do dealers authenticate coins in coin show?

I bought some silver coins on ebay. Who should I see to have those coins authenticated and what is the typical fee? I have about 10 1oz coins I would like to check.

 

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If you mean is there a lab that can test them to determine the metal composition, yes, but it wouldn't be worth the cost.

Chris

 

Do you have silver coins or silver bullion?

At many of the larger coin shows (and some of the smaller shows) TPGs will have a table where they will grade (and authenticate) coins for free or for a reduced fee.

Many dealers may also be willing to authenticate your silver coins for free (but the authentication may be worth what it costs you).

If you have silver bullion the TPGs and dealers should be able to authenticate them IF they were issued by the US Mint, RCM, or some other legitimate issuer. If your silver bullion was issued by some third world issuer your best bet would be to have a SG (specific gravity) test.

 

Just act like you are thinking of selling them the coins and they will tell you if they are fake or not for free.

 

I agree with Luke. Take them to a dealer and ask what they are worth and what the dealer will pay.

No offer means they are very likely fake. Expect a lowball, but that tells you they have value and are probably genuine.

gary

 

I may have not understood your comment but it sounds like you are suggesting that you would deceive the dealer of your intent. Isn't that like stealing his time?

 

Well, I can tell you of one experience I had with one dealer. I was at a show and there was a tub of Morgans that I was interested in picking up a few. They were a little better than junk silver and he was asking $15 a piece. As I was looking thru them, there was one that was an OBVIOUS cast copy. I mean, weight, size, surface, everything was wrong with this coin, it was obvious. I handed it to him and said "This must've gotten in here by mistake. Here you go." He looked at it for a second and asked me why. I told him it looked like a fake to me. He harumpfed and said "Aw, um, I don't know. If somebody wants to buy it, it should be in there." He promptly tossed it back in the $15 tub with about 50 genuine Morgans, and I promptly left his table. I don't know if he was just ignorant about fakes, or that genuinely dishonest but I refused to buy anything from someone who cared so little for his merchandise.

Edit: Sorry I realized that was a little rambling with no conclusion. My point was, just as we know that not all coin dealers are dishonest, just because one is a coin dealer do not assume that they are able to identify genuine coins.

 

Very aptly stated. There are no qualifying requirements to become a coin dealer, to my knowledge. And we know that some varieties may be very hard to detect.

 

You are joking right?

 

I deal in collectibles as a business. Not coins because I love and collect them myself (a dealer should never partake of his own product). I know people bring in items with no intent to sell, to get a beginning feel for the worth of them. If it a dozen or less, I don't mind. If it's 100 or more, I tell them I charge an appraisal fee. In between the two figures, it depends on how personable the person. I'm in a business open to the public in part because I like chewing the fat with folks.

 

Nope, sorry not joking. Did I misunderstand your comment?

 

Bad form! I'm just sayin'! Why not just go ask a coin dealer if they're real or not?

 

It might be bad form, but getting an offer might be the best way to find out. IMHO

 

If you could post pics of the coins you are wondering about, there are many guys here who can spot fakes.

 

Luke1988 has not indicated if I took his comment, correctly or not and I am not trying to start an argument with my question to Luke1988.

I simply did not understand his comment after reading this thread http://www.cointalk.com/t129229-5/#ixzz10YzOByeE and especially his comment about dealers not using con artist like tactics.

His comment as I read it appeared to me to be a con artist like tactic toward a dealer. I do not understand how someone would set a standard for others without meeting or exceeding that standard themselves.

I agree with fretboard, that asking for an opinion without deception is the correct way to approach a dealer. Most dealers from my experiences will help without you indicating you are wanting to sell something to them.

 

Asking someone how much they will give for a coin is not wrong as long as you don't lie. If i openly said i was looking to sell then that would be wrong but if i just said "hay what would you give me for this" that would be perfectly fine.

 

Thank you, I can understand that. Apparently I misunderstood your posting.

 

I bought some 2007&2008 panda, kook, lunar, and koala. I bought all of them from sellers with high rating and from US. I know I can weight and measure them to see if they are 100% real, but I'm afraid I might damage them in the process.

 

Asking a dealer to quote a buy price on an item is a part of their business I think. Certainly, no one has to accept an offer. But the offer itself may give you a good idea as to whether or not your item is genuine. Assuming the dealer does not make a habit of dealing in fake coins and can actually tell if it is real ?

Like Doug has said. "Fake coins come from dealers". I agree, Where else ? But if a dealer does make an offer, you know the items have some value. IMHO

gary