The next generation of the NGC coin holder, featuring enhanced security features, is scheduled for wide-scale release beginning Wednesday, October 1, 2008. Since late-August, this holder has been used for selected World coin and Walkthrough submissions. Following its very successful month-long initial release, the new holder exterior will now be used for all submissions.

While the new exterior and new label will be used for all submissions, the EdgeView® Holder, which enables viewing of a coin’s edge, will be used only for US Walkthrough and US Express tier submissions and all World tier submissions. At NGC’s discretion it will be used on additional grading tiers. The EdgeView® Holder is set for full-scale release for all service lines in the first quarter of 2009. In the interim, the standard NGC format holder interior will be used with high-security outer casing and label.

In order to maintain turnaround times, is not possible to make special requests for specific holders and the previous generation of NGC holder will no longer be available effective October 1, 2008.

“Our service commitment is to encapsulate coins in the most secure holder, made from the best materials available,” comments NGC CEO, Steve Eichenbaum. “This iterative release schedule allows us to expand the availability of the best holder in the most expedient and responsible way,” continues Eichenbaum.

The NGC holder is made from the same materials used in the NGC-developed museum holder created for the Smithsonian. The Smithsonian conducted its own independent tests of that holder, which today is used to house the 200 most valuable coins in its collection. State-of-the-art holography has been incorporated into holograms both on the label and fused onto the holder’s exterior, and directional pressure welding is used to seal the holder cleanly and completely. More information about NGC’s newest generation holder can be found online at www.ngccoin.com/newholder.

Legendary rarity is among the most valuable European coins in existence.

NGC has recently certified a small group of Russian coins from the Grand Duke Mikhailovich Collection. Included among them was the unique Russian 1755 Pattern 20 Rouble, a legendary rarity believed to be among the most valuable European coins in existence. These important coins are scheduled to be sold by St. James’s Auctions in London on November 6, 2008.

Although it has not appeared publicly in nearly six decades, the 1755 20 Rouble frequently gets mention as one of the most important European coins ever struck. As part of Russia’s effort to modernize and compete with Europe, it underwent a coinage reform in 1755 designed to permit its coins to circulate alongside those of England, France and the Netherlands. Produced for general circulation were gold five-rouble and ten-rouble coins. Also created solely in pattern form was this single gold piece valued at twenty roubles. The highest valued coin of the Imperial period, it was never adopted for circulation and remains unique.

Ken Krah, NGC Vice President and head of World coin grading reflects that, “Seeing the 1755 Russia 20 Rouble is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I handle many rarities every week at NGC, but grading this unique and important coin still inspired that special excitement. It’s truly a privilege to be able to grade this magnificent coin.” Nearly mint state, it has been authenticated and graded by NGC as AU-58. This amazing specimen is also cataloged and plated in several references, most notably in Severin’s Gold and Platinum Coinage of Imperial Russia 1701 to 1911, where it appears as number S-190.

The 1755 20 Rouble coin came to reside in the collection of Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia (1863-1919), a first cousin of Emperor Alexander III. As the third son and fourth child of noble birth, his royal duties were mostly ceremonial. He was a voracious collector, building one of the finest collections of Russian coins and medals, and he also served as director of the Alexander III Museum. (more…)

NGC has unveiled the design of its newest holder at the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money. The holder will be used for encapsulation of NGC-certified coins beginning late-August 2008. The most visually significant change is the incorporation of NGC’s EdgeView® design which suspends a coin within four prongs, allowing for clear view of the encased coin’s edge. This feature will be available for nearly all coin types 40mm and smaller.

The newest generation of NGC holder is made from the same preservation-grade materials as the holder developed by NGC to house the 200 most rare, unique and famous American coins in the Smithsonian’s National Numismatic Collection. The Smithsonian conducted rigorous materials analysis and testing to confirm the long-term safety of all of the components used in the manufacture of these holders, further verifying their inertness and stability.

Several state-of-the-art anti-counterfeiting features have been integrated into the holder’s design. These include a high security label incorporating microprinting, UV-light responsive watermarking and an embedded holographic layer. A second hologram is fused to the back of the holder and was developed with new methods that make it virtually impossible to reproduce.

“Our newest holder satisfies NGC’s combined objectives of exceptional visual display, security and long-term preservation,” comments Steve Eichenbaum, CEO of NGC. “To achieve this, we relied on technology that quite simply did not exist when the last generation of our holder was released in 2001. It is without question the most extensively tested and technologically advanced coin holder ever created.”

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will showcase 21 numismatic rarities from its National Numismatic Collection at the World’s Fair of Money convention hosted by the American Numismatic Association from July 30 to Aug. 3 at the Baltimore Convention Center. “Historic Rarities: Early United States Proof Coins,” will include the 1860 double eagle proof pattern with the Paquet reverse, a special design made by its engraver, Anthony Paquet, and a previously unknown variety of an 1818 proof half dollar as part of the traveling display.

Initially, the Philadelphia Mint made proof coins as showpieces to demonstrate American talent and innovation. These early proofs are recognized by their mirror finish and feature sharper relief than found on coins made for circulation. The coins in the “Historic Rarities” display are part of a larger collection transferred to the Smithsonian by the U.S. Mint in the 1920s.

“This traveling display provides an opportunity to showcase extraordinary and rare proof coins, including an 1818 silver half-dollar proof which our curator recently reclassified as unique as it is the only one made at the time,” said Brent D. Glass, director of the National Museum of American History. This display represents the museum’s second appearance at the Baltimore convention.

“NGC and NCS are immensely proud to be presenting sponsors of this exhibition; proof coinage and Paquet’s pattern demonstrate first hand the beauty of coinage and the active human role of designers and engravers. Showcasing these rarities is a wonderful opportunity for the numismatic community,” said Mark Salzberg, chairman of the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation.

The display is divided into four sections: Early Proofs, 1843 Proofs, the Anthony Paquet double eagle pattern and Baltimore national currency proofs.The objects in the group of early proofs include coins of several denominations dating from 1818 to 1821. The coins were minted in several different metals, including copper, silver and gold. The group dated 1821 is likely the only such grouping in existence. (more…)

The complete NumisMedia FMV Price Guide is now available on NGC’s Web site. The price guide compiled and edited by NumisMedia is an independent report of prices for US coins offered by dealers to collectors. It will be available for free to all site users and updated monthly.

NumisMedia is a leading independent and impartial source for U.S. rare coin values. Since 2005, NumisMedia has served as the official price guide of NGC and the Collectors Society. NumisMedia provides comprehensive pricing available for US coins, including prices for the full range of AU and MS grades, as well as prices for a broad number of modern issues.

To see the price guide, click on the Census & Price Guide tab, select a coin type, and then select the NumisMedia Price Guide tab. [Note: Access requires a FREE Pass Key account, a Collectors Society account, or NGC Authorized Dealer account.]

“Collectors have come to expect the highest quality resources from NGC. Along these lines, we’re very pleased to provide pricing information from NumisMedia. As a truly independent source, NumisMedia is widely acclaimed for the accuracy of its unbiased report of US coin values. By making price information of this caliber more readily accessible, we can enhance the hobby for countless collectors,” said NGC Chairman, Mark Salzberg.

The price guide is part of a suite of collecting resources available on NGC’s Web site, including a coin encyclopedia and variety attribution guide. To access NumisMedia values and other site resources, a login account is required. NGC Authorized Dealers and Collectors Society members should use their existing account login information, and new members can quickly create a free Pass Key account. (more…)