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Posted 12/23/2006 6:07 pm
TypeMaster, the very best which may be inferred from this whole sordid mess is that you demonstrate a degree of naivete concerning the horror with which honest coin collectors regard people who practice the things both the buyer and the seller of this coin are guilty of.
The proliferation of alphabet slabbers, those who modify the photographs of their coins to artificially enhance the quality of the coin, and those who artificially color their coins to take advantage of the market for toners, all these represent what is most disgusting and reprehensible about our hobby. They deserve nothing less than universal condemnation from any self-respecting collector.
Furthermore, there are on record numerous occasions on which such snakes have infiltrated coin-related forums, seeking to spread FUD (fear, uncertainty and deception) regarding their practices and to counter facts brought forth concerning them.
The only way to combat the activities of these people is to maintain vigilance, to seek them out and to expose them whenever found. This is a war, make no mistake about it. The frauds are powerful people, and some of them are winning at the moment. As a result, newer collectors, those to whom we will be passing the torch upon our passing, are being indoctrinated with false information regarding what is real and not real in the world of numismatics. Worse yet, they are buying these useless coins, and, having been advised that they've thrown their money away, are leaving the hobby in disgust, not to return.
To expand upon my previous points, I am extremely leery of the seller of the coin you posted here. This person apparently has access to an unending supply of Prooflike and Deep Prooflike coins, in grades which would, in a slab, easily command twice the price for which he is willing to sell them. It sounds too good to be true. Frankly, the overwhelming body of evidence from similar sellers indicates that it is too good to be true.
For the record, though, I freely admit that this seller's Feedback departs from the normal pattern of such things, to the minor extent to which I have researched it. So you know, when a character such as this one shows up on the radar, it is not only necessary to look closely at his feedback, but equally closely at the feedback of his customers, to try to determine their relative knowledge and ability. A seller who is seeing repeat customers whose record indicates that they're knowledgeable collectors, is much less likely to come under suspicion. In the case of this seller, if he is selling coins which are exactly what he claims they are, then he is literally the first. I will plainly state that I am willing to be convinced of that.
The buyer of the coin you posted is another case entirely. This person has listed coins which are obviously doctored, under the deceptive guise that their color is natural. There is no equivocation regarding this, no chance for mistake. This is a practice which must be discouraged immediately, at all times and by any self-respecting numismatist who becomes aware of it.
Tolerance is akin to facilitation of something which is doing great harm to our hobby, especially when such tolerance is demonstrated by a person whose status as a collector tends to lend their opinions disproportionate weight.
So, if your experience here has been offensive and surprising to you, I hope it has also been educational. You are, as a collector, swimming in waters which contain hungry sharks, whether you realize it or not, and right now we are losing the battle to keep them from the waters. As I've stated, this is war, plain and simple. That fact has engendered a certain degree of ferocity in those who are attempting to clean these waters, and if you are offended by being caught up in it, then reconsider who you align yourself with.
The proliferation of alphabet slabbers, those who modify the photographs of their coins to artificially enhance the quality of the coin, and those who artificially color their coins to take advantage of the market for toners, all these represent what is most disgusting and reprehensible about our hobby. They deserve nothing less than universal condemnation from any self-respecting collector.
Furthermore, there are on record numerous occasions on which such snakes have infiltrated coin-related forums, seeking to spread FUD (fear, uncertainty and deception) regarding their practices and to counter facts brought forth concerning them.
The only way to combat the activities of these people is to maintain vigilance, to seek them out and to expose them whenever found. This is a war, make no mistake about it. The frauds are powerful people, and some of them are winning at the moment. As a result, newer collectors, those to whom we will be passing the torch upon our passing, are being indoctrinated with false information regarding what is real and not real in the world of numismatics. Worse yet, they are buying these useless coins, and, having been advised that they've thrown their money away, are leaving the hobby in disgust, not to return.
To expand upon my previous points, I am extremely leery of the seller of the coin you posted here. This person apparently has access to an unending supply of Prooflike and Deep Prooflike coins, in grades which would, in a slab, easily command twice the price for which he is willing to sell them. It sounds too good to be true. Frankly, the overwhelming body of evidence from similar sellers indicates that it is too good to be true.
For the record, though, I freely admit that this seller's Feedback departs from the normal pattern of such things, to the minor extent to which I have researched it. So you know, when a character such as this one shows up on the radar, it is not only necessary to look closely at his feedback, but equally closely at the feedback of his customers, to try to determine their relative knowledge and ability. A seller who is seeing repeat customers whose record indicates that they're knowledgeable collectors, is much less likely to come under suspicion. In the case of this seller, if he is selling coins which are exactly what he claims they are, then he is literally the first. I will plainly state that I am willing to be convinced of that.
The buyer of the coin you posted is another case entirely. This person has listed coins which are obviously doctored, under the deceptive guise that their color is natural. There is no equivocation regarding this, no chance for mistake. This is a practice which must be discouraged immediately, at all times and by any self-respecting numismatist who becomes aware of it.
Tolerance is akin to facilitation of something which is doing great harm to our hobby, especially when such tolerance is demonstrated by a person whose status as a collector tends to lend their opinions disproportionate weight.
So, if your experience here has been offensive and surprising to you, I hope it has also been educational. You are, as a collector, swimming in waters which contain hungry sharks, whether you realize it or not, and right now we are losing the battle to keep them from the waters. As I've stated, this is war, plain and simple. That fact has engendered a certain degree of ferocity in those who are attempting to clean these waters, and if you are offended by being caught up in it, then reconsider who you align yourself with.
