Jar of coins from the Silver Dollar Ranch Hoard

So I am one of the suckers who bought an "estate jar of coins". I'm a coin noob, and have become infatuated with the idea of finding lost treasure. This particular jar wasn't from jeffcoin, but it was eerily similar.

here is the auction:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-coi...3ws4b%2FNzBAU%2F8D0WU%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

First of all, the jar arrived in a million pieces due to poor packaging.

I did get a five dollar gold coin, four trade dollars, 19 morgan dollars, 80 mercury dimes, 2 peace dollars, 5 seated liberty half dollars (one cc mint), 1 walking liberty quarter, 9 barber quarters, one half dime, 80 dateless buffalo nickels, three dated ones, one war nickel, and about 40 cull liberty nickels. In the middle of the jar there must have been these three chinese "silver" bars I see on aliexpress now.

All of these coins were AG-AF condition except for the one trade dollar that has rim damage. One of the trade dollars was polished, as well as several other coins.

I tried to value all of these but just got disheartened. There is a small chance I could break even, (I paid 2400), but the time and effort to try and sell these would lead me to lose money on this.

I will probably grade the trade dollar with rim damage just cause it's pretty good condition, but the damage probably makes it worthless?

If you guys are interested I can take some pics of all the coins for documentation and you can tell me what you think.


I did this two other times for way less money. One jar was filled with mostly wheats with some low grade indian heads and a bunch of cull liberty nickels. I thought to myself, what are the chances someone only saves liberty nickels in poor condition with BU 1958D pennies?

listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Glass-Bottl...3ws4b%2FNzBAU%2F8D0WU%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

The third time I tried this I have opened a refund request and the seller has replied like a lawyer stating she said the coins were "as is". The coins were mostly foreign junk except for three standing liberty quarters in good condition prominently displayed in the pile of crap. I am completely new to this, but I could tell they were fake within five seconds. One was a 1923 S and one was a 1918/7 s. Why would these coins be among a bunch of german pennies?

listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-Estate-...3ws4b%2FNzBAU%2F8D0WU%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc


I can't believe this seller won't refund, isn't counterfeit coins illegal?

Anyways, consider this a word of warning or any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Sean

 

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I would be interested in seeing pics of the gold. Open a item not as described claim on the last, stating fake coins. Ebay will make them refund you.

 

It's hard to give a value without seeing the coins and knowing the dates and mintmarks, but I would put a rough value on the first jar at about $1,300. Hate to say it but I think you got taken pretty hard on that one.

 

My advice stop buying supposed 'old' jars of coins on Ebay. You're not going to find treasure you're going to lose every single time.

 

Absolutely, and as @jwitten said, if you open a case explaining that the coins were counterfeit, eBay will force the seller to refund your money. In some cases, eBay does not even require the buyer to return the coins. I understand now that they may require you to have a dealer or grader confirm that the coins are counterfeit.

In fact, for the expensive jar, I would strongly recommend that you examine the higher-value coins very closely. If any of them are counterfeit, it may give you leverage to force a return.

Actually, if it were me, I would be tempted to open a case on the basis that the item was broken when I received it. That certainly constitutes "not as described".

 

Somebody shelled out over 5 grand for that. Why not spend that money on a bunch of CC morgans instead...

 

Considering you made it clear you're new, perhaps you should post a few quality photos before rushing off to eBay pointing counterfeit finger, at least in regards to the $2500 jar.

It's good that you're accepting of your mistakes, but that certainly does not make this sort of thing okay, and while I understand the draw to the idea of "treasure", such offerings are nothing more than sucker bait. I'm sure most reading this would love to see you get your money back on all three, but again, and short of the SLQ jar (which even on this small screen looks like a valid complaint), before making any other counterfeit accusations, let's see what was really inside.

 

Here's pics of the gold for who requested it. There's also a pic of whatever that bar is, as well as the trade dollar.

 

I'm not saying the 2400 dollar jar had any counterfeits, that was the third link. And I am positive they're fakes. that's the only one I'm really looking for money back on. If the seller with the broken jar would give me a partial refund, I'd be ecstatic.

 

But then again, these Chinese bars make me wonder about the whole "sealed estate jar" thing, so maybe I will try to pursue a refund.

Also, forgive my crappy iPhone pics.

 

Here's some more pics for those who are curious. I actually got three peace dollars.

And yes, I know it was stupid, so any help other than reinforcing that fact would be appreciated.

 

I think the 1878-S trade dollar is authentic, but the rim bumps really hurt the value.

 

That and the gold were the only ones I thought were worth grading

 

Also, for those interested, here are pics of the standing liberty quarters from the other auction. Notice the same die mark on both coins.

 

Gold looks real, but not worth spending the money to get graded.

 

I didn't mean to imply you had, sir; that part of my post was not in response to you.

As for the $2400 jar coins, I see none that jump out as causing any real concern authenticity-wise. To be totally honest, all strike me as really nothing more than junk bin material, and makes perfect sense that some schmo would use them to bait his hook. Not right, of course, but these guys are not aiming for experienced collectors with such offerings either. Regardless, and while I'm a big believer in personal responsibility, your novice was taken advantage of and this schmuck certainly doesn't deserve to profit because of it. I'm not sure what your best approach would be to trying to get a, or at least a partial, refund, but you sure as hell deserve one.

I'm sorry your entrance into this hobby has, thus far, seemingly been a poor one, but if you can get past it, hopefully this will be something you'll come to enjoy

 

These lots are a scam. Just a way that these dealers can unload the garbage they acquire while buying collections or whole lots for the few good coins they will sell face to face to someone. The majority of the time eBay is the dumping ground for the coins you can't sell while looking the person in the eye OR to catch the newbie before they have the knowledge to know what they are buying isn't worth what they are paying.

File item not as described claims on both the broken jar and the last lot with the fakes. Did you use your CC through PayPal to fund the purchase or bank account funds? Always use a CC because if PayPal refuses your case or it appears they will you can call customer service at your CC and they will file a chargeback no questions asked, once this happens PP is out the $ and it's amazing how quickly they come around in your favor.

 

Oddly enough this is probably the one time it's a bad thing that a gold coin is genuine.

On another note, that expensive one is advertised as being wax sealed, so if the jar is broken it isn't sealed anymore and therefore it didn't arrive as described. After all, who's to say the seller didn't smash it with a hammer after it sold and picked out any good ones? The jar almost certainly met its fate in the hands of the USPS and not the seller, but I'd use that previous sentence as a justification for your complaint if eBay or the seller gives you trouble.

 

I agree. Open both cases as soon as possible and let's try and get your money back.

 

Buy the coin not the story....