealed wax?
Yes — boxes, ETBs, packs and tins. Sealed product is examined for factory seal integrity, hologram, weight tolerance and resealing markers. A separate sealed-product holder is used.
My card has a slight print line. Does that prevent a Gem grade?
A faint, single print line may still permit a Xene 9.5 if all other sub-grades are 10; two or more, or any line crossing the subject, caps the grade at 9.0.
Department Head
Henrietta Maule, FRPSL
Director of Philately · formerly British Postal Museum
Plate 04 · Philately
Stamps
Classics, covers, errors and rarities. Our philatelic team includes a former curator of the British Postal Museum and a Royal Philatelic Society of London member. Particular strength in Great Britain, Empire and pre-1900 world.
Specialisms
- ·Great Britain — line-engraved, surface-printed and KGV
- ·British Empire — Commonwealth and colonial issues
- ·Classic Europe — France, German States, Italy, Russia
- ·Classic United States
- ·Postal history — covers, postmarks and routes
- ·Errors, varieties and pre-stamp postage
Methods
- ◇Centring, gum, perforation and freshness, each graded
- ◇Watermark, paper and cancellation expertisation
- ◇Reperforation, regumming and repair detection
- ◇Archival mount with inert film barrier
- ◇Optional R.P.S.L. cross-certification
Stamps — Collector FAQ
How is regumming detected?
Comparative microscopy against archived original gum, supplemented by short-wave UV examination. Regummed examples are graded honestly and labelled on the certificate; original gum carries a substantial grade premium.
Do you grade used as well as mint?
Yes — used singles are graded on cancellation quality, centring and freshness. A neatly cancelled, well-centred example may grade higher than a poorly centred mint.
Is hinging a disqualifier?
Hinging caps the gum grade at OG-LH (Original Gum, Lightly Hinged) regardless of underlying freshness. Never Hinged remains the premium category.
Can I have a RPSL certificate cross-referenced?
Yes. An existing RPSL opinion is recorded as a 'prior expertisation' note on the Xene certificate. Where the RPSL holder is being replaced, the original certificate is returned to the client.
Do you grade covers and postal history?
Yes — covers are graded on integrity, postmark clarity, route legibility and the condition of the franking. A separate clamshell mount is used for covers above postcard size.
Department Head
Dr Iris Carrow
Director of Bibliography · former Sotheby's Books cataloguer
Plate 05 · Bibliography
Rare Books & Manuscripts
First editions, signed copies, incunabula and modern firsts. We do not encapsulate volumes; instead we issue a sealed dossier and supply a museum-grade clamshell box with a tamper-evident foil-stamped seal.
Specialisms
- ·Incunabula and early printing (pre-1501)
- ·English literature firsts (1600–present)
- ·Continental literature and philosophy firsts
- ·Scientific and exploration firsts
- ·Signed and inscribed copies, association copies
- ·Modern firsts — including fantasy, science fiction and children's
Methods
- ◇Collation against established bibliographies (Wing, ESTC, etc.)
- ◇Signature, inscription and provenance authentication
- ◇Condition graded on the IOBA scale, with conservation notes
- ◇Custom clamshell box, optional condition photography
- ◇Reference library access for clients on request
Rare Books & Manuscripts — Collector FAQ
Do you encapsulate the book itself?
No. Volumes are issued in a museum-grade clamshell with a tamper-evident foil-stamped seal across the closure. The book remains accessible to the collector; opening the clamshell does not void the certificate.
How is a signature authenticated?
Comparative analysis against archived exemplars, ink and paper dating where appropriate, and provenance review. We do not authenticate signatures in isolation from a credible chain of ownership.
What scale do you use for condition?
The IOBA scale (Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor), with sub-notes on binding, hinges, gutters, foxing, foxed edges, dust jacket where applicable, and inscriptions.
Can a dust jacket be graded separately?
Yes — the jacket carries its own IOBA grade, recorded alongside the book grade on the certificate. A Very Good book in a Fine jacket is recorded as VG / F.
What if I want the clamshell replaced?
Replacement clamshells are made to order in our Guildford atelier at £75 per volume; the certificate and registry entry are unchanged.
House Standard
Tooled for one purpose.
Every specialist works from a Xene bench, fitted with our own loupe, calibrated brass weights, anti-static tweezers and a dedicated handheld XRF spectrometer. Tools are inventoried twice daily; calibration is logged and certified quarterly.
Each item passes the same bench, the same lights, the same eyes and the same lens. The result is a grade you can trust to mean the same thing today as in a decade's time.
Service Tiers
Pricing & turnaround
All tiers include the Xene holder, certificate, public registry entry and lifetime guarantee. Volume rebates of 12% apply to submissions of 25 items or more, and 18% above 100 items.
| Tier | Declared value | Turnaround | From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | Up to £1,000 | 60 days | £28 / item | For modern items, bulk submissions and circulated material. |
| Standard | Up to £5,000 | 30 days | £60 / item | Our default tier — suitable for most collector submissions. |
| Express | Up to £25,000 | 10 days | £180 / item | Priority handling and dedicated specialist. |
| Specialist | Up to £100,000 | 5 days | £480 / item | Reserved for high-value single items requiring senior attention. |
| Private Office | Above £100,000 | Bespoke | On request | Estates, museum collections and on-site visits worldwide. |
Add-ons
Optional services
Variety attribution
£15
Identification of die marriages, mintmark varieties and known errors.
XRF metallurgical assay
£40
Non-destructive elemental analysis with full report.
Photographic record
£25
High-resolution archival photography of both faces.
Reholder request
£20
Upgrade or replacement of an existing Xene holder.
Pedigree label
£35
Notable provenance recorded on the certificate and label.
Insured return courier (UK)
£18
Royal Mail Special Delivery with full declared cover.
Insured return courier (intl.)
From £85
FedEx Priority or appointed armoured carrier.
House Rubric
The Xene grade, in plain English.
We use the 70-point Sheldon scale for coins and notes and a 10-point scale for cards and stamps, both familiar to the trade. What follows is the plain-language meaning we attach to each band — applied consistently across departments since 2014.
| Band | Sheldon | 10-point | In words |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pristine | MS-70 | 10.0 | Indistinguishable from the moment of issue. Reserved for items with no flaw under 10× magnification. |
| Superb | MS-67 – 69 | 9.5 – 9.9 | Original surfaces, exceptional eye-appeal. Trivial imperfections only. |
| Choice | MS-64 – 66 | 9.0 – 9.4 | Strong original surfaces with minor, unobtrusive marks. |
| About Mint | MS-60 – 63 | 8.0 – 8.9 | Unworn but with handling marks visible to the unaided eye. |
| Choice Circulated | AU-50 – 58 | 7.0 – 7.9 | Faintest wear on the highest points; original lustre largely intact. |
| Circulated | VF-20 – EF-45 | 5.0 – 6.9 | Honest, attractive wear with clear design detail. |
| Well-worn | Below VF-20 | Below 5.0 | Heavy wear but identifiable. Suitable for type collectors and reference. |
Cards and stamps are also assessed across four sub-grades — centring, corners/perforations, edges and surface — with the lowest sub-grade capping the overall grade by no more than a half-point.
Before You Ship
How to pack a submission.
Most damage we see at intake is packing damage, not transit damage. The guidance below mirrors what our department heads tell first-time submitters by telephone.
Bank notes
In a single archival sleeve, between two pieces of acid-free board cut 5 mm larger than the note on all sides. Do not fold, even at original folds.
Cards
One card per penny sleeve, then a top-loader or semi-rigid card holder. Tape only the outer wrap, never the holder itself.
Stamps
Stockcards or mounted in a small album. Loose covers in glassine; never in PVC pages. Avoid hinges on anything submitted for grading.
Books
Wrap in acid-free tissue, then a snug card carton with foam padding. Use a second outer carton with 2-inch clearance on every side. Mark 'Do Not Bend'.
All categories
Insure for declared value, request signature on delivery, and email us tracking the day you ship. We will confirm receipt within one working day.
International
Worldwide, by appointed courier.
We accept items from any jurisdiction. Inbound shipments to the United Kingdom are received under Temporary Admission (TA) where eligible, so no import duty is levied on items returned to their country of origin after grading.
Our principal courier partners are FedEx Priority, Brink's and Ferrari Group. For items above £250,000 declared value, we coordinate armoured pickup and door-to-door insurance through our Lloyd's broker, with a dedicated case officer assigned for the duration of the engagement.
United Kingdom
Royal Mail Special Delivery or FedEx · next-working-day pickup nationwide.
European Union
FedEx Priority · 2 working days · TA admitted, no duty on return.
United States & Canada
FedEx Priority · 3 working days · ATA carnet on request for institutions.
Switzerland & Channel Islands
Ferrari Group secure transport · weekly consolidated service.
Asia-Pacific
FedEx Priority or Brink's · 4 working days to Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo.
Rest of world
Quoted by the case officer; armoured pickup arranged where required.
Ready to submit
Speak with the department head, before you ship.
Every submission begins with a brief written conversation with the lead specialist for your discipline. We will tell you what tier to choose, how to pack, and how to insure.