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 Replies: 15 / Views: 2,190 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
I was browsing through the auction lots, I saw an 1846 Seated dollar with a minimum bid of $300. I picked up to look at it and something immediately looked wrong. I saw raised diagonal striations, mushy details, and a slightly porous surface. I than saw a pair of Walking Liberty halves from the same seller that were cast out of lead, being sold as real coins. However, I think they were contemporary counterfeits. I brought them to the attention of Bill Fivaz, who is a member of my coin club, and he immediately had the auction lots pulled. I've never had this happen at my coin club in the 8 years I'v been a member. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3843 Posts |
There are scammers everywhere, even locally trying to make an easy buck. Nothing to do but to report them to someone in charge and hope that they items are removed before they can be sold to an unsuspecting buyer. It seems that there are more fakes out there than before, not just coins but every type of antique or collectable. Sometimes I go into antique malls and am depressed on how much reproduction stuff there is being sold at full retail as if the item was the real deal.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6370 Posts |
I don't think the seller was trying to be malicious. I don't think he knew his coin was fake, but who knows...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1704 Posts |
You did the right thing to bring them to Bill's attention. Hopefully he took the owner of the coins aside and showed him what to look for to detect counterfeits. If the owner knew beforehand or not that the coins were fake he most definitely knew after he tried to sell them.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
I'd like to be in Bill Fivaz' coin club. 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
593 Posts |
We've had the odd fake show up in our clubs auctions, I don't think in any of the cases it was done intentionally
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4415 Posts |
That was certainly the right thing to do. Better to disappoint one consignor than to open a can of worms for the club ,,, the greater good.
I used to be active in a NY club. We had and still have a "grading committee." It consists of a small group of volunteers who meet about three weeks prior to each monthly meeting. All lots are passed around and consensus graded. The club secretary lists all lots in a monthly newsletter. If there are questionable coins, they are withdrawn. If a counterfeit were to get by the committee, the policy is that any buyer can get a refund at the following month's meeting. To my knowledge, this hasn't happened, but I think it's a wise safeguard. Consignors must agree, if they want to utilize the auction and remain a member in good standing.
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
I want to believe there was no malicious intent. Probably just a case of lack of experience.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Valued Member
United States
234 Posts |
Not that this is the best advertisement but is there a coin club that serves Southern New Jersey?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1373 Posts |
I feel that the club member didn't know the items were fake. If he did then trying to sell them at a coin club function would be pretty risky. It's like a crook trying to pick-pocket cops at a police station.
Hopefully he was just unaware of the fakes and is more upset that he probably paid a good amount for them from the past owner.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1211 Posts |
Brian,
Feel free to email me directly.
There are at least 4 that I know of. I belong to 2 of them.
-Ben
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Brian, for you the closest is probably the Atlantic County Numismatic Society, accoins.org. They meet Wednesday nights at the Linwood Library on New Rd if I recall (I just moved from Galloway after 20 years there). There's also one in Collingswood but I know little about them.
Surprisingly, I've found nothing here in Philadelphia.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
Surprisingly, I've found nothing here in Philadelphia. Closest appears to be in West Chester.next closest in Reading, and then in Whitehall. Counterfeits are bad, but in the last couple years we've had at least two lots stolen out of the auction during viewing. It's believable that someone might not know a coin the consigned was a fake, but very hard to believe that someone wouldn't know they are stealing an item. Edited by Conder101
11/03/2014 12:04 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1211 Posts |
Dave,
Try Garden State Coin Club. They meet first Saturday of the month in Westville, NJ. Just outside Philly very near Walt Whitman Bridge. Great club!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8516 Posts |
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Valued Member
United States
234 Posts |
Thanks for the responses I will look at getting into a meeting after I return from Florida
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Replies: 15 / Views: 2,190 |
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Posted 11/02/2014 8:46 pm
