Submitting Coin for Authentication at the FUN Show

Has anyone here ever done it? Will they do it same day - while you wait and watch? I have a couple of raw coins that are rare and considered valuable (to me anyway) - I know it sounds weird but I don't want to let them out of my sight. I know being 'rare' it's not like they'll have a huge box of counterfeits of all rare coins to to switch & say 'sorry pal, it's a fake' but after all the horror stories I've read and heard I'm paranoid.

 

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Even if you choose the fastest ("walk through") service, it could easily take more than a day to get your coin back and they will have to be away from you, out of your sight. There should be plenty of dealers and collectors there who are perfectly well qualified, as well as willing to examine your coins and let you know whether they are genuine, quickly and free of charge. And yes, you are being paranoid.:secret:

 

I believe both NGC & PCGS has an express show special where they will grade the coin within 4 hours. It's 2X the price. I've never needed to use it as they usually get the coins back the same day on their show service if you submit it early enough.

 

I have a feeling that CoinGal07 doesn't want to spend $200 per coin for authentication - at least I hope not.

 

Actually, Mark, I would -

I'd willingly pay that to be able to have it never leave my sight, be authenticated and encapsulated, for one coin at least anyway.

 

Just take it to the ICG booth and ask them if it is real. They'll give you a free opinion.

 

I understand how you feel. I don't like the idea of letting valuable coins out of my sight either. But like others have said, it is expensive, and even if its done the same day it will probably be out of your sight for a while.

 

No probably about it. It WILL be out of your sight if you submit it to any of the real TPG. However, you can trust them.

 

What type of coin is it that you are so concerned about having authenticated? Again, it might be something such that many dealers and collectors could tell you what you need to know in a matter of seconds, at no charge.

 

I'll bet she decided to start collecting patterns! :hail:

 

Coin Gal:
I know that paranoia is normal especially with very 'rare' coins.
And I understand your concern.
How rare is the coin?
Perhaps a hint as to what it is would help.

 

Ok - a hint: I have two gold dollars - one with a C mintmark, one with a D mintmark and IMHO both between EF & AU.

 

Do you have images you can post here?

 

No - I wish I could - I've never mastered that scanning photo thing.

I have accumulated three gold dollars over time from three different sources and decided I wanted to have them encapsulated and perhaps pursue a full collection as time and pocketbook allowed.

I've compared them to the Coin Facts images, examined them under microscope, weighed & measured and they appear to be genuine. But before going through the process of submitting them I did show them to three separate, experienced coin dealers and two collectors and all five deemed them 'genuine'.

So I began with sending the least valuable ('85 plain) to a top tier TPG via mail to be graded and encapsulated - it was returned as 'not genuine'.

Hence my reluctance and seemingly illogical paranoia.

 

Coingal07, I'd suggest you show your coins to either of the dealers I have listed below when you go to the show. Each of them is expert with C and D-mint gold and will be able to let you know in about two seconds whether your coins are genuine, as well as give you a good grade assessment, and all in front of your very eyes, for free. Tell them that I referred you and that I said to please be kind.

Doug Winter Numismatics, table #522
or
Al Adams, table #1010&1012

 

I dont know if PCGS will be ther ebut if they are there talk to Ron Guth. Great guy will tell you all bout your coin for free and then you can decide if its worth being graded

 

And while you're at it, why not show them the one that came back counterfeit and see what they say about it - without telling them that it was bagged.

 

GD: I appreciate that advice too ~ and considered as much. But I have a collector friend who DID buy a valuable seated dollar graded by a top tier TPG and decided to crack it out & resubmit it hoping for a higher grade - and it was returned 'not genuine'. So either there was an error by the TPG in the first place or the coin was switched.

Mark - I appreciate the reference - I will try to look your guys up and remind them to be kind.

Thanks everyone for the advice and suggestions.