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V18 2015 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 18, Number 18, May 3, 2015, Article 28

NGC is now offering limited access to the CoinArchives database through its web site, as David Vagi explains in an aticle published on CoinWeek May 1, 2015. Here's an excerpt, but be sure to read the complete version online. -Editor

Internet resources have significantly leveled the playing field for the basic identification of coins, yet it has done little to impact the nature of top-level expertise. Even today, the only way to learn the most advanced aspects of ancient coinage is to physically handle and study tens of thousands of coins. Unfortunately, no amount of web-surfing can close that gap.

Identifying a ‘mystery ancient’ in the pre-Internet age was a daunting task. Short of asking someone who knew, there was no way around it: an excellent ancient coin library was necessary. Today, that same work often can be performed via the Internet by a relative novice, without the aid of a single book.

It is only the most advanced aspects of research and identification that still require a large, specialized library. At NGC, for example, we could not conduct our work without our substantial library. The same may be said for the top-level auction houses and dealers, who use their specialized references on a daily basis.

The best tool for those interested in researching ancient coins is CoinArchives, a comprehensive database of most every ancient coin sold at public auction in Europe and the United States for more than the last decade. Not only is it useful for researching values and making comparative judgments of quality, but it is also incredibly helpful for identification – even if you’ve never seen the coin before, and don’t have a clue where to start.

NGC is proud to have forged a relationship with A. J. Gatlin, founder of CoinArchives, which allows us to offer premium access to his database through our website. By going through NGC’s portal (as described above), visitors will have access to a larger and more varied selection of auction records.

Those who want access to the full database, which includes auctions going back to 2002, must take out a subscription to CoinArchives Pro, a service introduced in the summer of 2009. Details of how to subscribe are available on the CoinArchives website.

Any advanced collector or dealer will recognize that a CoinArchives Pro subscription is money well spent, for the amount saved (or made) even on a single coin due to a better-informed decision could greatly exceed the cost of an annual subscription.