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 Replies: 75 / Views: 12,685 |
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Pillar of the Community
  United States
3098 Posts |
It's 4.38 grams. That's on the light side for a Flying Eagle which should be around 4.67 grams.
I always weigh my ancient coins. Maybe I'll have to start weighing my U.S. ones as well.
Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2757 Posts |
Taking the weight was probably the first thing NGC did. I would ask Rick Snow if he wants the coin. He has other known Counterfeits listed in his IHC guides - and maybe he would include die markers characteristic of this one. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2543 Posts |
First of all, I wouldn't abandon the coin yet. NGC is not the "end all" authority. Their mistakes are well documented, as are ANACS and mistakes by PCGS. It's authenticity is the opinion of one man, perhaps two. I would definitely hold on to it for second opinions. Bring it to a coin show/shop. Quote:I'm NOT surprised that the seller is refunding and letting you keep the coin. A few years ago I had purchased a complete set of FE/Indian cents on ebay. I immediately realized that they were fakes and the seller refunded and told me to keep the coins......I later found out why. 1. It is a Federal crime to send counterfeit coins in the mail 2. If they didn't refund, they could be looking at 20 years in Federal Prison 3. If they had YOU return the counterfeits, in the USPS mail, they again would be looking at a long prison term 4. The amount of elapsed time, since your purchase, has a 5 years statute of limitations, thus, the seller would have no choice but to refund. That is all well and good on paper. Good luck trying to find someone who cares. I bought a fake Panda, a few years ago, I contacted the seller, who told me hge posted " all sales were final " in the auction. I pointed out that that is not true in the eyes of the law. And further iterated the above. He basically told me to go find someone who cares. And he was entirely right. Brought the coin down to the local federal building, where they have a local FBI and Secret Service office. They had me fill out forms, took the coin, and did nothing. Two years and many follow ups later, I was basically told that the Hobby Protection Act isd not a big priority to them. Something tells me the seller knew exactly that. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
The fact that he said you could keep the coin raises a small red flag for me. That makes me think that "possibly" he knew the coin was fake. Glad you got the refund, but I would also stay away from the seller in the future.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6389 Posts |
Too bad about the fake, but getting an NGC-slabbed MS-63 Flying Eagle cent for $122 is a huge win. I'd take that combo deal any time! Congrats on the success; it more than makes up for the fake coin purchase. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
The fact that he said you could keep the coin raises a small red flag for me. Maybe, but requiring it back could be a red flag as well. After all what is he going to do with it? If he wanted it back you would have to worry that it would get sold again to someone else as real. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
IMHO the fact that the seller refunded the money without throwing up a fuss is enough said. Without direct discussion with the seller, we do not know what his/her knowledge of the coins was. It sounds like sound business decision from a dealer who wants to keep good customers happy and returning.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2077 Posts |
The coin was probably mixed up with a bunch of others. Most likely an honest mistake. The only time I get suspicious is when I see a seller who has ONLY key and semi key coins in AU/BU. That's an immediate red flag for me.
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Pillar of the Community
1028 Posts |
This is a really good Chinese fake. Why is it fake? I don't know. It looks good to me. I believe that it is based on the NGC opinion and the weight. Scary.
It is not a surprise that the FBI and Secret Service would do nothing about the shipping of a fake coin. I agree with them. At the end of the day, this is pretty minor in the scope of national security and crime. Imagine if someone got 20 years for that. One could commit a non pre-meditated murder and get less than 20.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8517 Posts |
If you can, I would really appreciate good pics of both sides of the coin. It would be nice to get a really good look at it. It's not often a coin fools everybody here.
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
If I sold a coin that I believe is genuine, you can be sure I'd want it returned before I gave any refund. Otherwise a buyer could just say a coin was fake, keep the coin, and get a refund.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
I'll see if I can get some good quality photos over the weekend and post them.
I am wondering why someone who can make such a convincing fake wouldn't work harder to get the weight correct.
But then, I'm not a counterfeiter.
Again, if there's an expert on the list who'd like to examine the coin I'd be happy to send it to him or her.
Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
861 Posts |
Excellent point edweather
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Valued Member
United States
139 Posts |
Wow, I cant decide if him giving your money back and letting you keep the coin means he is an honest seller, or just a crook that got caught and had to cut bait. Do you still have to pay the grading fee if it comes back fake?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
I did let the seller know that I'd sent it in to NGC and had the proof that it was a fake.
Paul Bulgerin
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Replies: 75 / Views: 12,685 |
First Page
Posted 05/07/2014 09:19 am
