NGC slabbed coins have a printed bar code and serial number. Is there any easy way to consult the NGC database to confirm the registration of this coin ? Or is the serial number internal to NGC ? Thanks, M.
The only way I know is to join their collectors society - it is free. Even then, you have to add the coin to you collection before they will tell you if the number is legit.
If there is simply a question as to whether the ID # is legitimate or not, a phone call to NGC will usually get you an answer.
Also realize that on the "newer" NGC holders (the ones with a seven digit number), the serial represents the invoice number, followed by the line number the coin was submitted under. So the serial number has nothing to do with the actual coin/grade/type but with invoice/submission. IMHO, this should make it harder for their slabs to be successfully counterfeited since a person would have to know the contents of the actual invoice.
I thought that all of the NGC grading labels (not just the "newer" ones) contain ID numbers which pertain to the invoice number and the line number the coin was submitted under? Also, a counterfeiter need not know all of the contents of a particular submission - he only needs to see images of various NGC grading labels and copy them.
