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 Replies: 24 / Views: 10,207 |
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Pillar of the Community
527 Posts |
*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***Here is the brief quote that I posted back on September 17: https://goccf.com/t/98305&whichpage=1Quote:
At another pawn shop, I ended up buying an 1804 silver dollar for just $10! However, it turns out to be a counterfeit. The guy who sold it to me flat out admitted that he doesn't know if it's real silver or not and that is why he priced it at $10. He said that if he knew if it was real, he'd sell it for a lot more. I took a chance and bought it. I took it to two different pawn shops to see if it's real or not and they said it wasn't. I was a bit bummed, but I'll get over it. The guy who sold it was honest with me; he didn't go out and say that it's real. He said he wasn't sure. Either way it's a cool novelty to have. How my mind has changed about this place just three months later: Well today, I happened to be in town by that shop, so I decided to conduct a test. I took my fake 1804 dollar that I had in the car and I was going to pretend to sell it. I wanted to see if he truly knew if it was a counterfeit or not. I also had an 1857 Flying Eagle cent (real, not fake) on me and wanted to see if he would accept that. When I showed him the coins and asked how much I could get for them, he bluntly and rudely said "nothing" and "nothing" to both. I asked why and his response was, "I don't want them." I looked in his glass case and he had a few more of those 1804 dollar coins! I couldn't believe that this pile of pondscum was selling those things. I asked him if my coin was real, and when he said it wasn't. I told him he has more of them, and he said "Yeah all of the ones in the bag are fake." I just couldn't take it anymore; I walked out of the store and threw away the coin, which I now regret. I should have kept it as evidence, as I was thinking about giving the Prince William County police a phone call to let them know that this pile of dirt sells fake money and pretends to not know if it's real or not. But at least by throwing the coin away, that's one less fake dollar that will never see the light of day ever again. He fooled me once but he will not fool me twice. I learned a valuable lesson. Quote:
4124 Dale Boulevard Woodbridge, VA 22193-2225 There is the address. So if you're nearby, don't stop in. He is the only one that works there. I can only guess why.  Now earlier in the day, I went to a Pawn shop several blocks away that treats their customers with respect. I ended up buying 24 Washington silver quarters for an even $108 (tax excluded), which averaged out to exactly $4.50 per coin. I think I am going to go back to him next week and get some more junk silver. He had loads of 40% Kennedy halves for $4 each, bags with small quantities of Franklin halves (but I didn't ask how much), and he had an 1858 Seated Liberty quarter that was a bit banged up for $7. If you guys are ever in this part of Virginia, you should stop in there. http://www.pawnusawoodbridge.com/
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Can't imagine why you thought an 1804 dollar @$10 was genuine in the first place. You do realize early dollars are larger than Ikes, right?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
 No offense Dan but I was wondering the same thing.... |
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Pillar of the Community
 527 Posts |
Quote:
Can't imagine why you thought an 1804 dollar @$10 was genuine in the first place. You do realize early dollars are larger than Ikes, right? Reread this: Quote:
He fooled me once but he will not fool me twice. I learned a valuable lesson. Quote:
No offense Dan but I was wondering the same thing.... You too should reread my statement. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
OK. ?. But he fooled you once, right? So the statement remains valid. Can't imagine why you thought an 1804 dollar @$10 was genuine in the first place.....just sayin'
Edited by amida17
12/29/2011 10:53 pm
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Rest in Peace
 United States
1380 Posts |
Neither of you guys were ever new to collecting? You knew all about it from birth? You never bought something on the spur of the moment only to realize later if wasn't such a good deal?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
I read this the first time around and kind of thought the same thing. New or not, an 1804 dollar made of silver for 10 bucks...no way. Regardless, the info on this guy is good.
Dan, is this shop a few doors down from a Scuba shop?
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
I remember buying one of several 1891 Liberty $20 from a dealer, getting it home and thinking it was worth a fortune. Then just before running back to buy the others, I noticed the S. But it was still real. At no time after owning a RedBook did I ever think there were 1804 silver dollars floating around at less than bullion value. Edited by biggfredd
12/29/2011 11:14 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
 Quote:
Neither of you guys were ever new to collecting? of course you are right. I dunno I guess I am different I read a lot before I bought my first coin as an adult. I asure NO offense was intended. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
580 Posts |
Dan, I'm with you. My father bought a few fake 1804 dollars along with fake morgans, peace, and trades. This was before we knew about silver value or coins. It is what actually got us in to collecting. He bought them thinking, (old coins, nice, maybe worth something) Knew nothing about silver content or anything like that. Maybe that makes us dumb, but you live and learn.
Sorry if I'm rambling. I just wanted to say, don't feel bad. We ALL make mistakes.
Edited by LTMets44
12/29/2011 11:34 pm
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Pillar of the Community
527 Posts |
Quote:
I read this the first time around and kind of thought the same thing. New or not, an 1804 dollar made of silver for 10 bucks...no way. Regardless, the info on this guy is good.
Dan, is this shop a few doors down from a Scuba shop? I did not pay attention if there is a Scuba shop. If I may ask, is it possible that you have been to this pawn shop before? This is the address to the Scuba shop you may be thinking of: 4365 Dale Blvd., Woodbridge, Virginia 22193 Quote:
Dan, I'm with you. My father bought a few fake 1804 dollars along with fake morgans, peace, and trades. This was before we knew about silver value or coins. It is what actually got us in to collecting. He bought them thinking, (old coins, nice, maybe worth something) Knew nothing about silver content or anything like that. Maybe that makes us dumb, but you live and learn.
Sorry if I'm rambling. I just wanted to saw, don't feel bad. We ALL make mistakes. I don't feel bad about it. I try to think positive because it could have been much worse. But I do appreciate your support, LTMets. I am sorry to hear about your father getting ripped off many years ago from scammers who are more concerned about making a quick buck than being honest and trying to give the best service to their customers as possible. Also, if it's any way that makes you guys think better, I have yet to buy a Morgan or Peace dollar because I do know for a fact that fakes exist of those; I never knew an 1804 fake existed. From now on, I only buy silver from reputable places such as Pawn USA (which is the shop that I got the 24 Washington quarters from today). Edited by TheDanMan
12/29/2011 11:54 pm
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Valued Member
United States
333 Posts |
There may be a coin shop or show in your area that you might want to visit. Pawn shops are hit or miss regarding numismatics.
With respect to the original story, I don't really feel sorry for you as it was only $10, but I can share in your anger that the pawn shop knowingly sells fakes to unsuspecting buyers. That sort of thing does hurt the hobby, too good to be true or not.
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Valued Member
United States
239 Posts |
You learn from your mistakes.. It just sucks that there are people like that in this world that pray on others disadvantages to make a dollar. I don't know how you could sleep at night knowing you ripped off potentially thousands of people.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
Too bad you tossed it as you had a great story to tell and then network with other collectors on CCF and locally. There's tremendous profit in these Chinese counterfeits. At one flea market, I saw similar "coin" items selling for fifty cents, apiece. Actually, that 1804 probably would not be legally classified as a counterfeit, even if it lacked the COPY stamp. I say this because there was likely no denomination given on the piece you bought. Genuine Bust Dollars show the denomination on the edge, and the 1804 copies that I've seen lacked that lettering, "One Hundred Cents or a Dollar." Some years ago, I was able to save two separate ebay buyers from making purchases for over $1,000, each on such copies, dated 1799 and 1800. I contacted them and suggested that they ask the seller what was on the edge of each "coin." His failure to reply was telling, and the top bidders were quite thankful. I agree with Dan that most of us have encountered and bought unfamiliar numismatic items. When doing so, it's best to expect the downside of the item being a repro. Then, if it turns out to be genuine, what a treat! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10635 Posts |
Am I the only one here that thinks you should (still even after the fact) contact the police to let them know this guy is knowingly defaulting people? Selling counterfeits is still a crime.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
Dan, I bought a nice 55 quarter from a pawn shop in that area a few doors down from a scuba shop. Given the addresses I would say its not the same place. If I get a chance I will check out the place you are talking about. Be interesting to see what he says to me. I know I got into it with the owner of the place I went into because he was really trying to gouge using PCGS prices as a guide.
I check pawn shops, but generally not the place to get coins.
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Replies: 24 / Views: 10,207 |
Posted 12/29/2011 10:12 pm
