| Author |
 Replies: 9 / Views: 2,743 |
|
|
Valued Member
United States
53 Posts |
Hello, This is my first post outside the "Introduce yourself" forum, so I hope I do not get flamed too bad... I have read a lot about fake coins coming out of China and that you need to be really careful about buying Pandas. I am interested in silver pandas and wondered what people's opinion were on buying them. I have seen a lot on ebay and usually just ignore the ones coming directly from China. however, I figure that even if the coin is coming from Anytown USA, it could have come from a bad source right before that. I have never collected coins, much less silver, before so I am a pure noob in this area. Thanks for any input, Jim |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2335 Posts |
There is a forum on the Pandas, china-mint.info. You could post pictures of coins you are interested in there to get a second opinion. Not much traffic on that site so it mey take a few days to get a response.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
220 Posts |
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I have purchased quite a few of these for my ex-wife when her and I were together, I also bought two that were graded by PCGS last year as a Christmas present to her from my daughter. There are some differences that you can look for to tell the fakes from an original but you can usually find them graded 69 by a reputable TPG for about the same price as a raw one so if there is any question of authenticity I would stick with graded examples |
|
Valued Member
Australia
60 Posts |
I would certainly recommend not buying raw coins.
NGC graded coins are a guarantee of authenticity. I am collecting MS70 Silver Pandas myself, but a mixed set or MS69 set would be nice, and cheaper
|
|
Valued Member
 United States
53 Posts |
Thanks for the input. I can not afford to go after a MS70 set, that is for sure. however, I have started looking at MS69's as my main probability.
To be 100% honest, I am looking into these more as gifts for my sister. She loves pandas and koalas. She lives near DC and ha gone to their zoo just to see the pandas. I have not read anything about problems with fake Aussy Panda silver coins.
What is the chances of getting fake NGC or PCGS cases though? Is that too much expense for the forgers to bother with?
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
there is a chance of getting a fake slab but I think it is kind of small with panda coins. Mostly what you see in these fake slabs are classic coins that usually bring more money. If the coin is in a new NGC holder then you can check their database from the serial number and make sure any markers match (going to be hard to see any markers on a 69) because NGC now photo's each coin if I am not mistaken. As I said I think the chance is small because these coins are readily available but that doesn't mean it is impossible to find one here and there that is fake
|
|
Valued Member
United States
53 Posts |
I figured that these coins might not be in either high enough demand, or draw enough of a profit margin to make it worth people faking graded ones. They are still expensive (for me at least)...
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2605 Posts |
I think if you buy a bullion for a lay person as a gift, it will look better in an airtight as they come from a big dealer like PandaAmerica or Littleton. Your local coin shop would probably have at least some selection of world bullions. The slabs would be better for a collector.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
53 Posts |
I went to a local coin show which had tables of local dealers. Some of them seemes a little sketchy when I talked to them. There is one shop near my sister's house, just north of DC, which I stopped at a couple months ago. The store was a little messy (need dusted and vaccumed) but the people were VERY friendly and helpful. I am heading to my sister's this coming weekend so I might stop into that shop again.
|
| |
Replies: 9 / Views: 2,743 |
|
Posted 01/06/2010 1:46 pm
