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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,490 |
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New Member
Argentina
10 Posts |
Hi, I won this coin in an auction last night. Don't have any picture but the one from the auction (which isn't very helpful), here is the link, it's a Spanish auction site http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ar...-cc-vf25-_JM Then I remembered reading somewhere that Chinese counterfeit coins also come slabbed, here is the link http://goldismoney.info/forums/arch...-220536.html My questions are: 1) How do I check for authenticity without breaking the slab and actually doing some direct measurement on the coin? Could the bar code and numbers on the slab be used somehow to authenticate the coin? Note that the seller has a fair reputation, And the seller lives in the same city as I do, so no mail nor shipping cost involved. I will have the slab in my hands before paying cash, What should I be looking when I get to touch the slab? 2) the current exchange rate is around 3.7 Peso Argentino to 1 USD, how did I do?  TIA
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5953 Posts |
FMV for an 1881 CC would appear to be VF20 $380 EF40 $410
So if its real then I'd say you did pretty well.
If you send ANACS (www.anacs.com)the serial number they should be able to tell you if they graded it. Thats not to say its not a copy of a real ANACS coin but its a start.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6383 Posts |
Hello Sild, and welcome to the forum!  My wife is from Argentina and I've visited a few times. I purchased some very nice Argentina coins from Bernardo Kurchan on Viamonte in Buenos Aires; they have a nice shop. Your price (about $222 in US dollars) was very good for this coin, assuming it is genuine. The photos are really too small to make out the coin details, although for what it's worth the ANACS slab looks authentic. Can you take clear photos of the coin and post them? We should be able to spot obvious fakes if we see good pictures. Nohope587's suggestion about contacting ANACS for certificate verification is a good plan. Also, when you inspect the coin look for shabby workmanship on the slab (the plastic welds should all be very smooth and solid) and check for nice clear printing on the label. These smaller ANACS holders are usually very well made so if it looks crude that should be a red flag. If you go to the Heritage auction website (www.heritagecoin.com) you can sign up for a free membership which gives you access to their auction archives. They have thousands of detailed images of coins including 1881-CC Morgan dollars. You can compare your coin to those images which should give you a good idea about whether yours is OK. I haven't heard about any fake ANACS slabs although it's probably just a matter of time. For the time being, let's assume the coin is OK in which case, congratulations! Edited by Jaobler
05/06/2009 12:59 pm
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New Member
 Argentina
10 Posts |
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If you send ANACS (www.anacs.com)the serial number they should be able to tell you if they graded it. Thats not to say its not a copy of a real ANACS coin but its a start. Excellent idea! Here is the result: Image:  ANACS_reply_may_06_2009.jpg72.34 KB here are the links to the auction, for those who may be interested in: http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ar...cc-vf-25-_JM http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ar...-cc-vf25-_JM http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ar...-cc-vf30-_JM I haven't told the seller about ANACS's reply, instead I asked him to confirm the slabs serial numbers(still waiting for his confirmation), if you happen to visit the links above, please check if the serial number that I submitted to ANACS match those shown in the auction's picture (i did check it myself more than twice, but since this is my first time dealing with slabs, I may have scr*wd)  Well, I guess that it's safe to say that fake slabs are among us, at least in Argentina!  Many thanks to this community for saving me from a would be awkward situation!  |
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New Member
Argentina
10 Posts |
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My wife is from Argentina and I've visited a few times. I purchased some very nice Argentina coins from Bernardo Kurchan on Viamonte in Buenos Aires; they have a nice shop.
Hey Jaobler, I've heard about Kurchan's, but I've been there only once. I bought most of my collection from auctions and from Parque Rivadavia (it's like a little coin show, where collectors get together every sunday in Parque Rivadavia) Next time you visit Buenos Aires, bring some ASE (American Silver Eagle), they are selling quite well in auctions (i would say at least 75 pesos which is around 20 USD) , I would be happy to pay some premium over APMEX sell price.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6383 Posts |
Sild, Well, that's bad news: the fake ANACS slabs have arrived. I guess it's lucky that in this case the forger didn't use valid serial numbers for the fakes. They could have researched some real numbers and used those to make the fakes even more deceptive. I presume you aren't out any money at this point? ANACS changed their style of holder a couple years ago. The auctions you linked apparently offer replicas of the older style slabs. Here is a photo of my ANACS-certified 1884-CC Morgan for comparison. This is the style they were using about 10 years ago. I know this is a good slab because I sent the coin to ANACS myself. It looks like the label font is different on the suspect slabs; check the shape of the "CC". The edges of the slab itself also look different. Thank you for alerting us to the existance of these bogus slabs!  |
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New Member
Argentina
10 Posts |
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Well, that's bad news: the fake ANACS slabs have arrived. I guess it's lucky that in this case the forger didn't use valid serial numbers for the fakes. Yes, I also consider myself very lucky since I was seriously considering paying for the cheapest slab and test it for authenticity. Quote:
They could have researched some real numbers and used those to make the fakes even more deceptive. Eventually, the counterfeiter will get wiser, that's why I don't plan to buy slabbed coins in the near future, technology will eventually reach a point where the counterfeiter could make coins with very little weight difference. Quote:
I presume you aren't out any money at this point? luckily I didn't pay a cent. Quote:
ANACS changed their style of holder a couple years ago. The auctions you linked apparently offer replicas of the older style slabs. I haven't got any reply from the seller yet. I seriously doubt the seller was unaware he was offering slabbed imitations since he sells mostly numismatic items. If I don't get any reply by tomorrow noon, I guess I'll have to contact the auction site and alert them about this issue. Quote:
Here is a photo of my ANACS-certified 1884-CC Morgan for comparison. This is the style they were using about 10 years ago. I know this is a good slab because I sent the coin to ANACS myself. It looks like the label font is different on the suspect slabs; check the shape of the "CC". The edges of the slab itself also look different. That's a beautiful coin!  Quote:
Thank you for alerting us to the existance of these bogus slabs! you are giving me too much credit, here's is a link that talk about the subject a year and half earlier: http://goldismoney.info/forums/show...php?t=220536  Edited by Sild_
05/06/2009 10:52 pm
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New Member
Argentina
10 Posts |
Hi, here is an update. As I received no reply from the seller regarding the ANACS serial numbers, I then sent him another email asking for the address to pick up the coins, the seller replied and gave me the address (it was a coin shop). I then told the seller that I would pick up the coins once he confirms the serial numbers of the ANACS slabs. The seller told me that he didn't have the coins with him, that the coins were in the coin shop, and that I could go there to check the serial numbers. so that's what I did, and took some pictures while I was there. What do you think of these coins? Morgan 1879 CC VF30 ANACS Obverse 230777  Morgan 1879 CC VF30 ANACS Reverse 230777  Morgan 1881 CC VF25 ANACS Observe 230770.jpg  Morgan 1881 CC VF25 ANACS Reverse 230770.jpg  Morgan 1885 CC VF25 ANACS Obverse 230766.jpg  Morgan 1885 CC VF25 ANACS Reverse 230766.jpg  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
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What do you think of these coins? The coins look "dead" like many counterfeit coins appear. Have you sent these photos to ANACS along with the address of the shop? ANACS would like to hear from you even if this shop is in Europe. Scams are hurting the hobby and need to be stopped when possible. Thanks for the update. |
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,490 |
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Posted 05/06/2009 12:49 pm
ANACS_reply_may_06_2009.jpg
