1848 Large Cent

Tighe, I hate to say it, but you ended up buying a coin from photoshopped pics (though very subtly done). From the original photos, I thought I saw signs of cleaning, then when I looked at your pics, I saw that it was actually masked damage along with the cleaning which gives the coin its odd coloring in areas.

If you can return this coin, I would. I see it as having VF details but there are too many qualifiers (cleaned, damaged, corroded) to give it more value than a G4 in my opinion. It might have overcome the qualifiers if it had better eye appeal.

Can you post a link to the auction itself or email it to me? I'd like to see the entire auction.

If they don't take it back, I hope you will reveal the seller's name in the appropriate location (with the appropriate disclaimers of course).

I am in fact returning the coin today, and I have emailed the seller with the news. I believe I was most polite in my thoughts of their tactics. That being said, I will post an update if things do not go smoothly. Here is the core of the email that I sent:

I just wanted to send you an email stating that I wil be returning this coin. The damage that was masked via photoshop or some other program is unsatisfactory. That being said, please provide me with return shipping address and the coin will be in the mail today. I will leave no feedback for you at this time due to the return in question.

I only hope in the future after this return goes smoothly that you will revisit your techniques in photography to avoid future returns from buyers that know what they are looking at when they receive a product like this.

Best regards,

As we all know this is a risk many of us take when buying from a picture online. That being said, this seller already replied to my email and will happily accept a return of this coin. I can't stress enough for the new buyers out there to look at feedback AND all aspects of the listing, namely the return policy. While this seller did in fact "hide" the true features of this coin, they are willing to accept it's return with no questions asked. I sent a follow up email to this seller asking for the shipping costs to be returned as well since the item was not as described, but I have yet to hear a reply. Needless to say, I am content with returning the coin, although I will not purchase from this seller again.