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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,637 |
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Valued Member
United States
77 Posts |
I only starting buying coins off ebay a couple of months ago and finally got burned. It only cost me about $11. I usually only bid if the seller got a 100% rating and the pictures are good. Since the seller HAD a 100% I thought I would take a chance. When I received the coin, it looked like it had just been dipped. The only truth in his description is that it's a 1915-D Lincoln. I would give the obverse a rating of Fine and the reverse a AU hardly any wear, but the harsh cleaning makes it an ugly coin. Take a look. Tom http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...270311513554 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
615 Posts |
That kinda does look cleaned in the pictures.
He also states it may have been cleaned in the auction.
Bad feedback may have been left in haste...
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19944 Posts |
Definately dipped! Other than that, it looks like it may be MS or nearly MS. The early Denver issues can be pretty mushy to start with. I'd like to see better pics. Put that sucker in a window sill for a few months and retone it! I hate the look of a dipped coin.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
Not good pics and it does look cleaned but the obverse appears to be VF at least. That much hair detail and the appearance of Lincoln's face would lead me to a VF30 grade for sure.
Give it some sunshine and a little fresh air. It could tone up in a few months to a nice $10 coin.
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Valued Member
 United States
77 Posts |
It does say the coin may have had some old cleaning, which to me old cleaning would get some toning over time. No chance, this coin looked like it had just been cleaned. He knew it was cleaned. After offering a partial refund he took it back by saying the auction stated "SOLD AS IS WITH NO RETURNS". I had a problem with that statement since he choose to post it in the payment details and not the refund policy field. Anyway he knew he was misleading. All I can say is the lesson was worth $10.79 and he no longer has a 100% rating. One must always remember when bidding It's buyer be ware.
Tom
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
twjcpj, I moved your topic over here since it seemed to fit here a little better than the coin grading area.  Having said that, my honest opinion on this is that you should have never bought this coin. 100% feedback or not, there were red flags in this auction. While I see this seller as somewhat scamming here, I don't believe he deserved a negative hit for this. ANY auction that states it may have had a cleaning, new or old, is buyer beware. You took the chance and in essence got burned a little bit. I don't see this as the sellers fault. Sorry, and I mean no disrespect, and am certainly not defending sellers like this. This is just my take on the situation at hand. Maybe a Neutral was in order..... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2602 Posts |
I also think that a negative feedback was a bit harsh here. Seller did disclose possible cleaning. Seller also said no returns in the auction, but then offered a partial refund. I think the seller tried to do right.
I also agree that if you leave it on the window sill in the sun for a few weeks, it might tone some and not look as harshly cleaned.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
Quote:
It does say the coin may have had some old cleaning, which to me old cleaning would get some toning over time. No chance, this coin looked like it had just been cleaned. If the coin was sealed in the 2X2, there's a good chance it would not tone over time. It needs to be exposed to "the elements" to re-tone. This coin would likely grade extremely fine (EF40) and like BadThad stated, it could be nearly mint state (or AU50). A 1915-D in EF Greysheets for $20 wholesale. If you only give that obverse a rating of "Fine", I suggest a copy of Photograde might be an excellent Christmas gift to yourself. |
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Valued Member
United States
77 Posts |
Guys, I assure you, if you had this coin in hand, you would feel the same way I do. The seller was trying to give the impression that the coin may or may not have been cleaned a long time ago. There's no doubt the coin has been cleaned recently and I believe he knows that to be true. The obverse isn't from a worn out die. It's from circulation. There's no separation between the cheek and jaw. It's as flat as a table top and the ear is almost totally worn away. Like I have already said, this coin is a net grade of Fine at best. If the seller is totally misleading in his description, I believe the buyer has an obligation to leave a negative feedback in order to warn other buyers. I also believe this seller should be more careful in his description and where is choose to put his return policy. I am offended that the seller wanted me to pay for the shipping, all his fees to ebay and charge me for his time. Well my time is worth something also. It's not worth it to pay to ship it back to him and waste my time to get back $6. I know a lot of people on this forum sell on ebay, but believe me, this guy shouldn't get any sympathy. He was just flat out misleading. I will just keep to coin as a reminder. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
I would agree with others that the photo of this coin gave away some good clues as to cleaning, old or not. From personal experience, I know how I've gotten excited about a coin and made a bid that I later regretted. ebay feedback is of course your call.  But it's what we take from these experiences that make us better buyers. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
twjcpj: You have a good attitude about this purchase. $11 is a cheap learning experience and I think you'll end up with a $5 coin minimum. I bought an (advertised on ebay) '09-S in AU last year for $230. It ended up being a cleaned EF! I should have returned it but didn't. It spent the summer next to my sliding glass doors and did tone a bit but it still looks cleaned. Maybe a $150 coin. Ouch! I've moved on but haven't forgotten lest I repeat my error. |
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Valued Member
United States
77 Posts |
I do have a good attitude about it. It won't be the last mistake I'll ever make. I wanted to share my experience with others and just maybe it will help another fellow collector from making a similar mistake. ebay can get you great coins at bargain prices or sorry coins at expensive prices. I'm learning to be patient and use better judgement in what I bid on. I have purchased about 40 Lincolns in the last couple of months on ebay and this has been the only bad experience. Thanks for listening. I enjoy everyone's feedback. Tom |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,637 |
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Posted 12/22/2008 11:54 pm
