So, what’s the exotic reader? It’s my phone! Most advanced smart phones have a NFC reader (mine’s a Samsung A53). To see if yours has it, check the specs under settings, or if it has it, you should see an on/off option under settings (turn it on). The other thing to do is find out where on your phone the NFC sensor is located because it should be placed near the slab NFC sensor for best communication. Look in the manual (should have one in your phone) or look online. Mine is near the camera lenses. Finally, install the PCGS Cert Verification app (it’s free). All slabs currently produced by PCGS have a NFC chip unique to each slab. When the reader (phone in this case) communicates between the slab and the PCGS server, the slab sends its ID. Then the server sends an encrypted message that only that a specific, authentic chip can decrypt. Once the message is decrypted by the chip, it will send back a message that only the authentic chip could send, and it will be encrypted in a way that only the PCGS server can decrypt. The encrypted messages will change with every communication. This exchange verifies the slab as authentic, and the server will send info on the coin for the user to read. I chose as an example a 1906 French 10 franc gold coin that had been recently slabbed. The first pic shows the slab and the location of its sensor and the PCGS Cert app on the phone. In the second pic, the phone sensor is on top of the slab sensor and scanning has begun. In the third pic, the user is asked which app is to do the final scan; choose the PCGS app, of course! The last pic shows the slab was verified and info on the coin plus a pic was sent back. I blacked-out some of the info for confidentially reasons. The most important reason to have chipped slabs is to discourage slab counterfeiting. But as you can see, the verification app is a great way to get extensive info on a coin and can assist in inventory, creating a photo collection, etc. With the right kind of reader, NFC can also be used for theft prevention at shows, in coin shops, etc. It’s been a great move by PCGS, and hopefully, NGC will soon follow suit. Cal
/1/ The sample slabs have the icon but no chip - you can verify this by looking at a bright light through the label /2/ This: is not true. I posted the details when I first got my hands on one about 6 or 8 months back. What is sent to PCGS is the cert# PLUS a time-based nonce. If the nonce is expired, PCGS doesn't return any information. But all transmissions are normal https:// (ssl/tls encrypted). NOTHING happens at the chip.
Could you do a repost; I was unable to find your original post. And explain further. My info on the chip workings is third hand from another forum. Cal
