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 Replies: 20 / Views: 2,084 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2936 Posts |
I need one of these critters and would like to get opinions on authenticity. We know that photography wasn't his major in college, but quite a bit of detail can be derived from the photos. I'm leaning toward genuine and although there's a "No Returns" caveat, the Bay should cover a phony..... Paleoguy http://www.ebay.com/itm/CC-1875-Sil...em337be0992a |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Ooooh.This might be the time I'd make an exception to the "never buy raw" rule. That's an "XF Details" price, and the coin is no less than mid-AU, even if it's Details. Quote:
I'm leaning toward genuine and although there's a "No Returns" caveat, the Bay should cover a phony. Yeah. The images are good enough to form a reasonable opinion of grade, and a fake is SNAD enough to get ebay's backing. LMK if you're not going to pull the trigger on this one; I think I would take the chance.
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Valued Member
United States
203 Posts |
I don't see anything that screams fake to me. It looks fairly original, I don't see anything that screams cleaned either.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
I would pass on this for the simple reason that the seller is too lazy to orientate the coin properly.
A pet peeve of mine and I have no patience for it.
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Valued Member
United States
115 Posts |
The lower part of the wheat behind Liberty looks wrong to me.
The guy has better images of other coins.
Wonder why he shot the images of this one at such an angle.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2077 Posts |
Based on the other listings, I'm guessing this is a pawn shop. Doesn't look bad, but without any return policy I see it as a big risk. Maybe if he added photos out of the flip that could be matched to a genuine one, I'd do it.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2936 Posts |
Well, although he does have the "No Return" policy it's easy enough to determine (mayyyyybe) whether or not it's real. If fake, then contact the seller and advise that you want to return the coin and why. I would even ask for the return shipping charges. If the seller won't agree, then open a case with ebay. They are actually pretty darn good to work with. As a seller and buyer for a bit more than two years, I've never lost a case. The key to it all is documentation. PG |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I really like to examine ANY coin in hand at this price level, be it ancient OR modern.
Charles M. Larson shows some excellent examples of fake and altered coins in his book:
'Numismatic Forgery', and quite franlky, I can't pick them from the excellent illustrations in the book.
I can't see anything wrong with the coin that is the subject of this thread, from the pictures presented, but I would make it a condition of purchase that I was able to get it verified, and if possible, establish a verified provenance.
Keep all of the purchase documentation and pictures. With valuable coins I have a separate folder for this information, for all valuable coins. That helps with the re sale of the coins, if you have to, years later.
That is how I go about 'due diligence', when it comes to numismatics.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3184 Posts |
why not just go and buy a slabbed one?
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Valued Member
United States
115 Posts |
The more I look at it the more I think it's fake.
I would by one in a slab as well.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I don't like slabbed coins. They do not fit in 2x2's, on which you can write all of the purchase information.
Slabbing is nowhere as popular in Australia, as it is in the U.S., nor do you have to worry about fake slabs.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1704 Posts |
The Trade dollar is the most counterfeited coin in U. S. history and I would never buy one that I could not examine in hand that was raw. This guy has a no return policy though ebay might not agree with that if something was amiss. Only you can decide to bid on this coin and if you do get it and it isn't geniune do you really want to go through the hassle of trying to get the guy to take it back? Ed ANA LM-3175 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1227 Posts |
Paleoguy-- I just made my first coin inquiry on the Bay yesterday, about a lot of damaged coins (that the seller is selling as "holed/damaged," so before anyone goes "DDD: NINA" please relax, he's being honest about their condition). I'm particularly interested in one of the coins, but because he photographed as a lot, it's sort of way off in the corner and hard to focus in on. I asked if he could take a picture of that coin alone for me because it's a rather lovely, albeit cleaned, IHC (which is my personal pet coin), and he readily agreed to e-mail me one before I bid and gave me further details on his in-hand opinion of the damage. I would say that if my guy is willing to do that to make a ten-dollar sale on a lot where the coins are going for a buck each, yours should be twenty-five times as willing to do it. Just politely request, "hey--I'm interested, but because this coin is rare and unslabbed, you can probably understand I'm a bit wary. Would you mind taking a couple of closer/clearer pics?" If he balks or sends you photographs that are from the same weird angle, give it a pass. If he goes "yeah, sure!" and sends them along, you can give yourself a more informed opinion. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2936 Posts |
Good advise all... I will contact the seller and ask for better photos and about his knowledge of the coin.. PG
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
paleo, best bet. Those pics dont give me any confidence at all.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2936 Posts |
Final results... I contacted the seller and he took the coin (along with four others) he was selling for a "friend" to a coin shop and the opinion was (drumroll)......... FAKE! He's taken down the listing... A good guy actually who knew nuttin about coins.... Level heads prevail!  |
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Replies: 20 / Views: 2,084 |
Posted 09/09/2012 3:52 pm
