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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,787 |
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Valued Member
New Zealand
148 Posts |
What do you think? The seller guarantees the coin's authenticity. No opportunity to examine the coin in hand. I'm bothered by the mushy details - including the way the denticles on the lower obverse fade out.   *** Moved by Staff moved to a more appropriate forum. *** |
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Moderator
 United States
14463 Posts |
I agree. Details look mushy. Best case, its had a cleaning. And worse case, the fields may point to a cast copy. I would Run Away, unless you are getting an amazing and fantastic deal.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Three ways to check it:
1. XRF - a bullion dealer or gold jewelry buyer may be able to help you out.
2. Exact diameter - when a copy is cast it shrinks a tiny amount on cooling. If it is cast the bubbles from high pressure casting may be very scarce or even non existent.
3. Exact weight.
If you can't examine the coin in hand, then don't bother with it, and wait for another example to become available.
Looks OK on screen, but worn, but I agree with the mushy details giving rise to your suspicion.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1475 Posts |
I would pass on this one.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4591 Posts |
I would really want to see the diagnostics on this. I only have one of them, so nothing to really compare to. FWIW, XRF only reads the skin and a few molecules deep. Has been known to be fooled by heavily plated copies. Interesting, I've noted at the last three coin shows a lot more dealers have this unit: http://www.sigmametalytics.com/ - I saw three at the last Cowtown show. -----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8715 Posts |
It may be a cast fake. I would pass.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8137 Posts |
I would pass on it. Better to get one already graded unless you know the series well.
If it's too good to be true, it probably is.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Worries me as well. Get a slabbed one, sleep better.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36741 Posts |
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
Pass on this one. It looks, smells and tastes like a counterfeit.
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Valued Member
 New Zealand
148 Posts |
By the way, this is a coin that has popped up on our local version of ebay. No intention of purchasing. I would report the listing if there was strong consensus around the coin being counterfeit. I asked the seller what steps he had taken to confirm the coin's authenticity and got the "I been in business for 38 years..." line followed by, "if you don't think it's real, don't buy it". No answer to my question. |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
$3 gold should really only be purchased graded by most people, there is very likely more fakes of those than real ones at this point some of which are very good.
I wouldn't touch that one pictured above, from the small pics it looks mushy and grainy.
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Moderator
United States
188213 Posts |
I agree with the consensus. This one scares me. I would avoid it.
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Valued Member
United States
314 Posts |
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Valued Member
New Zealand
148 Posts |
Back on the market in a PCGS holder ("Mount Removed - XF Detail").
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,787 |
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Posted 03/09/2018 01:05 am
