Whos The Real Thief?

OK, I admit I was playing "Devils Advocate" just a little too strong there, but what I am saying is how can a coin shop buy fake MOrgans at half the melt value and then scream "Foul"? I mean the con-men got con-ed by a better con-man! This reminds me of the two guys back in late Summer of 2008 that claimed they found a dead "Big-foot" and dragged it two days through the woods just to put it in a freezer full of ice. Then some guy,(I think his name was Biscardi- some pro-Bigfoot Hunter!), payed them $50,000 for it just to find out it was a rubber Ape suit and some racoon guts! Then the two guys,(Whitton and Dyer), come out of hiding and claimed it was all just a big joke that got out of hand, part of their silly "Youtube" vids they were makeing. I don't think the police charged anyone as to not come out looking like fools!

I don't think you can charge this guy for selling "Counterfeit" coins as how can you prove he knew they were counterfeit? All he did was take some older-dated, coin LIKE, objects into a coin shop,(so it seems), and say "what will you give me?". They made an offer and he took it. With every illegal act......you must be able to prove an illegal intent. I see this very much like the old 1883 Racketeer Nickle scam. You have a 5cent piece that only has a "V" on the back......does that stand for 5 cents or 5 dollars? Well when it has been washed in Gold and looks like a brand-new $5 Gold piece its hard to tell......for the shop keeper giving change and for the guy that is passing it!

Not to mention the damage done to the legitimate seller; not sure what it's like to be in the coin business these days of financial distress. A lot of my friends look at coin and/or stamp collecting as a little scary, lots of stories out there on fakes and counterfeits all around. Seems to be a lot of recent press on the Chinese pressings, in particular

not really scary if they are magnetic!
common sense makes those the a walk in the park
buyer beware

Perhaps the question should be....

Who was initially happier with the initial transaction, the buyer or the seller?

ccm: your analogy isn't that great, although I see your point. Both parties thought they had the upperhand, but buying/selling coins is not flat-out illegal.

There must be an established relationship with both parties as well, which is probably why the buyer gave such a low offer. The seller took advantage of this weak relationship in order to gain by it. I think the buyer should get his money back because he paid for something that was misrepresented as being real. In ccm's analogy there would be no court to turn to in such a case because trafficking narcotics is illegal.

yeah trafficking narcotics is illegal everyone knows that, and thats why I used it as my example, but also isn't trafficking counterfit money illegal as well?
I don't know the answer just wondering
I think it's a very interesting thread
even if it didn't happen carl it still is interesting because it could probably happen to a coin enthusiast like one of us if we weren't careful or got silver eyes

I always gave advice to people doing estate sales not to sell directly to the appraiser but to a third party. That way some dishonest person could not lowball them and come away with the whole thing.