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What timeline have you seen for the "Encapsulation" stage of the submission process?

ModCrewmanModCrewman Posts: 4,044 ✭✭✭✭✭

I know...someone will say "Just be patient, they will be done when they are done."

While that position is accurate, I know others will have the same question in encountering the improved submission tracking on the PCGS website for the first time so figured there is no harm in asking what others have seen.

I have a submission that went to "Encapsulation" status last week Tuesday or Wednesday, the window indicating that "Images Ready" showed up on Thursday, but here we are on Tuesday with no change in the "Encapsulation" status. Is it normal to spend a week in the Encapsulation stage?

For those who may not know, the new stages that show in the tracking process are:

  1. Arrived: Confirmation of arrival at PCGS headquarters
  2. Received: Order processing and specification
  3. Grading
  4. Encapsulation: Grade finalization and encapsulation
  5. Quality Check: Holder check and label verification
  6. Order Shipped: Outbound order packaging and shipping
  7. Delivered: Delivery confirmed

Comments

  • ConnecticoinConnecticoin Posts: 13,162 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Soooo, I have a Modern Value sub, a Regular sub, and two Economy subs that were received 10/15.

    The modern sub went into “Encapsulation” within a week. The Regular sub and one Economy sub went to Encapsulation 10 days later and the remaining economy one 7 days after that. Since then, the Regular and Economy subs have been completed and shipped, but the Modern one is still in Encapsulation.

    Any insight as to why a particular order can get hung up in Encapsulation, while others at the same time seem to breeze through it?

  • MEJ7070MEJ7070 Posts: 315 ✭✭✭✭✭

    My experiences:

    If your sub has anything that PCGS doesn’t commonly grade, or anything with variety attribution requested, the encapsulation and Quality Check stages are likely to be a bit longer.

    I just got a rarer Lincoln medal back that was in Quality Check for 5+ weeks.

    Even if your coins are relatively common and you aren’t requesting PCGS to do anything special it’s not uncommon to experience what you are. They’re currently still logging Baltimore show submissions into the system.

    I wouldn’t fret over it fwiw.

  • dipset512dipset512 Posts: 143 ✭✭✭

    From what I've experienced, TrueViews can add additional time. I've also heard this is where the finalizer checks the grades and depending upon if there is agreement/disagreement, that could add additional time.

  • BarberianBarberian Posts: 4,313 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 18, 2025 4:56AM

    From my experience, I don't take the accuracy of any of their processing stages seriously. I regard it as a rough estimate and have had submissions spend at least a week or two in each of these stages. I had one submission go from the encapsulation stage to delivered in a matter of minutes. It's as if they forgot to update the progress or that it had been shipped until it was delivered. Very Gomer Pyle-like, "Surprise Surprise!"

    3 rim nicks away from Good
  • Coins3675Coins3675 Posts: 921 ✭✭✭✭

    It can vary depending on how backed up they are.

  • LuxorLuxor Posts: 558 ✭✭✭✭✭

    <<< What timeline have you seen for the "Encapsulation" stage of the submission process? >>>

    In my most recent regular service submission that was shipped just last week, they were in the encapsulation stage for about 7 days or so, and the grades were posted online in the quality check stage.

    -

    Your hobby is supposed to be your therapy, not the reason you need it.

  • lermishlermish Posts: 4,035 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 18, 2025 3:44PM

    I dropped off a US Express with variety order at Whitman on 11/7.

    11/10 Received into system
    11/12 Grading
    11/14 Encapsulation
    11/18 QA

    Flying through this time. I found the new PCGS #s created for my varieties and they look accurate. Now just crossing fingers for halfway decent TVs.

    chopmarkedtradedollars.com

  • ConnecticoinConnecticoin Posts: 13,162 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 18, 2025 4:38PM

    @dipset512 said:
    From what I've experienced, TrueViews can add additional time. I've also heard this is where the finalizer checks the grades and depending upon if there is agreement/disagreement, that could add additional time.

    Heh, yeah, I am hoping the delay is the finalizer deciding if some of my coins merit “top pop” grades 😁

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