Is This Fake? 1909 S Indian Cent

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Buyers should not have the same amount of "responsibility" if you will. they are not seeking a profit , they are seeking a product.

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I would have to disagree a little, in the specific case of ebay. Most ebay buyers are looking to get something for nothing; that's why fraud is so easily perpetuated there, and why you're rightfully unhappy in another thread about grading coins for sale. In a perfect world, you're right. In the real world, buyers are seeking a profit because they're interested in seeing you get less than you deserve for your coin. Much of the real trouble on ebay would go away if buyers were better-educated. However, they aren't, they won't be any time in the future, and in the meantime sellers deserve some protection from sheeple who don't know what to expect, and then get disappointed when they don't get it.

Every time I sell a batch on ebay, at least one buyer attempts to beat me for a coin by insinuating they didn't get it. Every time, I provide them with the USPS Delivery Confirmation link listing the date and time of delivery, and every single time I never hear from them again.

Focusing more closely at this specific case, I'm rather nervous about both the coin and the seller. A little research raises serious concerns based on feedback timing and sales records. He's only been a member since May, has only bought coins, and now all of a sudden is selling kilodollar rarities? Ugh.

I'd suggest you search the Heritage auction archives for the 1909-s Indian. There you will find high resolution photos of examples certified by the grading services, so you will be able to compare for yourself.

actually all it would have taken was to look at the sellers feedback as a seller and see that in this auction he had his location as Hong Kong China http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...230128963114 so all they did was change their location to somewhere where people may think it may not be fake. I still feel that you shouldn't have bid unless you have already done the homework and if you do bid without doing it you still are obligated to pay for the item if you won it, and I have to say also that with the responses you have made you have made it to the very short list of blocked bidders on my account also

My 2 cents (hey, a coin pun!)

If I bid on a coin, and shortly after learned (for a fact) it was a scam I would refuse to pay. A fake coin IS a scam. That being said, if there is ANY question about its authenticity I would say the buyer should follow through with his obligation. But if there's solid proof that it's fake I'm going to be in the minority and say he shouldn't have to pay. That is a big IF though.

Unless I'm misinterpreting you guys you're basically saying, "if you were dumb enough to fall for it, then you're scum if you refuse to pay".

Personally I avoid buying key date coins that aren't graded by one of the TPG's, due to the risk of a fake. I honestly hope that this one works out for you. Good luck, and let us know how things go.

Thundercoin

Every one should do that. I avoid ebay or any on line dealers and auctions. I know there are many individuals that only have those as a source of coins and I feel sorry for them. However, if it is not graded by a TPG and slabbed, it is just to risky for an expensive item. This one may or may not be fake and from that poor photo it is just to difficult to tell. As so many say, it is probably the best thing to do under these circumstances is to pay for it, receive it, have it authenticated and if not real, then complain. If real, you have a valuable coin. However, from my experiences at coin shows it is over priced for that condition. One big problem with auctions is people getting caught up in a buying frency over nothing. This could be a lesson well learned as to what not to do though. I hate to say this but if you buy something, you should know what you are doing and so many of us just don't.

First off, I believe the 1909S to be real. The mintmark is in the right place for a real one and doesn't look bad from the images. Of course a close inspection of the coin would tell me 100% one way or the other.

Second, a bid is a bid, and if you win, you have to pay - no matter what. And coming here asking the questions and getting childish when the answers come in that you don't like is good reason to block you from bidding. I wouldn't want you pulling the same prank on me.