The Advanced Release designation signifies that a particular coin was among a small group of coins, the absolute first to be released from the United States Mint before the coins were offered to collectors and the general public online.
The Advance Release designation was introduced in 2021 and is closely associated with David J. Ryder who served as both 34th and 39th Director of the United States Mint. The Advance Release designation is only available on a select number of coin series. Advance Release coins are certified and graded even ahead of the First Day of Issue and First Day of Release, and have tiny certified populations.
The Advance Release designation adds a level of exclusivity and collectability to a coin, especially when paired with an NGC or PCGS Signature Series coin label.
Requirement for NGC “Advance Releases” certification
NGC offers the Advance Releases designation for select coins that are purchased by designated mint customers prior to the publicly posted first day that a mint makes a new coin issue available for sale. For example, if the mint’s public calendar identifies the first day of sales as January 10, coins qualifying for Advance Releases must be purchased by designated mint customers prior to that date, typically through a bulk advance purchasing arrangement with the mint.
To qualify for Advance Releases, coins must be purchased by designated mint customers prior to the publicly posted first day that a mint makes a new coin issue available for sale and must be received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository within one week of the ship date. NGC will require that the submitter provide adequate evidence (including purchase receipts) to demonstrate the date when the coins were purchased and shipped.
The Advance Releases designation is made available only to select submitters of bulk quantities of qualifying coins. An advance request is required and there is generally a higher grading fee for the specific designation verification and attribution.
United States Mint Authorized Bulk Purchase program - ABBP
The U.S. Mint Authorized Bulk Purchase Program, allows qualifying dealers to purchase select numismatic products before sales open to the general public. Eighteen qualifying dealers are permitted to purchase a specified percentage of the overall production available, several days before sales open to the general public.
The ABPP dealers pay a premium above the retail price listed for each coin and bear the cost of picking up the product early. The ABPP buyers are only allowed to resell the coins on or after the Mint’s official release date and meet certain other conditions, such as household order limitations. The ABBP program is intended to better meet marketplace product availability on the initial on sale date, by expanding the distribution of Mint products. ABBP dealers must a qualifying revenue average and be in full compliance with the Mint’s excessive returns policy. Coins available through this program are distributed equally to ABPP members so no individual dealer has a monopoly of the coins.
Advance Release coins released January 2021 – April 2022
2021 T1 Silver Eagle Proof coin
2021 T2 Silver Eagle Proof Coin
2021 T1 $50, $25, $10, $5 Gold Eagle proof coins
2021 T2 $50, $25, $10, $5 Gold Eagle proof coins
2021 $50 Buffalo proof coin
2021 Morgan, Peace dollars CC, D, O, P & S mintmark (First and only none proof issue)
2022 $100 Platinum Eagle proof coin Freedom of Speech
2022 $50, $25, $10, $5 Gold Eagle proof coins
Top NGC/PCGS Advance Release Signature coins
Signature coins are certified coins whose labels have been hand-signed by someone with an interesting personal connection to a particular coin or series. Signature coins allow collectors to customize their sets, and add a level of exclusivity and collectability, especially when paired with a coin that also has the Advance Release designation.
In addition to buying the coin grading service’s reputation and 1 to 70-point numeric grade, the coin buyer purchases the designation and provenance identified on the holder serving a function beyond recording the coin’s authenticity and condition.
Top Five Signature Coins with Advance Release Designation
in alphabetical order.
Kenneth Bressett - Editor of the Official Red Book, famous numismatic researcher
Anna Escobedo Cabral - 42nd Treasurer of the United States.
Emily S. Damstra – Master coin designer
John Dannreuther - Co-Founder of PCGS and numismatic expert
Edmund C. Moy – 38th Director of the United States Mint
David J. Ryder – 39th Director of the United States Mint
