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 Replies: 14 / Views: 3,028 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
Having collected and studied counterstamped coins for nigh on forty years, I want to warn collectors about this spurious "issue." I find it beyond curious that this one seller has sold a number of these during the past month. Most of the stamps have been inflicted upon coins that are in poor or damaged condition, dated prior to and into the Civil War years.  https://www.ebay.com/itm/VERY-RARE-....m1438.l2649Here are others, all from the same seller ....        I have refrained from reporting these, as I've no way to confirm the stamps were intentionally applied to genuine coins in order to deceive. All I have to go on are my own observations, based upon experience. Note that all of these pieces, the like of which I've never before seen, are originating from one source. Was there a hoard? I doubt it, and there's no mention. All of these C S A stamps were applied, using individual letter punches; this, as opposed to a single, logo-punch. The dark coloration within the letters is surprisingly consistent for coins that were allegedly stamped 150+ years ago. Also, note that the stamps are consistently sharp on even the most damaged coins. Some of the letter fonts (three different sets) appear to be modern, what with their rounded style. Finally, I find it beyond curious that neither Brunk or Rulau was aware of this alleged CSA issue, during the past thirty years. As I now complete this post, the 1853 dime just closed, selling for $88, given 49 bids. Not surprising is that the bidders' identities are kept private.  Thoughts, anyone? Edited by ExoGuy
12/28/2018 10:42 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
Sad. It takes 25-50 years of circulation to produce this much wear. The stamps could not possibly have been made until the 1870's at the earliest.
An innovative way to dispose of culls.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
I smell a scam. I have seen these listings over the past week+ and was actually thinking to myself "This doesn't look right, wonder what Exo would say?" My doubts: - If there had been an actual business or individual using the initials "CSA", why would the letter-punches be so different, ranging from short and thick plain block letters to tall, skinny, serifed letters? - Given the wide variety of types apparently seen here (from IHC to Seated half) why were there no reference to these stamps online? Surely if they were original someone would have recorded at least one of the types somewhere, e.g. Brunk...especially since the same initials show up on coins spanning a 10 year range or more? IMO these coins really don't pass the "smell test." But like you said, how can you prove it? Anyone with a lick of sense would hopefully figure out that associating CSA on these coins with the other, more well-known CSA would not make any sense from a historical point of view. But there's a lot of dreaming bidders and a shortage of sense. Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7621 Posts |
As long as there are people that will fall for this scam it will continue to be perpetrated.
As always, it's "buyer beware" in the wild, wild West of the Internet!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
Colored in with a black magic marker. How does anybody fall for this? I swear half the US economy is based on scamming people, but I'm getting old and grumpy.
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Moderator
 United States
34413 Posts |
Quote:
Thoughts, anyone? Not my area of collecting, but am very glad to have learned about this today @exoguy. I agree that it seems oddly coincidental. "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Very informative discussion and pics, thanks.
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Moderator
United States
188747 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
324 Posts |
I wouldn't be surprised if the seller said these coins came from Robert E. Lee's family estate a few years after his passing. And he's only selling them to pay for his medical bills. It seems to get more popular to try and dupe people lately.
Edited by BluegrassRiver
01/01/2019 08:13 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
Not everyone who says they're selling coins to pay for medical bills is a scam -- I've had to sell off quite a few really nice coins in the last year or so to help afford 2 surgeries and I still have a ways to go. Just something to keep in mind.
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
I think BluegrassRiver was just having some fun.  Certainly a carefully built coin collection can be an important source of funds for any looming financial need - I have sold large chunks of my own holdings for a home down payment and, later, for my son's college tuition. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6514 Posts |
I agree that at least a couple of those are newer, crisper looking stamps. I've seen an ebay seller recently have a CSA IHC up for auction and upon it being sold almost magically it's twin goes up for auction the next day. I'm becoming more and more cynical every day.  Edited by chafemasterj
01/01/2019 11:25 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36763 Posts |
Someone will always try to con people out of a few bucks.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4416 Posts |
The same seller has posted more of his "CSA" counterstamps. Here's what he says about them .... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VERY RARE 1853 O Seated Liberty half dime SILVER CONFEDERATE CSA COUNTERSTAMP COINGreat example of an 1853 O CSA Counterstamped Seated Liberty Silver Half Dime. Great condition! This coin came from a collection from Washington, AR; the Confederate Capital during the last years of the Civil War. I'm not sure that I've seen counterstamps outside of this area for the CSA. I've lived here my whole life practically, so I've been used to seeing them occasionally over the years. This whole area is covered in civil war sites and battlefields. You can buy Civil War relics at almost any antique shop around here. There's a lot of CSA stamped metal items in this area. I've seen them in guns, bayonets, flasks, coins (obviously), buttons, etc.
An excellent civil war piece to add to your collection! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out this seller's listings AND the grading .... https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-1853-...100290.m3507 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
Same C, S and A punches as three others above. Probably the same magic marker too.
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Replies: 14 / Views: 3,028 |
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Posted 12/28/2018 11:59 pm
