susanlynn9

Welcome to the forum! Unfortunately, I have to say that I agree with the previous comments. There were a lot of red flags on that auction. In my opinion, you would be better off to back out of the deal and risk the negative feedback than send $600+ to this seller. I am sure that the coin is not going to look like a PR68. If it looked that good, the seller would have provided close-up pictures that would have guaranteed him at least $1000 for that coin.

I looked at the rainbow IHC and I am sure that you received the same coin picured. If you take the coin tilt it drastically and flood it with light, I'm sure you will see the same rainbow effect. The seller obviously wanted to show the coin at its best, not in its actuality. Let's face it, most people don't view their collection at a 90 degree angle flooded with light. He obviously set out to mislead from the beginning.

Don't get me wrong. There are honest sellers on eBay, but caution is a must. Feedback comments should be viewed, don't just go by the rating. The seller of the PR68 has seller and buyer feedback. All of his negs are from buyers. His responses to the FB comments also concern me. This is not an individual who cares about his customers. He only wants to make a buck. I do not get the impression that honesty is his strong suit.

On the brighter side, you have found a forum with people who would love to help you know what warning signs to look for and how to find honest sellers. Let's face it, we honest people all have to stick together to avoid the scammers out there!

__________________
Susan
WINS#482
FLY-IN#1474
EAC#5255
CONECA#N-3902
Education....the key to collector success!

PR70

Thanks for the reply Susan. I really don't mind that the coin doesn't have a rainbow coloration, I almost prefer it. It is really dark though and it doesn't look much different than the MS65 1880 Indian I received. Were the proof coins of that period less discernable than they are in these modern times?

PR70

susanlynn9

The fields weren't as polished (at least not in ones that I've seen), but the strikes set them apart.

__________________
Susan
WINS#482
FLY-IN#1474
EAC#5255
CONECA#N-3902
Education....the key to collector success!

Andy

If the seller was and only if the seller was trying to rip people off with a bogus representation of his product then forget about him and any relisting fee. I wouldn't care if it was a dollar we were talking about. If someone was trying to mug me I wouldn't say how about I give you cab fare to another corner so you could mug someone richer, I'll just screw him. But that's me, a happy go lucky guy and you have to do what is best with you and your karma.

__________________
We reap what we sow.

susanlynn9

BTW, if he relists the item and it sells, he gets his original listing fee back from eBay. Obviously, he is still trying to make some money off of you without even having to send you the coin. If he is so sure of this coin, he shouldn't have a problem with you backing out of the deal. After all, as the only PR68, he should have expected in excess of $5000, right? More and more, I think this seller is a problem child.

__________________
Susan
WINS#482
FLY-IN#1474
EAC#5255
CONECA#N-3902
Education....the key to collector success!

GDJMSP

PR70 -

Normally I wouldn't do this - and if I get flack from others for doing it then I get flack. And I'd like you to know up front - I am only trying to help you. But stop buying these high dollar coins from sellers such as these on ebay. As a matter of fact - don't buy them from anybody or in any slab.

I'll be the first to admit that in order to learn about coins - you have to have coins in your hand. Of course you have to read some books first too - but when push comes to shove you can't really learn much without coins in your hand.

So buy yourself some coins - buy yourself some nice coins slabbed by NGC, PCGS, ANACS & ICG - only them. But you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on each coin to do that. You can spend $20 - $30 - $50 per coin and still have some very nice, high grade coins. And these coins will help you to learn about them.

At the same time - participate in the coin forums and ask questions. And not just this one - visit them all. There are many nice folks out there who are more than willing to help you learn and answer any question you might have. And don't worry about asking what you think might be a stupid question. There's no such thing - except the one you don't ask.

Please - don't take my comments the wrong way. I really am trying to help you do what is best for you.

__________________
knowledge ..... share it

satootoko

Second the motion!

__________________
Roy

cdb1950

Experience is a good thing, and I'm sure everyone has been here before. PR70, I think you have made the right choice.

__________________
"Experience is a hard teacher. It tests first, and teaches afterward."

tradernick

Actually the seller can get the final value commission fees refunded by ebay just by filling out a form on the site. He can indicate that you two "mutually agree" not to complete the transaction. This way there's not a "strike"
against you as a buyer. The only thing that won't be refunded in that case is the aptly named "insertion fee", which is a charge to sellers for listing their item, regardless of whether it sells or not.
Hope this info is helpful
Nick

__________________
Eyes are not required for true vision.

National dealer

Lincoln, while much of what you say makes sense, most of us that have been around have learned the hard way. Here on this forum, most of us are trying to save the new collector from having to learn the hard way. If we did not share our experience and knowledge, we would be doing a disservice to all who come with questions.
There is nothing wrong with taking chances. However, you must have some experience and knowledge to make those chances work in your favor.
A few here like GDJMSP, Jody, Roy, Nick, and Susan could run through Ebay snatching up true bargains easily due to their knowledge. They pass on the too good to be true deals, because they have learned that these deals are too good to be true.
Finding coins that are of a good variety, or overlooked by the hobby itself are easy to find if you know what you are looking for. Coins that end up in "unknown" grading service slabs are there for a reason. If anyone with half a brain owned this particular coin, it would be in a slab from one of the 4 "good" grading services.
Add that to the fact that this particular seller seems to pass along some shading deals, and this coin should be passed on.

Go back and read the $30 experiment thread. That was a great chance. Little lost if wrong. Take chances on small coins. Learn all you can before jumping into the big deals.

Prethen

The funny thing is that I've seen this exact coin (and holder) for sale on eBay a number of times. It hasn't successfully sold in the past. Something is fishy with that coin.

PR70

The seller agreed to the mutual agreement and that issue is behind me. I received a call from the seller of the 1880 Proof Indian Head coin and it was confirmed that I received the wrong coin. They said that the one I will get is much better looking.

I will take everyone's advice into consideration and although I may not follow it to the tee, I have learned that I will avoid the graders that are not in the big 4, and take price into consideration (ie, gauge it as a MS61-62 if it is listed as a MS65) if I see one that I like from them. I will also make sure that the picture is a quality example of the coin.

I bought a PR69 DCAM Gold $5 piece last night that was PCGS slabbed, it is my first gold piece.

I appreciate everyone's feedback.

PR70