Fake NGC slab ?

I was just looking at fractional gold on eBay and noticed this slab.
The text looks off to me and the scales are not visible in the label.
Nothing against the seller, he may not even know.
What do you think ?
http://cgi.ebay.com/1875-California...ryZ39473QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

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Using my better judgement, I'll say proceed with caution. The font looks correct BUT just the fact that it is so overgraded and in a NGC holder would raise my curiosity

 

The "U" looks right on the AU, but I thought that the "A" was supposed to have one leg tail down to a point.
I'll have to go back and look through some old threads.

 

It'd be nice if you could check the number on NGC's site (not fool proof I know), but it appears only paid members get that ability?

The pop report shows they've graded 4 of this year/bg number & one was at AU55. The font looks ok to me. As for the scales not being visible, that doesn't mean they aren't there, the photo was either over lit or the brightness was increased. Look at slabs on Teletrade, half the time you can't see the scales. The clear insert thingy it's in looks the same as some California Fractional Gold slabs on Heritage.


Just some observations

 

Ok, thanks guys !
I'll have a look at some of them on Heritage to compare.

 

I know the chinese " U " font is easily detectable for now. Am I wrong in thinking, what? Thats an AU-55?

 

Here is one from heritage. Apparently they use both types of "U".

 

I actually think it looks okay. It looks like he scanned the coin on a scanner which washed it out quite a bit and could easily make the scales not visible. I have some NGC slabs where the scales are very light in the first place. Also, for California fractional gold, I have often found that coins appear overgraded to the untrained eye. Some may be and I'm not saying whether this one is or not. However, the production quality of many of these coins was so poor that many looked worn or banged up before they even got off the coin press.

 

I totally agree with your opinion regarding grades.
The fractionals were struck by jewelers, after all.

 

The real answer is that the label says "octagon" and that coin sure looks round to me.

 

I thought is was round at first. But if you look very close you can see the "points" to the 8 sides.

 

I think it's real...

 

Ok, this is what gets my red flags up.

Since when does NCG place coins into an opaque holder? Shouldn't the part of the holder that touches the coin be white? I have never seen an NGC holder like the one in the auction. Has anyone else? Is this an octagonal gold thing? Oh, and BTW... My vote is fake!

 

As I said in my earlier post. There are NGC slabs on Heritage for other fractional gold coins with the same opaque holder/insert.

 

Both the coin and the slab look authentic. The coin appear to be very solid for the grade.

NGC has used these clear inner cores for fractional gold and small coins for several years.