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 Replies: 17 / Views: 3,324 |
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Valued Member
United States
54 Posts |
I was poking around ebay and came across this auction. I asked the seller if the coin had been cleaned, and he seemed to think so, but said it wasn't polished/whizzed and offered no other information. The seller has a 99.6% positive rating over 1200 transactions, but his description didn't say anything about the dime being cleaned...don't you think a seller who's been around the block and apparently has done a good job should know better about selling things like this? Can any of you tell if the coin has been cleaned by the pics that he provides? Thoughts? Here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...TRK:MEWNX:ITEdited by sgarten
02/13/2011 08:02 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3592 Posts |
I read his first comment in bold and have to agree...you are buying, make your own decision. The one thing I think about ebay or other similar venues is that you can get some deals if you know what you are doing. If you expect expert service, then go to an expert and pay the premium. As for the coin, I would suspect it has been at least "dipped".I always look for a return policy on ebay,shipping is a small price to pay for an education. |
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Valued Member
 United States
54 Posts |
Are there are tell-tale signs that a coin has been dipped?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
759 Posts |
Based on those pictures, especially the reverse, I would have avoided the auction because something looks "off" to me. Not sure exactly what it is though.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3592 Posts |
sgarten,my first thoughts were all that luster with XF details and then assuming the dealer was truthful in that it hadn't been whizzed or polished. You need good close ups to be sure or as I said...coin in hand...to be honest, I don't avoid dipped coins...just don't pay original prices...I even sold coins disclosed as cleaned and gotten really good money...my opinion on that : "To each his own"
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
I agree with Onebowl. The details look a bit soft and the relief looks really high. It just doesn't feel right. This may just be the picture quality, but it may also be a sign of something much worse.
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Valued Member
United States
54 Posts |
Well I'll post pictures of it when I get it and see what you all think. The seller said that if I didn't like it for whatever reason to send it back - no problem. Worst case - an inexpensive lesson, best case - a nice coin for the collection. We'll see!
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Valued Member
United States
455 Posts |
The coin appears to have been dipped and from what I can see from the photographs, the coin is very nice looking.
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Valued Member
United States
302 Posts |
I agree with OneBowl It could be a Chinese Repo. It seriously looks like a fake coin to me.
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Rest in Peace
United States
5375 Posts |
Au details polished if its real
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Rest in Peace
United States
4849 Posts |
My guess would be genuine XF/AU and polished to death. This looks way worse than a dipped coin imho.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
Quote:
something looks "off" to me It does to me also and I can't figure out what it is thats making me think that. It could be the 2x2 its in thats causing my concern but I can't put my finger on it |
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Valued Member
United States
54 Posts |
I just got the coin and will post pics tomorrow. It looks a lot better in hand than the pictures taken by the seller - they were way too bright and made it look strange. The coin looks a lot more 'normal' to me, but under magnification there are a few issues that make me go 'hmm'. It'll be very interesting what you all have to say. I'm just starting with Barber dimes, so you will know MUCH more than I do for certain. As a side bar...why would someone take the time and money to fake a coin that is relatively a cheap one? If I was to spend the time and money to fake something, it would definitely have to be worth it - a gold coin or a high grade rare coin of some sort (1916D Merc) - not a pretty common, average grade Barber dime. What do you think? I just wouldn't think that there are a lot of fake 1914P average grade Barber dimes around...it's not worth what it would cost someone to make it, right? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3592 Posts |
sgarten...I'm with you on that...and I believe what had people worried was the angle of the coin in the pics along with bad lighting.But my biggest reason for not saying NO...was the price,return policy, and the possibility of getting a nice coin by risking only return postage.I get some good deals that way...you have the right mentality to do the same  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Some people reserve "whizzed" for coins that have been treated with a high speed wire brush, which leaves a distinctive flat but shiny surface. Others use it for any polishing, still others for any kind of cleaning.
Dipping leaves a flat appearance where there was deep tarnish, and shinier areas where the tarnish/wear was very light, like between the letters. IMO, this coin has been dipped. Repeated dipping results in the entire surface being flat and lifeless.
Pet peeve: especially if you insist I grade for myself, give me at least a 300 pixel sharp focus image.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:As a side bar...why would someone take the time and money to fake a coin that is relatively a cheap one? If I was to spend the time and money to fake something, it would definitely have to be worth it - a gold coin or a high grade rare coin of some sort (1916D Merc) - not a pretty common, average grade Barber dime. What do you think? I just wouldn't think that there are a lot of fake 1914P average grade Barber dimes around...it's not worth what it would cost someone to make it, right? Same thing always amazes me too. Yet it goes on all the time. My favorite one is the reprocessed 1943 Lincoln Cents. Not sure how much it costs to replate them with Zinc, Tin, Chrome, Copper and even Silver. Yet it goes on and on and on. Those sell for about $0.25 each so where is ther profit? |
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Replies: 17 / Views: 3,324 |
Posted 02/13/2011 08:21 am
