NGC Slab Generations
GENERATION LISTS AND HISTORY
9/19/20268 min read
This post is simply showing the generations of NGC holders of the standard type from the beginning to today. Purposely left out are the multi-coin holders, labels applied to government packaging, and custom or special labels. For more details on generational varieties please see "Note" below.
***UPDATE 9/9/26 recently NGC began posting grading date of coins when using their cert look-up. This has caused a revision of some of the generations production dates. Some dates have been changed and others will be changed and/or made more precise in the future ***
(*Note: To save and download a more detailed version of this list, just click the album button at the bottom of this post. It is a google slide presentation and can be downloaded as a pdf.)
Generation 1.0 - Very rare. Produced Sept. 1987 - Nov 1987. This 1st generation holder features a black insert. The white label was placed on rear and the logo on the front of holder. Current census figures put the number of survivors known at 49. This number will probably go up a bit as more are discovered over time.
Generation 2.0 - Scarce.
Produced about a month Nov/Dec 1987. This time frame includes Gen 2.1 which likely preceded this slab. This holder was created as the black holder didn’t show copper and dark toned coins well. Label was moved to the front. The rear features an embossed gold logo on outside of holder. 309 examples in current census.
Generation 2.1 - Scarce.
Produced for about a week in Nov 1987. The embossed rear logo is on insert instead of outside of holder. It is now generally accepted that this holder was used before Gen 2.0 but since it is commonly known as Gen 2.1 I see no reason to mess with tradition. Current census but the number of survivors at 288.
Generation 3.0 - Uncommon.
Produced Dec 1987 - Dec 1988. This holder features a new front label with a border. Originally brown, but some have turned green over the years. The rear gold embossed logo is unchanged. New research in 2026 has shown that this holder was only produced for about one year not the nearly two years as was previously believed. It is not seen often and commands a premium price. More details in album linked below.
Generation 4.0 - Common.
Produced Dec 1988-1992. This holder has the same front label as Gen 3 but the rear got a hologram for updated security. Holder is found with brown or green border labels also. While still fairly common it is seen less and less as time goes by.
Generation 5.0 - Common.
Produced about 1992 - 1995. This holder features a redesigned front label with an added barcode. It retains the same hologram as before. It is the last of the no-Line "fatty" holders.
Generation 6.0 - Uncommon.
Produced 1995-1996. This holder shares the front label and rear hologram with Gen 5 but the holder is thinner and has the split or keyed insert. Note: Gen 6 end date has been revised to late 1996 from 1997.
Generation 7.0 - Common.
Produced Oct 1996 - July 2000. This holder shares the same basic front label with the Gen 6 but hosts a new smaller rectangular rear hologram which gets slightly larger before gen 8 is introduced. Due to the return to this design after gen 8, only an NGC cert look-up will determine if your holder is gen 7 or 8.1 now that NGC provides grading date of coins. Note Also: Gen 7 start date has been revised to Oct 1996 from 1997
Generation 8.0 - Uncommon.
Produced July 2000 - Sept 2000. Holder used for about 4 weeks. It features a revised front label with serial number moved below barcode. Rear has slightly larger hologram than most Gen 7's. It proved unpopular and was quickly discontinued. Note: NGC cert look-up now provides a grading start date of this holder to late July not August.
Generation 8.1 - Semi-Common.
Produced Sept 2000 - July 2001. This holder features a return to the Gen 7 design retaining the slightly larger hologram from Gen 8. However, unlike previously believed, there is no way to determine generation by visual inspection. The only way to know is by doing a NGC cert look-up, now that NGC's posts grading date.
Generation 9.0 - Common.
Produced July 2001 - July 2003. This holder features a restyled front label with the company name added to the bottom section of the border but retains the the rear label from the Gen 8 holder.
Generation 13.5 - Uncommon.
Produced in only in 2008/9 This holder has the solid insert of Gen 13 but the front and rear labels from Gen 14. I read that this was made alongside Gen 14 upon request but I do not know for sure, It may have been a transition holder. In any case I am calling it Gen 13.5 as it doesn't appear to be a stand alone holder.
Generation 10 - Uncommon.
Produced July 2003 - Aug 2003. This holder features a new front label with NGC's website and logo replacing the company name along bottom of border, the grade now in bold, and a different background design. It also features a new rear hologram with ANA's lamp logo.
Generation 11- Uncommon.
Produced Aug 2003 - Nov 2003. This holder features a revised front label with NGC's website and logo replaced by the company name along bottom of border. It shares the rear hologram with the ANA's lamp logo with Gen 10.
Generation 12 - Semi-Common.
Produced Nov 2003 - Nov 2004. This holder features the same front label of the gen 11 holder but has a redesigned rear hologram using the ANA's new crescent logo.
Generation 13 - Common.
Produced Sept 2004 - July 2008. AKA Gen 17 when listed among all NGC labels and holders in the old gen list. This holder has a new large rear hologram. Note: Start date revised to Sept from Nov 2004 & end date to July from Feb 2008
Generation 14.1 - Uncommon.
Produced in 2012 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the original Gen 1 black holder. These were available alongside the standard holders on certain denominations of US coins. I thought they should be recognized so I am calling them Gen 14.1. I've left out black holders of later generations as they were used mostly for bullion and modern coins.
Generation 14 - Common.
Produced Sept 2008 - 2014. This holder features the EdgeView insert, it shares the front and rear labels with what I am calling Gen 13.5.
Generation 18 - Common.
Produced Aug 2023-present. This holder shares the front label with Gen 17.1 but features a newly designed rear hologram with QR code. As stated by NGC, this new holder will overlap with gen 17 (actually gen 17.1) for a period of time. (Possibly a couple of months)
Generation 16 - Common.
Produced 2015-2017. This holder features a redesigned front label and retains the Gen 15 rear hologram.
Generation 17 - Common.
Produced 2017- Late 2021. This holder shares the front label with Gen 16 but features a newly designed rear hologram.
Generation 15 - Common.
Produced 2014-2015. This holder shares the front label with Gen 14 but features a redesigned rear hologram.
Generation 17.1 - Common.
Produced Late 2021 - Oct 2023. This holder features the name change to Numismatic Guaranty Company from Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. It appears that no other significant changes were made so I am calling this Gen 17.1. I have seen two font types of logo on front lower right corner of label. See below for more details in my "NGC Slab History" linked below.
