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Posted 10/07/2025 05:35 am
A while back on ebay, I paid $50 for a PCGS MS65+ CAC 1912S Liberty nickel from a Chinese seller. I knew it was a counterfeit, but had heard that some counterfeiters even counterfeit slabs. Out of curiosity, I wanted to see how the counterfeit slab and CAC sticker looked.
Turns out that $50 doesn't buy you a counterfeit slab, much less a CAC sticker. The "coin" arrived loose in a tin box like one for breath mints. I didn't bother to learn and check the diagnostics. The item itself looked like a genuinely struck coin with gem consistent surfaces. It would probably look legit in a Dansco or Whitman album, absent careful examination.
I have been told that you should look at where the item is coming from and be very skeptical if from outside the U.S. I have had bad experiences buying raw coins on ebay, all genuine. Photos, lighting and other factors can be misleading. This can also be true of slabbed coins. I find it difficult to get a good sense of toning color, except from a few trustworthy dealers. A few times I have bought coins I thought were naturally toned and received white coins that looked dipped. PCGS TRUE VIEW photos often exaggerate the extent of toning. Even Heritage Auctions has sent me white coins when the photographs appeared to show toning colors Accordingly, I usually limit my purchases to CAC approved coins unless I have established trust with the dealer.
So, caveat emptor on mail order coins from new sources, and for heaven's sake, don't bid in a raw coin auction for a coin coming from China.
Turns out that $50 doesn't buy you a counterfeit slab, much less a CAC sticker. The "coin" arrived loose in a tin box like one for breath mints. I didn't bother to learn and check the diagnostics. The item itself looked like a genuinely struck coin with gem consistent surfaces. It would probably look legit in a Dansco or Whitman album, absent careful examination.
I have been told that you should look at where the item is coming from and be very skeptical if from outside the U.S. I have had bad experiences buying raw coins on ebay, all genuine. Photos, lighting and other factors can be misleading. This can also be true of slabbed coins. I find it difficult to get a good sense of toning color, except from a few trustworthy dealers. A few times I have bought coins I thought were naturally toned and received white coins that looked dipped. PCGS TRUE VIEW photos often exaggerate the extent of toning. Even Heritage Auctions has sent me white coins when the photographs appeared to show toning colors Accordingly, I usually limit my purchases to CAC approved coins unless I have established trust with the dealer.
So, caveat emptor on mail order coins from new sources, and for heaven's sake, don't bid in a raw coin auction for a coin coming from China.
