Collectibles

Coins, Stamps & Collectibles Insurance

Agreed-value coverage for coins, stamps, sports cards, comics, memorabilia, and every major collectible category — at home, at shows, and in transit.

Coverage

What We Cover

From a graded PSA 10 rookie card to a Civil War militaria collection, specialist collectibles insurance protects every major category at agreed value — no sub-limits, no depreciation.

Coins & Currency

U.S. and world coins, proof and mint sets, gold and silver bullion coins, ancient coins, paper currency, and exonumia — raw and NGC/PCGS-graded.

Stamps & Postal History

Classic U.S. and world stamps, first-day covers, postal history, errors and varieties, and philatelic collections at Scott or market value.

Sports Cards & Trading Cards

Vintage and modern sports cards, graded slabs (PSA, BGS, SGC), unopened wax packs, rookie cards, and non-sport trading card sets.

Comics & Pulps

Golden Age, Silver Age, and Bronze Age comics — raw and CGC/CBCS-graded. Original comic art, pulp magazines, and related ephemera.

Sports Memorabilia

Signed jerseys, bats, helmets, baseballs, and photographs — authenticated by JSA, PSA/DNA, Beckett Authentication, or other recognized services.

Toys & Action Figures

Vintage toys, die-cast vehicles, action figures — loose and MISB. Star Wars, G.I. Joe, Hot Wheels, and other high-value collectible toy lines.

Militaria & Arms

Military medals, insignia, uniforms, edged weapons, antique firearms, and war-related ephemera. Subject to applicable state and federal regulations.

Other Collectibles

Movie posters, animation cels, autographs, political memorabilia, pop culture items, vintage advertising, and any category with documented market value.

The Gap

Why Homeowners Insurance Falls Short

Standard homeowners policies were written for household contents — not graded collectibles with documented market values. The shortfalls are significant.

Sub-Limits Apply

Low Blanket Caps on Collectibles

Most homeowners policies cap coin and stamp coverage at $1,000–$2,500 total — regardless of what your collection is actually worth. A single key date coin can easily exceed this limit many times over.

Grading Not Recognized

No Recognition of Graded Item Value

A PSA 10 card or NGC MS-70 coin commands a substantial premium over ungraded examples. Homeowners policies pay actual cash value — with no mechanism to recognize grading service certifications or population report data.

No Show Coverage

Convention & Show Exclusions

Homeowners policies generally exclude property taken to trade shows, conventions, and dealers — exactly the events where collectors are most exposed. Show theft and accidental damage are both excluded.

Transit Risk

Limited Transit Coverage

Sending a card through the mail for grading, or shipping a coin to auction? Homeowners policies offer minimal transit coverage, and many exclude property shipped via mail carriers entirely.

Depreciation

Actual Cash Value, Not Agreed Value

At claim time, homeowners policies pay what an adjuster says your item is worth — not what you insured it for. For collectibles where value is highly condition-sensitive, this distinction is critical.

Mysterious Disappearance

No Mysterious Disappearance Clause

If a coin or card goes missing without a known cause — no police report, no witness — most homeowners policies won't pay. Specialist policies include mysterious disappearance as a covered peril.

Policy Features

Coverage Features That Matter

Specialist collectibles policies address the specific risks of the hobby — from the show floor to the grading service and back.

01

Agreed Value

You schedule items at their current market value — graded or ungraded. At claim time, you receive the full scheduled amount with no depreciation or ACV adjustment.

02

Convention & Show Coverage

Your collection is covered at coin shows, card shows, comic cons, and trade conventions — including while displayed in dealer cases, while being handled for sales, and during setup and breakdown.

03

Transit to Grading Services

Items in transit to and from PCGS, NGC, PSA, BGS, CGC, and other recognized grading services are covered — including during processing time at the grading company.

04

Authentication Coverage

If an item is determined to be counterfeit or fraudulently authenticated after purchase, select policies provide coverage for the loss in value — a growing risk in the hobby.

05

Worldwide Coverage

Coverage follows your collection globally — at international coin shows, overseas auctions, in transit, and at storage facilities. No geographic restriction on covered losses.

06

Grading Standards Recognized

Carriers familiar with the collectibles market understand population reports, registry sets, and how grading service certification affects value. Claims are evaluated by specialists who understand your hobby.

Carriers

Carrier Comparison

We shop multiple specialist markets to find the right fit for your collection. Here is how the three primary collectibles carriers compare.

Feature Great American Collectibles RLI Corp Markel
AM Best Rating A+ (Superior) A+ (Superior) A (Excellent)
Collectibles Specialty Dedicated collectibles division Personal collections specialist Art & collections focus
Agreed Value Yes Yes Yes
Convention Coverage Included Included Available by endorsement
Grading Service Transit Covered Covered Case-by-case
Zero Deductible Option Available Available Available
Worldwide Coverage Yes Yes Yes
Best Fit Coins, stamps, cards, comics Broad collectibles, memorabilia High-value mixed collections

Coverage features and availability vary by state and underwriting. We compare these and additional markets for every client.

Valuation

How Values Are Established

Collectibles insurance relies on recognized grading services and market data to establish fair scheduled values. Understanding these standards helps you insure correctly.

Coins

NGC & PCGS

Numismatic Guaranty Company and Professional Coin Grading Service are the two leading third-party coin grading services. Certified coins carry population report data that establishes rarity and market value. We use current PCGS Price Guide and NGC Price Guide figures at submission, updated annually at renewal.

NGCPCGSANACSICG
Cards

PSA, BGS & SGC

Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), Beckett Grading Services (BGS/BVG), and SGC are the primary card grading services. A PSA 10 Gem Mint card can be worth multiples of a PSA 7. We schedule cards using current sold auction records and population report comparables.

PSABGSSGCCSG
Comics

CGC & CBCS

Comics Guaranty Company (CGC) and Certified Collectibles Group (CBCS) are the two dominant comic book grading services. Grade differences between a CGC 9.4 and 9.8 can represent dramatic value differences for key issues. We use GPA and Heritage Auctions realized prices for comparable copies.

CGCCBCSPGX
Memorabilia

JSA, PSA/DNA & Beckett

James Spence Authentication, PSA/DNA, and Beckett Authentication are the leading authenticators for signed memorabilia. Authentication letters and LOAs from these services are required for scheduling autographed items above threshold values.

JSAPSA/DNABeckettFanatics
Stamps

APS & PSE

The American Philatelic Society expertizing service and Philatelic Stamp Expert (PSE) provide authentication and grading certificates for stamps. Scott Catalogue values and recent realized auction prices from Siegel, Kelleher, and H.R. Harmer establish market values.

APSPSEAPEX
Ungraded

Dealer Appraisals & Auction Records

For ungraded or raw collectibles, we work with specialist dealers and auction house records to establish current market values. For collections over $25,000, a formal written appraisal from a recognized specialist is typically required by carriers.

HeritageStack's BowersChristie's
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

For graded items (coins in PCGS/NGC holders, cards in PSA/BGS slabs, comics in CGC cases), the grading certificate combined with current population report data and recent auction comparables generally satisfies underwriting requirements. For ungraded items or collections over $25,000, a written appraisal from a recognized specialist is typically required. We will advise you on what each carrier needs for your specific collection.
Yes. Specialist collectibles policies cover your items while in transit to and from recognized grading services — PSA, BGS, CGC, PCGS, NGC, and others — and while the items are at the grading company awaiting processing. This is one of the most important gaps with homeowners coverage, which typically does not cover items in the care of a third party outside your home.
Your agreed value is set at policy inception. If the market moves significantly — as happened with sports cards during 2020–2022 — you should update your scheduled values at renewal to avoid being underinsured. Most carriers allow mid-term additions to the schedule for new acquisitions. We recommend reviewing your schedule annually and after major market movements in your collecting area.
Standard policies cover theft, loss, and accidental damage — not fraud at the time of purchase. However, select carriers offer authentication coverage endorsements that provide limited protection if an item you acquired in good faith is later determined to be counterfeit or improperly authenticated. This is a growing area of concern in the hobby and worth discussing when we structure your policy.
Blanket coverage is available for some collection types — particularly coins and stamps — up to a total policy limit. High-value individual items (typically those over $5,000–$10,000) should still be individually scheduled to ensure full recovery. For collections with many items of moderate individual value, blanket coverage with a per-item sublimit is often the most practical approach. We will recommend the right structure for your specific collection.
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