The NGC Signature Series: Coin Certification Labels
David J. Ryder
David J. Ryder, the only two-time director of the US Mint in more than a century, hand signs certification labels exclusively for NGC. Named one of Coin World's Most Influential People (1960-2020), Ryder brought many exciting modern coins to the marketplace as the 34th and 39th director, greatly enhancing the tradition of US numismatics with this leadership.
During his first term, Ryder was involved in several coin programs, including the issuance of silver dollars commemorating the 200th anniversary of when construction started on the White House. In his second term, he oversaw the popular 2019 Apollo 11 Commemorative Coin Program and was instrumental in the new designs for the iconic Silver and Gold Eagles. He was also actively involved in implementing the 1921 Silver Dollar Anniversary Act, which authorized the mintage of 2021 Morgan and Peace Dollars for their centennial anniversary.
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Edmund C. Moy
Edmund C. Moy, the 38th Director of the US Mint, has signed NGC certification labels since 2015. A coin collector for most of his life, Moy first became fascinated by different coin designs when he worked the cash register at his parents' Chinese-American restaurant in Waukesha, Wisconsin. His appointment as Director of the US Mint in 2006 fulfilled a childhood dream and put Moy at the helm of the world's largest producer of coins and medals.
During his seven-year tenure, Moy oversaw the launch of a number of popular modern US coins including the 20th Anniversary Silver and Gold Eagles, the 2009 Ultra High Relief Gold $20 and the America the Beautiful Quarters Program. Notably, as one of the few profitable US government agencies, the US Mint transferred $750 million to the General Fund of the US Treasury during Moy's first year as director.
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John M. Mercanti
John Mercanti, the 12th US Mint Chief Engraver, is the most famous US coin engraver of the modern era. He has designed well over 100 US coins and medals — more than any other employee in the history of the US Mint — including the reverse of the original American Silver Eagle, which was released in 1986. Many of these coins and medals are among today's most recognized and widely collected US modern coins.
Since his retirement from the US Mint in 2010, Mercanti has continued to be actively involved in numismatics and has went on to design several world coins, such as the Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle coins from the Perth Mint, which is now used for an annually issued series of silver and gold coins. Mercanti signed an exclusive signature agreement with NGC in 2015.
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Michael Gaudioso
NGC inked an exclusive signature label deal with Michael Gaudioso, engraver of the new Silver Eagle reverse, at the beginning of 2021. The addition of Gaudioso is the perfect complement to NGC's long-standing exclusive signature arrangement with John Mercanti, engraver of the original Silver Eagle reverse. This was the first major design change to the Silver Eagle since the coins were introduced, a turning point in modern numismatics.
The new Silver Eagle reverse was not the only significant release for Gaudioso in 2021. He was also the engraver of the new Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarter reverse design from the same year. Altogether, Gaudioso has executed the sculpts required to produce more than 35 coins and medals.
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See All of the NGC Signers
The NGC Signature Series now includes more than 40 signers and counting, with new signers announced regularly. Other numismatic luminaries include Don Everhart, US Mint Lead Sculptor and Engraver, Mike Castle, the "Coinage Congressman," Elizabeth Jones, the 11th US Mint Chief Engraver, and Anna Cabral, 42nd US Treasurer.
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