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 Replies: 28 / Views: 4,910 |
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Valued Member
United States
165 Posts |
saw a few of these on the boards and from what I gather it was highly counterfeited. After seeing some fakes the details look right on this...looking for a better eye than mine to comment. Thanks Gaz     |
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Valued Member
 United States
165 Posts |
Wow..no one has an opinion?....Real...Fake...help!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
Gazot- Beautiful coin. However, I think that there have not been any responses since so few on this forum seem to be familiar with Puerto Rican coins. Would it be possible for you to take some pictures of the edges and also tell us the weight of your coin? (I do suspect that this coin may be real based upon the fine details, which are far too sharp to be a typical Chinese fake).
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Pillar of the Community
Hong Kong
1270 Posts |
Please tell the weight and diameter, I have one piece but quite worn, can compare with you. Also give a close-up of the pictures.
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Valued Member
United States
165 Posts |
Edge Closeups I did as best I could. I do not have a gram scale but I have access to one and will advise. Coin is 37mm.I included an additional shot of the coat of arms for another angle of the detail area of the coin    |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2543 Posts |
Unfortunately the devil is in the details. Without close up, detailed pictures, exact weight, things like specific gravity, only the most obvious of counterfeits can be determined. From the pictures you have, it does not look to my semi knowledgable eye to have any obvious signs that it it a fake. Here is a thread that may help https://goccf.com/t/78586Edited by denco7
03/04/2013 7:55 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Hong Kong
1270 Posts |
Gazot, if your coin is genuine, it is very high grade and will be worth a great deal of money. I show my coin to you for comparison. It weighs 24.41 grams, 37.4mm in diameter, I bought this coin in Oct 2012 by US$348.00.    |
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Valued Member
United States
165 Posts |
"Gazot, if your coin is genuine, it is very high grade and will be worth a great deal of money. I show my coin to you for comparison. It weighs 24.41 grams, 37.4mm in diameter, I bought this coin in Oct 2012 by US$348.00." I dropped it off today at Stacks in NYc for TPG. Will keep yo posted. Gaz |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
Here is a link to a Common Chinese forgery of this coin. This is the one that pops up ALL THE TIME. http://www.ebay.com/itm/SPAIN-PUERT...330884130471Here are the pictures since I am trying to get this auction stopped.    In all honesty I have after over 50 years of collecting - NEVER SEEN A REAL ONE outside a TPG slab. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2543 Posts |
What gives it away Bob ? The weight ? Or the edge ?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
The coin has the "dead" look of a casting first of all. Second the margin at the rim is inconsistent and directly over the portrait there is a feature never seen on a struck coin. On the edge the forms of the tiny crosses or Fleur de lis are ODD - note especially the bent one near the edge nick. Then look at the corners where the edge and faces meet - that has been finely ground down. These forgers are getting better. The seller in this ebay auction is located in the same industrial park where these coins are made. These are NEW issues and they are BETTER than the older ones that were brought in 5 years ago. This is a BIG OPERATION capable of at least 200,000 coin per month output. |
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Valued Member
United States
165 Posts |
Quote:These forgers are getting better. The seller in this ebay auction is located in the same industrial park where these coins are made. These are NEW issues and they are BETTER than the older ones that were brought in 5 years ago. Well the guy at Stacks (VP of Numismatics) seemed to like it and the good news is mine has been in a safe for 22 years so I am certain it is no late forgery. I will know in a month as it is now in PCGS's hands. And as far as never seeing one out of a slab that was real they had to be naked at some point...LOL. Here's to hoping but it is what it is. Thanks for all your great input. Gaz |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
World counterfeits coming from China were not great 10 or 20 years ago. It is the Chinese that are finally getting good.
But there have been very able forgers in Europe and the US who have been giving authenticators fits for decades.
Do not presume simply because you can trace a coin back 30 or more years that it HAS TO BE GOOD. It most certainly does not.
IT SIMPLY DID NOT COME FROM CHINA.
But in your favor - the coin you posted does look good to me as well.
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Valued Member
United States
165 Posts |
Quote:
But in your favor - the coin you posted does look good to me as well. Thanks Bob. I wasn't clear on your opinion of the coin I posted and at first if your comments about the lack of details were meant for mine or not. I certainly am no expert and I know as happened to just about every mom and pop dealer in the 70's and 80's my dad and I got burned on counterfeits all too often. I have this vivid memory of two 1877 Three dollar gold pieces that a little old lady sold me that turned out to be fake. I bought them when my dad was in Bermuda on vacation and couldnt wait for him to get home to show off how smart I was. I remember the "expert" we brought them to for a valuation took about ten seconds to identify them as fakes. It never even entered my mind that was a possibility. I will never forget the look on my fathers face when we realized my super buy was a super bust. Oh the pain. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
I know that look well. I have been called in as the expert on many similar occasions and the results are usually not good. I think the worst case I ran into was a guy who paid $16,000 for a colonial that an obvious fake, I own one of the $3 counterfeits made in the 1960s - I like it because it is a very good introduction coin. With a new dealer I will at times (if I feel like having fun) try to sell a real good fake and see what they say. If they bite I go along for a bit. Just before they are ready to hand over their money I tell them it is a forgery and then I let on what I do. Most, not all, see it as funny.  Good luck with your submission. |
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Valued Member
United States
165 Posts |
Quote:
Just before they are ready to hand over their money I tell them it is a forgery and then I let on what I do.
Most, not all, see it as funny. I'm laughing my butt off and thinking...wow...that sounds like fun....except of course for the guy on the other side of the counter...OUCH! Caveat Emptor |
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Replies: 28 / Views: 4,910 |
Posted 03/04/2013 4:13 pm
