CDN Publisher John Feigenbaum recently had the pleasure of interviewing Mark Salzberg, chairman and grade finalizer at Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC). Salzberg, who received the American Numismatic Association (ANA) Presidential Award in 1998 and was named the ANA Numismatist of the Year in 2006, has handled some of the world’s rarest and most fascinating coins. He has also helped standardize grading across the coin industry and has published numerous articles about rare coins and the marketplace.

In this interview, Salzberg tells about the serendipitous occurrence that got him involved with collecting coins as a young boy, his early days as a dealer, and his rise as a leader at NGC. He also shares exciting details on the newest NGC subsidiary, Collectibles Authentication Guaranty (CAG), which certifies relics from famous estates, such as lunar memorabilia from the family of Neil Armstrong — the first man to walk on the Moon. How may CAG eventually help preserve museum artifacts and potentially bring more of these rare items, many long hidden away in drawers and vaults, to the public? Salzberg explains what CAG is embarking on now and his exciting vision for the future.