Earlier this month NGC came out with their first mobile app. This follows in the footsteps of PCGS's app "Photograde", which has been out for quite a while now. However this app is nothing like the Photograde app and I, personally, am very impressed. Pretty much how this app works is that your smartphone/other mobile device can scan(or manually add) the barcode on any NGC holder and that will pull up all the info on that coin from NGC's vast database. This info includes pics of your coin, specs, images of other coins, descriptions and varieties, a price guide, and auctions of similar coins. This is a very impressive set of features! All the same, this app has its PROS and its CONS. One CON being that the images of your coins will usually always be a bit fuzzy and it will be hard to make out the details. Some coins don't have any pics at all! This is easily the biggest flaw in the app but I'm pretty sure NGC will improve the pics (or at least add pics) in the future. The other features are just fun to use! The description feature is my personal favorite. It gives you general info about the coin you entered. For example I entered my 1944D Mercury dime and the app tells me that "the '44D is one of the most readily obtainable issues" and that I should have no problem upgrading if I ever wish to do so. Also this same feature includes ALL the varieties for that coin! Excellent feature for any cherrypickers out there. The Price Guide feature is also a nice feature to have if you are ever at a coin show or coin shop. If you're the type of collector that buys coins from home there is a very extensive Auction feature. As long as you're an NGC member you can take part in various auctions held by NGC. Many people like myself have already started to use this app to do some fact-checking when buying a coin from eBay (or any online coin store). Pretty much now you have the ability to make sure that an NGC holder hasn't been tampered with or even faked! This is a very smart move on NGC's part. This will give collectors a huge boost in confidence when buying a coin from NGC, maybe even to the point where coins will demand a premium simply from being in an NGC holder. This will in return boost business for NGC. Not only that but it will keep all the coin collectors in the know when it comes to buying coins and that is a big deal. NGC you have outdone yourself!!! I give this app an 8.75 out of 10. I highly recommend that you all download it for the next time you go to a coin shop, coin show, or buy a coin online as long as it's in an NGC holder. Let me know of any questions and opinions below! Thanks for reading!
