Purpose and Scope
Criterion provides professional third-party opinions concerning coin identity, authenticity, condition, qualification, and selected attributions. A certification reflects the evidence available and the standards in effect on the certification date. It is not an appraisal, investment recommendation, or promise of future value.
Covered Certifications
This policy applies only to eligible coins authenticated, graded, encapsulated, and recorded by Criterion while the coin remains sealed in its original genuine Criterion holder and the public certification remains active. Sample holders, non-graded promotional items, counterfeit holders, and items expressly marked outside the Guarantee are not covered.
Eligible Requesters
A requester must lawfully possess the coin, cooperate with identity and ownership verification, preserve the original holder and relevant evidence, and obtain written return authorization before shipment.
Review Standard
An owner who identifies a specific concern with an eligible certification may request a documented Integrity Review. Criterion may examine the coin, holder, label, public and internal records, images, measurements, prior grading evidence, and relevant technical information; consult specialists; conduct a blind re-examination; and escalate the matter to senior-panel review.
Corrective Service Remedy
If Criterion confirms that its certification service or published record requires correction, Criterion will provide the corrective services reasonably necessary for the affected line item: re-examination, senior review, label or record correction, reholdering when required, and refund or Criterion service credit of the service fees actually paid to Criterion for that line item. Criterion does not purchase the coin, pay the difference between grades, or reimburse a claimed reduction in market value.
Mechanical and Record Corrections
Obvious clerical, label, imaging, barcode, GSID, database, or other mechanical errors are corrected through the same record-integrity process. When Criterion caused the error, the correction and reasonable preapproved return shipping may be provided without a service charge. A materially incorrect label will not be returned unchanged.
Third-Party Information
GSID numbers, reference attributions, pedigrees, catalog information, and other third-party data are identified as third-party information and may be corrected when the source record changes or an error is discovered. Unless expressly stated in the controlling agreement, third-party data and premiums based on unattributed or unsupported varieties are not guaranteed.
Exclusions
Coverage does not extend to an opened, altered, counterfeit, damaged, or tampered holder; a coin removed from its holder; post-certification conservation, cleaning, damage, contamination, spotting, color change, haze, corrosion, heat, humidity, fire, flood, vibration, or other environmental change; market fluctuation; registry eligibility; investment performance; sentimental value; lost opportunity; consequential loss; ownership disputes; or a condition or qualification accurately disclosed on the label or record.
No Market-Value Warranty
A Criterion grade is a professional opinion supported by evidence available at the time of examination. It is not an appraisal, insurance policy, buyback promise, or warranty of resale price, liquidity, investment performance, registry treatment, another grader’s opinion, or future market consensus. A changing or competing opinion does not by itself establish a Criterion service error.
Verification Before a Transaction
Owners, sellers, and prospective buyers should use the live Criterion Certification Lookup before relying on a holder. Compare the number, coin, label, images, grade, holder status, and any warnings. A registry match does not by itself authenticate the physical holder; use live NFC authentication when available.
Return Authorization and Cooperation
Do not ship a coin for review until Criterion issues written authorization and current receiving instructions. Refusal to provide requested evidence, failure to preserve the holder, or transfer of a coin after notice of a material certification concern may suspend or end eligibility under this policy.
Controlling Terms and Updates
The submission agreement and review authorization applicable to the certification supplement this public policy and control where they contain additional lawful procedures, deadlines, limits, or required disclosures. Criterion may update this policy prospectively. Nothing here limits a right or remedy that cannot lawfully be limited.
