Numismatics; Can You Handle The Truth Or Comments...

When I solicit advice on a coin I hope for a variety of opinions and most importantly an explanation of the opinion stated. There are many facets to what makes a coin what it is. Remember, with coins as for many things in life, beauty is often truly in the eye of the beholder. I appreciate the diversity of opinions. I also do not criticize a poster for modifying their opinion after having aspects of the coin pointed out that he/she may have been missed when stating their original opinion. I think honesty, tempered by respect is the key to giving and receiving opinions. Mike

I read Ben thread, and few more responds.... and in general this is what I think:

First of all, I only take in responds with reasonings/explanations/qualifications/references. If someone said my coin is fake/junk in one sentence.... then that's a worthless comment, it's more like an opinion from a careless person. However, I will pay attention to comments that are more than just a few lines, those with explanations/references to justify the poster's comments. Those who followed the first comment, without further explanation; I will take those with an extra grain of salt.

Second, I only trust/believe in comments that are logical, not just opinion/feeling comments. There are case that people said "I feel that the coin is not right, but don't know why or how to explain".... I may consider such comment as a helpful input. However, if some one say "I think the coin is fake/not right...etc; then I'll just pass by it without even think about it.

Lastly, like everyone else said: Comments on forum are opinion based on what the poster known (his/her knowledge of the subject - ie: his or her background in that field; and what information was given to him/her). Seeking TPG opinion grading is probably the last resort that I will use to validate the coin! If there's a coin show, you can bring it there to solicited some opinions from those experts in the field.

I think there are some very dedicated members (who I think they are the core of this forum) who spend a lot of time and effort to share their knowledge in the matter; and there are people who are just "here to be here" and to benefit from the forum; and there are people who are here to take advantage of others or for personal "self gain" (*** Benefit from the forum is not necessarily a negative thing; however, take advantage of others... is NOT GOOD). I believe every organizations has the same type three types of people - the same kind of problem.

These are just my thought and thinking, I am sorry if I sounded so harsh, but it's just my opinion, after all.... and I make no representation and/or accusation of anyone!

Happy Thanksgiving,
Bruce

Anyone who has online experience has to develop a different quality of intellectual 'skin.' You have to selectively thicken it as well as make it semi-permeable. No matter where you go for information online you're going to be assaulted with so much input that you've got to learn how to be a discerning end-user.

It saddens me when people post pics of counterfeits for evaluation, whether they paid a lot or a little. There are times when I don't want to be the first one to tell someone their coin is fake. I don't like to be too nit-picky on coins I know less about, for example, I am horrible at grading 3 cent nickels, so I try to always mention that fact.

I take most seriously those posts that are detailed and show a level of sensitivity to the person, their coin, and their apparent numismatic experience.

One thing that turns me off immediately is when 'experts' (either self-described or generally acknowleged) give short answers and call a coin worthless or without premium value. I find this mostly in the discussions of cents in the error forum.

Another thing I am wondering about your post is whether it references a specific experience or topic.

Good food for thought.

The dealer has a big advantage in determining authenticity, he can see it in person and not just a photo.

As for it having been in the family for generations, so what. I've seen a lot of counterfeits that have "been in the family for generations" They didn't just start making them last week.

And so what if it did turn out to be a contemporary counterfeit. That doesn't lessen any of the "stories of yesteryear. Horses, buggies, cowboy badmen, gamblers, six-guns, wooden boardwalks, snow in the tall pines, gold-rushes, dirt roads, and sailing ships are all part of it's rich history to you." because if it was a contemporary counterfiet it participated in all of those things as well, plus it has more stories of intrique and shadowy characters.

You say it's a rare date but so what, you're not planning on selling it, so it doesn't matter if it is rare or common. (Personally I would rather it be a common.) Send it in for authenticating? Why? Once again you're not going to sell it, so why waste the money on slabbing postage and insurance? You want it in a protective holder? Fine, you can buy a nice protective generic slab shell for about a dollar and protect it yourself. But that is why I would rather it have been a common piece, so you would feel comfortable actually handling the coina and making a physical connection with all of those past generations that have held and thought about this coin and then passed it along to the next generation. This was grandmothers coins and you should enjoy holding it, like grandmother did.

if I was in the new collectors shoes I would rather have a blunt but true statement than one that the seasoned collectors thought I wanted to hear, but that may just be me

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I do not see it here as much as in the error, variety forum, that one is ruthless at times.

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Agreed, but it is also monitored. I think the reason this section is more blunt is because folks are trying to make something out of nothing, and sometimes sheer bluntness is the only way to get through. In my opinion, it is a much different aspect of collecting than basic grading and values per say. A very fine coin in the regular coin grading forum is a VF coin. It will not be MS, ever. But a couple of tools and a vise can turn that VF coin into a potential "error" in someones eyes......

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Unlike this web site (usually) there are others that make newbies that post feel like fools. Hope we never do that.

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Never do, and never will. That's why there is a Report button by each reply. It's our members that make CCF successful. For the most part everyone reads the rules and follows them.

Just to add another Two Cent Piece - I am surprised no one suggested getting a scale (and possibly calipers) and verifying the weight and specs for the coin. That and showing it to a couple of experienced people (like a dealer) is probably as good an authentication as you will get short of sending it to a TPG (which, after all, is just a group of experienced people you hire to check your coins).

I recently posted pics of some coins I bought in China, in part just to see what the reaction would be when I mentioned the source. While I don't pretend to be an expert, I would say after checking the weight and size and looking at the coins in hand that if they are counterfeit they would fool just about anyone on this forum (to my forum members defense, my own cruddy photos didn't help anyone really see the coins at their best).

Sometimes it's best to go with the facts and trust your own judgement - that's part of what this hobby is about too .