Questionable Authenticity = Fake? (PCGS)

Ok, I've had another batch of coin grades come through with PCGS, and two of them didn't grade and had a "Questionable Authenticity" as a result. I inferred that this meant they were total forgeries, however I couldn't really find a concrete answer. So my question is: is this the case? Does questionable authenticity mean fake?

On a better note my 1909-S VDB graded at MS64RB so I'm not unhappy in the least seeing as it was the most valuable coin in the pack I sent to PCGS.

Ok, thank you for your time again.

-JP

 

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If they are expert enough for people to take their grading seriously, they should be expert enough to authenticate.
What they gave you is just a cop out. They must be spooked by the fact that they have certified and graded some
fakes in the past. IMO that just means they need to get better, not take a CYA attitude. Very unprofessional IMO.

 

How about the 1955 DDO. Did you send it?

 

I sort of felt the same way about it. There's nothing on the "non graded" coin explanation that even hints at what that designation means.

About the 1955 DDO. Yep, got back a 91 questionable color on it. Uncirculated details. When I get back the 1909-S VDB in I'll post pictures of them both side by side.

 

Questionable authenticity doesn't mean it is fake. Nor does it mean it is real. It means that they haven't a clue. :yes:

 

Do they at least refund you your money if they can't figure it out?

 

You have got to be kidding me. So they charged you $40 or whatever to not authenticate a coin. Awesome.

 

makes me wonder what would happen to the coin if it went through TT's no charge for grading program.

 

Out of curiosity, what was the coin(s) that were in question?

 

No, that is wrong. I'm sorry but it seems to be very ignorant to believe that an expert can't conclude that they are not certain of the authenicity of a coin. Nobody is god. The more you know, as a matter of fact, the more your likely to see things that your uncertain of. If you want certainty, ask an idiot. If you want accuracy, that a whole other story and sometimes the answer is, "I just don't know".

Ruben

 

Not really. They do have aclue and are uncertain. Send it to Joe Weirdo and he'll know for certain, slab it and take your $50.00 and give you the grade you want...any grade, just pick one.

This is the problem and i used to have that list that categorized all messages on cointalk and one was "I sent my coin to be graded and they didn't grade it like I expected and now I'm mad" or something like that.

Your going to send a coin to a TPG and if they have integrety, they will tell you how it is in their opinion. If you want to shop for an opinion, by all means, go for it.

Ruben

 

Ruben: They are a professional business holding themselves
out to the public as experts. IMO, experts don't "pass"
because something is hard. Real experts find out by whatever
means it takes, what they are missing so it won't happen again.

 

I have to agree with Ruben. No matter how good the expert is there are going to be cases where they cannot be 100% if something is authentic or fake.

If you watch and of the Pawn shows or antique shows you see this happen from time to time where an expert in the field isn't sure. If it's that big of a deal, send it to another TPG and see what they say. No one grader has 100% knowledge of every type of fake and a well executed fake can be nearly impossible to be sure of. I bet that nobody on these forums would have even batted an eye at the coin.

 

And the more you know the more likely it is that will stop searching
and rust on your lurals.

Got WD-40?

 

I really doubt that is the case here. I'm sure the graders really hate to return a coin like this and they probably spent a lot more time trying to figure this one out than they spend grading the average coin.

 

Here are the coins in question. I can tell you that I was charged the full amount of the submission invoice, but I understand it takes time to decide if a coin is real or not, so it's not really an issue for me. I work in the service industry and it takes time and expertise to diagnose something, so no problem there. I just want to know if they really feel like it's a fake. I would sell them on ebay, but honestly I can't in good faith sell them if they are indeed fake. I guess I could just call....You know what? I'm going to call PCGS and ask. I'll let everyone here know what they tell me.

 

ANACS and NGC wouldn't do this IMO.

OK, so what are their categories for problem coins.

http://www.pcgs.com/nogrades.html

I have had 1700s coppers that no grade because the date is not clear to them, etc.. I had a coin certified by one of the other grading services sent to NGC for crossover, a $20 gold coin and they said absolutely fake, phoney, a lying piece of fabricated gold. At least they call a spade a spade, and so will ANACS.

Here is a coin that Heritage called "questionable authenticity" though PCGS had certified AU50:
http://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/51157/1865-Liberty-Double-Eagle-PCGS-AU-50

Why questionable authenticity? The mintmark was obliterated according to Heritage. I saw it as an issue when I had the coin in hand, CAC would not sticker and did not find the issue significant enough to comment though I asked them specifically to examine the mintmark area. Great Collections refunded immediately upon return with the paperwork from Heritage!

 

I'd like to make sure my lurals aren't rusting, but I'm not sure what they are.

 

I think you are dead wrong. Stay here a little longer and get a little more experience to see the expertise on this forum. It is incredible. The benefit of this forum is that you have so many people with such different interests that we can crack pretty much anything. And in terms of coin grading, I don't think any TPG is as tough. Right off the bat, the 1877 and 1909 S have really strange discoloration. I don't even know the series, but I am sure someone on here could tell you exactly what the problem/s is/are.

 

I don't hold it against them that they didn't know
at the time if the coin was legit or not. It appears they
made no effort to find out why it stumped them. What
if it's a new method? It's their business to know. If they
don't know it's their business to find out.