Paper Money Guaranty (PMG) is a leading third-party service that authenticates, grades, and encapsulates banknotes. Since its founding in 2005, PMG has certified over 10 million notes, providing collectors with a trusted and consistent evaluation of their paper money. 

The PMG grading process

The submission process for getting a banknote graded involves several key steps: 

1. Become a member. You must be a PMG Collector member to submit notes directly. Membership levels vary in price, with paid options starting at $25 per year.
2. Fill out a form. Complete the online or downloadable submission form, making sure to provide accurate details about your banknote. You must submit US and world notes on separate forms and choose one grading tier per form.
3. Submit your notes. PMG graders, who do not buy or sell notes commercially to ensure impartiality, will evaluate your submission. The process involves:
   • Authentication: Verifying the note's genuineness and checking for counterfeiting.
   • Grading: Multiple graders determine a consensus grade based on the note's condition.
   • Encapsulation: After grading, the note is sealed in a protective holder with a tamper-evident label. 

The 70-point grading scale

PMG uses a 70-point numerical scale based on the Sheldon scale, which assesses a note's physical condition. 

• 70: Gem Uncirculated (perfect, flawless note).
• 60–69: Uncirculated.
• 58–64: About Uncirculated (AU).
• 40–55: Extremely Fine to About Uncirculated.
• 20–35: Fine to Very Fine.
• Below 20: Circulated, damaged, or torn. 

Grading designations

In addition to the numerical grade, PMG uses special designations to provide more context about a note's quality: 

• Exceptional Paper Quality (EPQ): Indicates a completely original note that has not been physically, chemically, or materially processed to appear to have a higher grade. EPQ notes typically have excellent color and embossing. All notes graded 70 must have the EPQ designation.
• Star (★) Designation: Assigned to notes with exceptional eye appeal for their assigned grade, based on strong plate and overprint embossing, vibrant ink, and pristine paper quality.
• NET Grade: Signifies a note with problems too severe to be reflected by the numerical grade, such as tears, repairs, or heavy damage. The specific issues are listed on the label. 

Services and costs

Costs depend on the note's fair market value (FMV) and the desired turnaround time. The following is an example of pricing from a 2025 update: 

• Modern Tier: $23 for notes from 1957 to the present.
• Standard Tier: $60.
• Express Tier: $135.
• Walk Through Tier: $325 for high-value notes. 

Benefits of PMG grading

For banknote collectors, PMG certification offers several advantages: 

• Authentication and protection: PMG verifies a note's authenticity and then encapsulates it in a secure, archival-quality holder for long-term preservation.
• Increased value: The official, third-party grade adds legitimacy and helps determine the market value of a note. Certified notes are often easier to sell.
• Guarantee: The PMG guarantee provides recourse and remuneration if a certified note is later determined to be not genuine or over graded. 

*All info is from their website this is for quick reference