Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) has enhanced its grading services with new security by photographing each coin it certifies, the company announced Monday. These images are stored in an online digital database that can be used to identify counterfeit coins and holders.
"This is an aggressive anti-counterfeiting measure. With a secure image repository, it is possible for us to provide real-time assurance that a coin is an authentic NGC-certified product, immediately and at any time of day or night," said Steve Eichenbaum, CEO, Numismatic Guarantee Corporation.
"In addition to providing the best possible holder for the long-term storage of coins, we are taking a serious step towards protecting the hobby."
NGC partnered with the Massachusetts firm Image Fortress who developed the custom archiving solution and integrated file authentication process which seals every digital file to prevent file tampering.
"We are delighted to be partnering with NGC to provide the leader in coin certification with a trustworthy online repository for their photographs of authenticated and graded coins built upon our DigitalFortress digital archiving service," said Bob Pokress, president and CEO of Image Fortress.
"NGC has created the world’s first online catalog of collectible coins where owners, coin dealers, buyers and investors will be able to look up and verify, with 100 percent confidence, the authentication, grading and provenance of a collectible coin at the click of a mouse."
NGC adopted the image security enhancements on October 1, 2008, and has already digitally archived over 750,000 coins, the company said. It plans to roll out a website with these and future images in early 2009. Free access for certification verifications will be available to Authorized Dealers. Collectors can gain entry through Collectors Society membership.
About Numismatic Guaranty Corporation
The Numismatic Guaranty Corporation was founded in 1987, and for coin grading, its opening heralded the introduction of a new standard of integrity. From the beginning NGC focused on only one objective, a standard of consistent and accurate grading.
