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 Replies: 54 / Views: 26,678 |
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New Member
United States
9 Posts |
I am stunned how anyone could call this a rip-off? First off the quality of these replicas is top-notch as can be seen in the posted picture. Second this replica is clearly marked as so and cost only $9.95. The front and back are fully sculpted, even so far as to match the surfaces of the real coin. The minting job alone is worth $9.95. To compare this tot eh real coin that cost $1000 more is absurd. Its a medallic offering...and a well-made one at that. National Collectors Mint does have tacky advertising...but you get what you pay for. They did a soldi silver 1936 proof set replica in 2004 for $49. It sells on ebay for $100+ Some people like to collect medals. If the US mint were to offer a 1 ounce fully sculpted proof copper coin I bet it would cost as much as this one. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
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I am stunned how anyone could call this a rip-off? Umm, maybe because it is a cheaply plated piece of junk that has no real numismatic value  Medals are certainly worthy of collecting as they have their own artistic merit, I own quite a few myself, but this abomination(along with the rest of the dreck put out by NCM) is a Cracker Jack box reject not worthy of being called a medal. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4846 Posts |
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New Member
United States
9 Posts |
I own a few NCM replicas. The proof quality and sculpting is top notch. The strike quality of these pieces is every bit as good as that of a US commem silver dollar. But its base metal...well copper which isn't bad itself...for $9.95. Thats a reasonable price for a medal thats not precious metal. NCM items are professionally minted by Sunshine Mint whose replica quality is the best. Yes the advertising is rather tacky but the piece itself is top-notch. Compare this to a sorry bronze medal struck by the US mint for the same price. The NC Mint pieces are professionaly minted with fully sculpted proof dies. $9.95 - $19.95 is a worthy price...I have seen this piece at both price points. Hey, the US mint also sells dollar covers for $19.95 like other private companies do for the same price. I buy coins from the US Mint but they are way behind the creative offerings of RCM, Royal Mint, and Perth Mint. There are so many finishes, colors, etc that can be interesting on a coin. Coin collecting should be about the art of minting in addition to historical significance. Just because someone buys a replica rather than spending thousands on the real deal doesn't make them a sucker. To the original poster...if you collect because you enjoy the piece and like they way it looks, that is all that masters. Collecting is not about investment. And to the poster that said you are paying 1800% markup for the amount of gold on the replica that is absurd. The gold plating is probably the smallest part of the cost of this coin. The tooling, striking, sculpting is where the value is. The gold plating is just for affect...you are not buying this for the gold content. Edited by cu29640
06/14/2010 12:18 pm
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Valued Member
United States
323 Posts |
Wow this is not cool - sucking unsuspecting people into a trap
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New Member
United States
9 Posts |
Again...why are private mint, medal, or replica collectors unsuspecting people. I choose to collect medals and privately minted pieces. I do not consider them a substitute for a real US coin. The ad states its a gold plated replica...for $9.95. There is nothing rip-off about that. Its a replica...a medal....for the price of a handful of groceries. Rip off would be a fake being passd off as the real coin at the price of the real coin.
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Valued Member
United States
376 Posts |
As long as whomever buys these replicas goes into it with their eyes open and being fully aware of what they are getting, it's cool. To each his own, we all have different tastes.
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Valued Member
United States
450 Posts |
If you read the fine print in some of these collector coin ad's some states have a ban on them one I was reading in an Elks Magazine said that they cant ship to my state lol
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Valued Member
United States
376 Posts |
AS long as the buyer knows what they're getting, I'm fine with it. The problem lies with the deceptive way in which these guys hawk their product. They hope that unsuspecting persons will buy them thinking they're getting the real deal. There is the rub. If you want to collect these, have fun, to each his own.
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Valued Member
United States
420 Posts |
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And to the poster that said you are paying 1800% markup for the amount of gold on the replica that is absurd. The gold plating is probably the smallest part of the cost of this coin. The tooling, striking, sculpting is where the value is. The gold plating is just for affect...you are not buying this for the gold content. one of the selling points in the ad is GOLD, thats the word that catches everyone's attention it's the fine print that keeps them mostly out of trouble.. dang lawyers not trying to stir anything up, but sounds more like either you work for the company selling these, or you have some sort of vested interest |
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Moderator
 United States
188213 Posts |
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not trying to stir anything up, but sounds more like either you work for the company selling these, or you have some sort of vested interest I think his only vested interest is defending his decision to collect this type of exonumia. I also feel that he has every right to do so. Remember, we are a diverse group of collectors. Please do not be quick to make accusations. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
I agree with JB.....everyone has a right and a free will to collect anything they want....just as our capitalist market has a right to "capitalize" on something and market them to us, regardless of majority opinions on something. If someone likes the "colorized" State qtrs.....so be it. If someone likes the "colorized" Sacagawea....so be it. They're not for "me"....but that's okay.....it's just not "my" taste. And the same with this popular Buffalo design. As long as no one is "fooled" and realizes that it's only "plated" and not "solid", etc. etc. etc. (or as long as someone doesn't have nefarious intentions and removes the word "copy" or something like that!) This may be the only "version" that someone could afford to have with this popular coin.....I don't begrudge anyone for wanting one. My personal choice to not have them in my collection, is just that....my personal choice. As long as folks educate themselves with what they purchase before they do it, and they're fully aware of what they have and they're happy with it....there ya go ! .....that's really all that matters. And as long as words like "investment" and "future value" aren't used....no harm ...no foul in my book.Awhile back, when I thought I might have to sell one of my 2006 Proof Buffalo's from the Mint, I ran into this "issue"....sort of. My sister had seen these commercials and questioned the authenticity/value of MINE !! I suspected that I never really convinced her, even after offering it to her to take to their jeweler or coin shop where they live. So......anyway.....because she had seen the ad's for that "plated" gold Buffalo.....it put doubt in her mine about mine.....or if "I" really knew for sure what "I" had with 100% surety. This "annoyed" me.....but I understood, and thankfully she didn't buy it after all......and I didn't have to sell it......AND I STILL HAVE IT !! ...  But I was very upset at that "commercial" for awhile for muddying up the waters on that !  Edited by eaglefoot
06/14/2010 3:55 pm
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New Member
United States
9 Posts |
Nope, no connection with NC Mint. I have purchased a few of their pieces that interest me. Yes, I agree that the ad suggests you are getting investment gold for a cheap price. Definitly not...but you are getting a nice medal for a good price...considering the expense of striking proof medals with professionally sculpted images and proof dies. I purchased this set from NC Mint and the replicas are stunning. This is a solid silver set...at $45...one just sold on ebay for $100+ so even some NC Mint items have a following who might pay a premiume...not because of the ad copy but because people like the replicas.   Of course the exonumia master was The Franklin Mint...who made their medallics entirely in house with a quality better than most other mints. They had classy advertising too...the brochures works of art in themselves. It does worry me that certain states have banned NC Mint offers and World Reserve Monetary Exchange. The latter probably for credit card issues due to growing pains and lack of infrastructure at first. But I am certainly glad my state doesn't pick and choose what I am able to purchase. Vermont or whomever may ban NC Mint but come tax time they certainly don't mind the money being paid to them. And then you have the people who are only curious about this replica because of investment potential. What happened to someone enjoying a hobby because they like it and believe in it? Edited by cu29640
06/15/2010 02:14 am
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Moderator
United States
188213 Posts |
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And then you have the people who are only curious about this replica because of investment potential. What happened to someone enjoying a hobby because they like it and believe in it? Well said. I believe those that are collectors are more likely to agree with you than the investors. Always collect what you like!  |
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Valued Member
United States
112 Posts |
Like anything else thats made, being fake or not, may well be worth something, but not in our lifetimes. Simply put, don't waste your money, unless you have a lot.......
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Replies: 54 / Views: 26,678 |
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Posted 06/14/2010 11:16 am
