Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) has announced that their online security image archive now includes 3,000,000 coins — the largest database of NGC-certified coins in existence anywhere.
Since October 2008 NGC has been capturing digital photographs of every coin that it certifies and then storing them in an internet-accessible database.
By maintaining a secure and proprietary database of coin images and making it available to the public, prospective buyers are able to verify the authenticity of an NGC-certified coin prior to purchase. This imaging process coupled with a sonically sealed coin holder that includes watermarks, micro-printing and fused holograms are an aggressive step against counterfeit and altered holders.
Security imaging is provided at no additional fee to the coin submitter and does not increase the processing time required for NGC services. The digital imaging of both the obverse and reverse of each coin is fully integrated into the NGC certification process. Images are available as a free resource using NGC certification numbers on the home page of the NGC website (NGCcoin.com) and can also be accessed on internet-enabled phones or mobile devices.
NGC CEO Steve Eichenbaum comments, "This database is a secure warehouse of coin images that protects buyers of certified coins against tampering and counterfeits. Only NGC offers this and we believe the database has proven an effective deterrent measure against counterfeiting."
The image database custom archiving solution was developed by Massachusetts firm Image Fortress who partnered with NGC to create a unique integrated file authentication process which seals every digital file to prevent file tampering. This process makes it impossible for anyone to alter the image of a coin in the NGC photo archive without immediate detection.
About NGC
NGC 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.
As NGC has grown to become the leader in third-party grading services, we have maintained a steadfast and uncompromising commitment to this standard. The knowledge, integrity and dedication of NGC’s team of grading experts ensures you a level of grading consistency unparalleled among grading services. This record of consistency, built over the years, has helped to foster greater stability throughout the rare coin marketplace.
