1853 Gold Dollar for grading

What thinketh thou?

 

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Why get it graded?

 

Do you have this in hand or are these seller photos? If you do have it and could post better photos, it would be helpful. As of now I'm unfortunately left with more concerns than confident answers.

 

I'm thinking it is fake. The seller hasn't been paid yet because I saw red flags after I pressed BIN. That's why I posted it here.

 

It simply doesn't look right. The details are mushy and I'd have a tough time attributing the coin's appearance to wear. I would not buy it.

 

Fake

 

Better word is " Cast " coin ....

 

Let me guess. He listed it as a buy-it-now at a price too good to be true?

 

It was consistent with a VF price. I didn't look closely enough (I looked for spikes, not pimples) until after I had pressed BIN.

 

No, struck from counterfeit and tooled dies. This coin is definitely struck, not cast (there is a presence of coin luster which cast coins do not have).

 

I'm guessing the OP saw the red flags from the get go, yet still agreed to purchase as he didn't want to take a chance at losing his "deal", figuring he could just back out if things didn't work in his favor. I hope I'm wrong, but something tells me there's more to this than a simple whoopsie on his part.

 

I didn't see the red flags until after I pressed BIN, but before I paid. I had to wait for an invoice from the seller, so, in the meantime, I studied the coin more closely. That's when I noticed the read flags.

 

Fake. Lots of bumps in the reverse fields, no reverse denticles, weak obverse. You'll get a non-paying bidder mark against you if you don't pay. Hopefully you get a refund when you return it as a counterfeit.

 

CF-00.

 

The seller has already cancelled the transaction, and is eager to learn more about why it is counterfeit. I have pointed out several of the bumps and depressions in the photos.

 

Then at the very least this should be used and viewed as an example of why it's so important for one to do everything within their power to know what they're buying before hitting that button. eBay may offer an easy out, but in the real world not doing so can come back to bite you.

That's a fine start, for sure. The weakness and lack of detail would be another area of concern, but I would hesitate to get into too much detail solely because of the less than ideal photos.

It's great the guy is open to and actually wants to learn about the "coin". This too should be an example to those who automatically assume the worst that sellers are human too, and that not all are out to rip the "innocent" collector.

Good thread, TC!

 

Good to hear the seller cancelled it. Before he pitches the coin in the trash, it is quite possibly good gold worth about $63.

 

The weakness of detail looked like strike weakness to me. I know that was a common ailment of this type.

 

Could this be a contemporary counterfeit?