Every certified coin holder has a barcode on the back. PCGS prints a Code 128 strip; NGC uses a similar format. The barcode encodes the same certification number stamped on the front of the slab — the number that lets anyone verify the grade on PCGS.com or NGCcoin.com.
Until now, logging a certified coin in Vaultry meant squinting at the cert number and typing seven digits without a typo. Not anymore.
How it works
Open any coin record, scroll to the Certification Number field, and tap Scan. Your device camera opens inside the modal. Hold the slab roughly 4 to 6 inches from the lens with the barcode facing up. Vaultry reads it in under a second and fills the field for you.
It works on iPhone, Android, iPad, and any laptop with a webcam. No native app required — the scanner runs entirely in the browser using the device camera API.
Supported formats
- QR codes
- Code 128 (PCGS slabs)
- Code 39 (some older holders)
- EAN-13
- UPC-A
If your slab is older than around 2010, the cert number may not be on a barcode at all — just human-readable. In that case, type it in manually and use the Verify button instead.
One-click cert verification
Once a cert number is in the record, Vaultry shows a Verify button next to the field. Tap it and a new tab opens straight to the official cert lookup page:
- PCGS →
pcgs.com/cert/{number} - NGC →
ngccoin.com/certlookup/{number}
You see the live grading-service record without copying anything, switching between the app and a browser tab, or pasting numbers into the wrong field.
Why this matters for collectors
Three reasons.
Speed. Logging a 200-coin lot used to take a long afternoon. With the scanner, you can clear a binder full of slabs in an hour.
Accuracy. Manually typed cert numbers are the single most common source of "lost coin" mistakes in collection software. A barcode read is a barcode read — no transposed digits, no missed leading zero.
Audit trust. When you run an insurance documentation report or share an inventory with an appraiser, knowing every cert number maps to a real, scannable holder makes the report harder to dispute.
What's next
PCGS and NGC both publish partner APIs that return the full grading record from a certification number — population reports, variety attribution, designation flags. We've reached out to both about integrating directly. Once approved, scanning the slab will give you the grade, variety, and pop-report rarity in addition to the cert number.
In the meantime, scan and verify covers the everyday workflow. If you have a stack of slabs sitting in a safe, this is the week to log them.