PNG Certificate of Title - Guarantee of Genuineness

I recall we had one of these displayed recently and several were sold on eBay. Does anyone have any information about them?

The form itself is copyright 1970, 1984 by PNG. Mine is laminated, but that may not be standard. Has a photo of the coin and is signed by a PNG member/dealer. So it's not some kind of TPG scheme.

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I checked the NNP and found a pointer to an 1971 coin auction that offered to include them (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctionlots?AucCoId=511485&AuctionId=520821&page=75)

There are also ads in The Numismatist (e.g. April 1976 page 943 that offer them from a dealer - in fact several ads of that vintage).

The ones that showed up on eBay were from 1986 with cert#s in the 40K range.

The date range is interesting as it seems to predate the original ANA authentication service and runs up to the beginning of the slab era.

 

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I haven’t seen one of those in twenty or so years, but I don’t recall them being laminated.

 

Very cool piece!
Unfortunately I don't know anything about these, but would love to hear if more info is discovered.

 

Yes they do predate ANACS, they started in 1970 and lasted through at least 1986. I have seen three different varieties of cerificate. From the slabbook

PNG (Professional Numismatic Guild) Shortly before ANACS came into existence the PNG began issuing Certificates of Authenticity (and grade?) upon request for coins valued at $200 or more.

1. A two page legal sized 8 1/2 X 14 certificate. Copyright date is 1970. Probably used till 1984.

2. 8 1/2 X 6 inch two sided certificate. Certificate now has photograph of the coin. Copyright date is 1970, 1984. Latest seen was dated in 1986. I don’t know when these were discontinued.

The third variety I saw at the Michigan State show last November. It is also a legal size certificate but has a different layout than #1 above. I do have images of it but not on this computer.

Also from the book

PNG 1 Begun by the Professional Numismatists Guild in 1970, it was my understanding that these were originally intended to “fill in” until ANACS came on line. But they developed a life of their own and continued for many years. This first variety certificate was huge, printed front and back on a sheet of legal sized paper it looked more like a contract. This style was used until 1984. See back on next page.



This is the back of PNG 1. It was obviously intended to be folded in half since the top and bottom texts are inverted.



PNG 2 In 1984 PNG switched from a portrait printing of their contracts to a landscape printing. The certificate carries both the 1970 and 1984 copyright dates. The defect locator has been replaced with a photo of the coin. The certificate is now 8 1/2 X 6 inches. Obviously the text has changed considerably.




You will notice that the first variety does not have actual images of the coin, the second legal size certificate I saw in Michigan did have photos attached. The first variety pictured above is dated March 17th, 1976 and numbered 3565. The second is August 15 1986 and numbered just slightly before the one posted earlier, 49296.

 

Fascinating !!