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 Replies: 10 / Views: 2,035 |
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Pillar of the Community
Italy
1130 Posts |
Edited by Roma2021
09/05/2023 12:09 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
659 Posts |
Hopefully I am wrong but, I see details which do not match up with a photograph of a genuine coin.
But then, my eyes are not as good as they once were.
Perhaps a more knowledgeable expert can enlighten us both.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1048 Posts |
At first blush it appears that this coin is fake. I could be wrong -- crisper pics would help say for sure. If it is a fake, it's a good one, but here are some red flags: * Reverse: Eagle's face and beak look suspect. * Reverse The "T" in "United" appears mispositioned. * Reverse: The "A" in "States" appears misformed. * Reverse: The left end of the vine isn't shaped correctly. * Reverse: Eagle's right claw looks quite wrong * Obverse: "L" in "B.L.P" misshapen * Obverse: Headdress Behind brow looks bad There's more. You get the picture. Here's a reference pic:  |
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Pillar of the Community
 Italy
1130 Posts |
Thank you both. I did not buy this coin and passedy. I didn't like the reeding foremost and the issue with the '9'. I appreciate that my instincts and few points I considered are affirmed, but I am curious to hear what others have to say.
Edited by Roma2021
09/05/2023 5:08 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Way over my head but I wish you well on this.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
The reeding looked suspicious to me too and I think the coin is actually bent there; seems like it corresponds with the rim damage right of the date. You were right to pass on it.
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Pillar of the Community
Portugal
655 Posts |
I see what you mean, the top of the 9 had a failure. Cannot see what it is from the photo. Guessing damage. It is not rare enough for you to regret passing on it.
It was being sold as bullion? If the gold content is correct it is likely a good coin. Hard to think that these were mass produced as fakes. Cutting the dies should be harder for this series? And there is no profit in deceiving collectors selling at bullion prices?
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Pillar of the Community
Italy
1130 Posts |
My understanding is that a decent amount of fakes were made in the 50s-70s in Lebanon by skilled jewelers in order to sell gold coins vs scrap jewelry ... but I am very far from expert.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4469 Posts |
Quote:
It was being sold as bullion? If the gold content is correct it is likely a good coin. Hard to think that these were mass produced as fakes. Cutting the dies should be harder for this series? And there is no profit in deceiving collectors selling at bullion prices?
In the United States there were restrictions on owning and exporting gold coins from the 1930's to 1975. There was a strong demand for US gold coins in the middle east in the 1960's and 1970's. The middle east buyers of gold wanted gold coins and would not settle for gold bars or jewelry. To meet the demand in the middle east of US gold coins, the US gold coins were counterfeited with real gold. These middle east gold counterfeits are common in the $2.50 and $5 Indian gold series and will fool the novice buyer of gold coins. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1479 Posts |
Glad you didn't purchase. My first 2 gold coins I ever bought raw were counterfeits an 1854 one dollar and a 1910 gold quarter Indian. I took both to a friend who had a sigmapro and the Dollar Coin was gold but had a funny reading with black bar as far to right as brackets would go, maybe a smidgen out of bracket but it was gold. The $2.50 Indian was another way to the right but still in the brackets. So we took a slabbed ANACS 1901 Half Eagle and bam! the black bar was right in middle of brackets. I studied for hours and compared them to originals and even though unfamiliar with pre 1933 gold there was not many obvious but definitely many subtle differences that was a 700 dollar wake up call. I took them back to seller explained my studies and got my money back, I don't think he knew they were gold containing counterfeits he is a reputable dealer but old school and dosent have a sigmapro. Due to my inability to detect these I have not bought pre 1933 gold since then unless in a TPG slab and I scrutinize the slab. Forgot to add that the One Dollar gold was about Fine and the Quarter Eagle gold was XF both had down right original honest wear so apparently they circulated many times. Wish more conclusive study and literature was available as I think these gold containing counterfeits are facinating...unless you buy one accidentally #128516; Edited by luvmyCAM
09/09/2023 3:51 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Portugal
655 Posts |
Quote:
In the United States there were restrictions on owning and exporting gold coins from the 1930's to 1975. There was a strong demand for US gold coins in the middle east in the 1960's and 1970's. The middle east buyers of gold wanted gold coins and would not settle for gold bars or jewelry. To meet the demand in the middle east of US gold coins, the US gold coins were counterfeited with real gold. These middle east gold counterfeits are common in the $2.50 and $5 Indian gold series and will fool the novice buyer of gold coins. Thank you for the correction. I knew the middle east fakes from several sovereigns I have seen. Not about these american coins being made there also. Strange choice. Here in southern europe the liberty heads are more common. And I had read that even the mint disliked the indian heads for being harder to produce. Do not know if that is correct, only remembering from a comment. Are the lebanese fakes of these any good? Their sovereigns I saw were dangerously good. |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 2,035 |
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Posted 09/05/2023 1:29 pm
