NGC recently graded the finest known example of a legendary Spanish rarity, the 8 Escudos of Charles II from the Spanish Mediterranean Island of Majorca.

NGC recently certified an extremely rare gold 1689/72 Spanish 8 Escudos struck on the island of Majorca. It is the only known crown-size gold coin of the Cob era struck in Majorca, and graded NGC XF45, with a strong, full strike and abundant underlying luster.

The Calico “Onza” book describes the coin as unique. The 1879 edition of Numismatica Balear by Alvaro Campaner included this coin, illustrating it with a line drawing. A counterfeiter, relying only on the illustration as his model, produced a meticulous replica from which these coins are perhaps better known.

The unique genuine example resided in the Marquis of Palmer collection, as noted by Campaner, and recently sold as part of the Caballero de las Yndias collection, one of the largest private collections of gold coins from Spain and Latin America.

This sale is believed to be the only time the piece has ever been publicly offered for sale.

NGC was privileged to certify this rare specimen.

New tool allows collectors to verify NGC certifications anytime and anyplace using a cell phone or PDA

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation introduces NGC Mobile, a new mobile site that allows collectors to verify an NGC certification on cell phones, PDAs and other mobile devices. This site can be accessed from any mobile browser at http://m.ngccoin.com.

This new site is part of NGC’s ongoing initiative to provide the highest level of protection to coin collectors. In late 2008, NGC introduced a high-security holder and began photographing all tier-level submissions. These images were made available using a web-accessible verification tool early in 2009. Now this new mobile site makes it possible to verify the authenticity of any NGC-certified coin using a mobile device, anywhere at anytime.

NGC Mobile is free to use, open to all, and very easy to use. Step-by-step instructions are also available on NGC’s website.

Steve Eichenbaum, CEO of NGC, comments, “The series of enhanced security services that NGC has introduced offer a level of protection never before available in the rare coin marketplace. Not only do they expand the preference for NGC-certified coins, but they also add to the enjoyment of collectors pursuing their hobby.”

NGC Mobile is fully compatible with cell phones and other devices that use Wireless Application Protocol, a platform chosen to ensure the site functions on the broadest possible range of devices. Additionally, each page load consists of only 1kb of data, and images are less than 25kb, optimizing the site in areas where high-speed coverage is not available and responsibly managing bandwidth usage.

Collectors desiring addition information about NGC Mobile and other services from NGC are invited to contact NGC Customer Service by emailing service@ngccoin.com or by calling toll-free at 1-800-NGC-COIN (642.2646).

The November 28 auction includes a rich offering of NGC-certified European and South American coins

French dealers and auctioneers Maison Palombo offer a rich assortment of high-quality World coins in their upcoming Auction 8. The auction will be held at the Palais de la Bourse, Marseille, France, on Saturday, November 28, 2009. All 982 lots can be seen online at sixbid.com: Palombo Auction 8.

Nearly 400 lots included in the sale have been certified by NGC, making this one of the largest offerings of certified coins in a European auction this year. Included is the continuation of the collection of Monsieur le Chanoine Léon Matagne.

Numismatic author and one of the founding members of the European Numismatic Alliance, Matagne assembled an important collection of Belgian coins and a number of elusive patterns from his collection are featured in the sale.

Several important South American coins from the Caballero de las Yndias collection are offered, and, as with previous Palombo sales, there is an extensive group of exceptional quality French coins.

Click here to view selected Highlights at NGC