Coins on Courtyard

What am I purchasing when I buy a coin pack? You are purchasing one authenticated, third-party graded coin from an inventory pool curated specifically for the pack tier you select. Each coin has a pre-determined fair market value (FMV). Depending on the disclosed probability tiers, the coin you receive may have a market value above or below the pack price, with exact odds shown before purchase.
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Is the coin real or digital? Both. Every coin in a pack is a real physical coin, stored, insured, and authenticated in the Courtyard vault. The version you see on Courtyard is proof of ownership tied 1:1 to that physical coin. You can trade the ownership instantly online, or ship the actual coin to your door whenever you want.
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Is this a "mystery box"? No. This is a probability-based model with fully disclosed value tiers and odds. You are guaranteed a graded coin in every pack. The specific coin and value tier are determined via a randomized allocation process at the time of purchase.
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How do I open (rip) a pack? Buy a pack, tap to rip, and watch the reveal animation show you what you pulled. The coin lands in your Courtyard collection right away, with no waiting and no shipping needed to see what you got.
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Why structure it this way? Many rare and historically significant coins are difficult to access through traditional channels. Auction cycles take months, dealer relationships are built over decades, and pricing transparency is limited. This format creates equal access to graded numismatic material and publishes transparent odds upfront.
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Do I need to know anything about crypto or NFTs to use this? No. You can sign up with an email, pay with a card, and buy or rip packs without ever touching a crypto wallet. The blockchain piece runs in the background as the ownership ledger, so you do not have to think about it.
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What kinds of coins are in the pool? At launch, classic vintage US coins from roughly the 1790s to the 1940s. This includes Morgan and Peace dollars, Walking Liberty halves, Standing Liberty quarters, Liberty and Indian gold, Saint-Gaudens double eagles, and other US type and key-date material. Packs are majority gold and silver, with a few rare early copper or nickel issues. Expect additional event drops released separately as limited-time offerings.
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Are all the coins graded? Yes. Every coin in the pool is third-party graded and slabbed by PCGS or NGC before it enters inventory. Each slab carries a unique cert number that you can verify directly with the grading service.

Do I need to know anything about coins to participate? No. Every coin in the pool is graded, authenticated, and priced by industry-standard references. You can buy a pack, see what you pulled, and decide whether to keep it, sell it back, list it, or redeem it, all without prior numismatic knowledge.
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I'm completely new to coins. Where should I start? Pick a lower-priced pack from a series you find interesting. Read the pack's odds and possible contents, rip one, and explore the marketplace to see what is trading. Your collection grows from there.
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How is buying a coin pack here different from buying a coin on eBay? Three main differences:

What is a "slab"? A slab is a tamper-evident plastic holder that PCGS or NGC seals a coin into after authenticating and grading it. The slab carries the coin's grade, cert number, and identifying details.
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What is a cert number? Every PCGS or NGC slab has a unique certification number tied to a public record on the grading service's website. You can look up any cert number to verify the coin's grade, year, denomination, and other details.
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Will more coin categories be added? Yes. Future releases will include event drops (Carson City Mint, shipwreck coins, ancient coins) and potentially world coins (Latin American, Asian) and paper currency over time. The vintage US launch is the foundation.

What pack tiers are available at launch?

Are there chase coins in every tier? Yes. Each tier includes a chase band with coins valued well above the pack price. Cabinet chases reach $750 to $2,500, Premium chases reach $3,000 to $8,000, and Trophy chases reach $10,000 to $40,000+ for top pieces. Exact odds are shown on the purchase page.

How is allocation determined? Allocation uses an automated randomized selection system at the time of purchase. The system draws from the locked inventory pool, assigns coins according to pre-disclosed probabilities, prevents manual intervention, and logs each allocation event.
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Are odds independent for each purchase? Yes. Each purchase is an independent allocation event based on the remaining inventory pool.
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Can I see the published odds? Yes. Probability bands are disclosed on the pack page before purchase, broken down by value range.

What does "fair market value" mean? FMV represents an estimate of what the coin would reasonably sell for on the secondary market at the time the inventory pool was assembled.
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How is FMV calculated? For US coins, FMV is based on historical auction comps. Valuations are updated regularly to reflect market conditions, with bullion-content coins repriced more frequently than purely numismatic pieces.
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Is FMV the same as catalog value or "book" price? No. FMV reflects current secondary market value, not retail catalog or book price.
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Do gold and silver prices affect coin values? Most value comes from numismatic premiums rather than melt content, so spot price movement has limited impact. For coins with higher bullion content, FMV is updated more frequently to track precious metal markets.

How do I know the coin is authentic? Every coin entering the vault is verified by professional numismatists at PCGS or NGC, the two major grading companies in the US. The certification number is linked to your digital asset, so you can look it up directly with the grader for a photo certificate and population report using each service's online lookup tool.
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What does "grading" mean and why does it matter? Grading is how coins are evaluated for condition, on a 1 to 70 scale called the Sheldon scale. A higher grade generally means a more valuable coin. Coins in Courtyard packs carry meaningful value, so they are professionally graded and sealed in tamper-evident holders nicknamed "slabs."
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What grades will the coins be in? Grades vary by tier and by coin type. Cabinet packs feature primarily circulated and Mint State type coins. Premium packs feature higher Mint State and About Uncirculated material. Trophy packs feature Mint State classic gold and key dates.
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How do I know how rare my coin is? Look up the coin's certificate number at its grading service (PCGS or NGC). It will display a "Pop" (population) figure, for example, "Pop 10, Pop higher 50." That means at its specific grade point, 10 coins are graded with 50 better, so the coin is tied for 51st best known. Clicking through on the grader's website shows the full population at each grade level. Older coins are tougher to find in high grade, and original mintage matters too. Fewer minted means scarcer from the start.
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Will the slab be opened or altered? No. Coins ship in their original PCGS or NGC slabs, untouched and tamper-evident.

Can I see the coins in the pool? The major categories and example coins in each tier are showcased in the Heavy Hitters section, including Morgan dollars, Peace dollars, classic gold, Walking Liberty halves, and the chase pieces that anchor each tier. The full inventory list is not revealed in advance, but you will have a clear sense of the caliber and types of material available before you purchase.
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Are the coins already secured? Yes. All coins are sourced, graded, and authenticated before the release goes live, and held in the Courtyard vault.
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Where are the coins stored? In a fully insured, climate-controlled vault operated by Courtyard. Coins are tracked individually by certification number and audited regularly.

Can I sell what I pull right away? Yes. As soon as a coin hits your collection, you have three options:

Is there a guaranteed floor price? Each pack tier has a disclosed floor FMV. Cabinet, Premium, and Trophy packs each have a minimum FMV value that no coin in the pool falls below.

How quickly are buybacks processed? Instantly. Once you accept a buyback offer within 7 days of your reveal, your payout is issued to your Courtyard account immediately. From there, you can use the funds for other purchases on Courtyard or withdraw to your bank account or debit card. Withdrawals are a separate process and may take additional time depending on your bank.

Why is the buyback less than FMV? The spread covers operating costs (custody, authentication verification, marketplace infrastructure) and reflects the dealer-bid prices that drive the underlying coin market. It is significantly tighter than the spread you would receive from a traditional coin dealer, an auction house consignment, or selling on eBay after fees. Buybacks are always optional. If you find a better deal elsewhere, either from another user on our marketplace, or any other marketplace, you can always take it.

How do prices on the marketplace get set? By buyers and sellers, like any open marketplace. You can list at whatever price you want, people can make offers, and recent sale data shows on each coin's page so you can price with context.

What payment methods are accepted? Credit card and crypto (USDC) on the Polygon blockchain are both supported. You may also add funds to your wallet with a debit card.

Is sales tax included? Sales tax is calculated based on shipping destination and applicable law. Different territories have different tax exemptions for graded coins, bullion, or specific types of coinage. Your final cart will reflect the correct rate for your location.

Are there marketplace fees if I list my coin for sale? No. Listing on the Courtyard marketplace is 0% fees.

What if I want the actual physical coin? You can redeem any coin in your collection at any time. Courtyard pulls it from the vault, packages it securely (graded coins stay in their original slabs), and ships it to you. Once redeemed, the digital version is retired.

Is there a fee to redeem and ship? Yes. Customers pay shipping at-cost when shipping a physical coin. Courtyard does not make money on shipping and works regularly with carriers to secure the lowest possible rates. You see the fee clearly before you confirm redemption.

Do you ship internationally? Courtyard ships to most countries worldwide, with only a few exceptions due to legal restrictions. If you have concerns about shipping to your location, please contact support before shipping.

What about insurance? All shipments are insured up to $100, with the option to purchase additional coverage when you place your shipment.

What if my coin arrives damaged or the slab is cracked? Contact support immediately with photos. A claim will be opened with our insurance provider and resolved promptly.

What if my shipment is lost? Reach out to support. Claims are handled directly by the support team.

Can I ship multiple coins at once? You may submit multiple shipment requests simultaneously. Depending on declared value and destination, multiple coins may ship together to reduce cost.

Can I return my coin? All sales are final. However, if you are looking for instant liquidity, a buyback offer is available for 7 days after you reveal your coin.