Indian Head 1877 & 1909 S And Lincoln 1909 S VDB: Fake Or Real

They all appear to be genuine from the pics. Nice haul! All the biggies in one shot!

Thanks all. I'm having a heck of a time proving that they aren't real...so, that leads to a good buy.

I think they're all genuine, but given the condition of the '77 and the SVDB, I hope you got a very good deal - these might prove difficult to sell in the future.

I took a closer look at all three coins using a higher magnification device. All three appear to be real. Acloco, the photo I placed on my post is not the best for the 1877. Under higher magnification, the 7's are full and in the correct positions relative to the 8. Top of the 8 looks off on the photo, lighting or something. Both 'N' are weak in the correct spots. Both 7's are squared off. So, I think I have the real deal there. Thanks for the feedback.

The 1909 S VDB has the tell tale die chip in the upper loop of the S. So, that one is real also.

Congrats on the key dates!

I don't think they will be difficult to sell in the future as these are all high demand coins and collectors at the lower end of the financial spectrum would be happy to get these key dates in any condition. However, you can't get the same price for them that problem free versions of the coins in the same grade would command.

I agree with acloco about sending them in for authentication. I'd even talk to the dealer you bought them from about sending them in through him and would he refund your money if any aren't authentic. You'd have more leverage if you did it right when you bought it, but if he is a respectable dealer I'd hope he'd still stand behind the coins he sells. The only issue is you may have to send them to ANACS as I don't know if NGC and PCGS would slab the problem coins. I'm not an expert on that so if someone with knowledge contradicts me then believe them.

Three genuine coins

The 1877 is Fair details, damaged obverse and reverse, cleaned.

The 1909-S IHC is VG/VG+, close to Fine.

The 1909 S VDB Lincoln looks VF details, harshly cleaned. That being said, the 2nd 9 is correctly curved, 9's are open, and the 1 is non-serif, as expected. Wheat tips are not blunted, the left upright of the N is parallel with the left edge of the B in VDB; Looks like die pair #3.

Given the number of Chinese fakes that are on the market, I would never buy any of these coins raw as a collector. When I was dealer, which was over five years ago, I did buy them raw if I was sure they were good. In the old days, the fakes used to be somewhat "high grade," but of late the Chinese have been messing the their products so that they might get "details," problem grades. They have fooled the major grading company with this stuff within the past year.

I don't care for the 1877 cent. The digits in the date don't look right to me. The loops in the "8" should be the same on both sides, and they don't look to be. The "7s" appear to be too close together. Also the bottom of the "N" in "CENT" is weak on all business stikes of that date. Your piece has been damaged in that area which makes it impossible to tell its status.

The 1909-S Indian cent might be okay. I can't really find anything wrong with it.

The 1909-S-VDB cent looks odd to me. The crossbar on the "B" in "VDB" should be diagonal, not horizontal. It seems to be weak or missing on your piece. Also there is a little "Chinese corrosion" on the "G" and "O" in "GOD." The Chinese have been "aging" their bronze fakes of late with toning and corrosion, and the Chinese corrosion that I have seen has had that color.

Sorry I can't be more positive.