Is there any possibility at all that this is legitimate? I'm not at all knowledgeable about this series but it does look too good to be true. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110312662563&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=001
I'm kind of gun shy about commenting on Draped Bust Dollars lately, but since it is YOU asking . . . I HIGHLY doubt that coin is genuine.
Something looks funny about it to me...but I'm not sure why. I want to say the rim looks odd...but I don't know for sure. Just a gut feeling.
Since it's a mid-four figure coin in a no reserve auction currently at low-three figures and only two days left, it looks like someone could score a great bargain. It doesn't show any ill effects of cleaning, but surely it must have been at some time; it looks almost too clean. I just sold two of my cars, I'm wondering if I should put part of my windfall in this auction.
Hardly an expert, but I tend to live by these words: "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is." Something just doesn't feel right here. If this coin is genuine it would valuable enough to have it authenticated... selling it raw would make it hard to find confident buyers (yes, I do concede that reuptable TPGs' authentiacation services have value). The fact the seller hasn't done so would make suspicious by itself. The coin is obviously cleaned, but for older coins that is a given and usually acceptable if not done harshly... but I have serious doubts as to whether this coin is genuine or not... personally, I wouldn't risk it.
I agree with Troodon. Why isn't this coin in a PCGS or NGC holder? Why would a seller sell such a nice coin on ebay with such crummy photos? Along with what looks like could be pits from bubbles of a cast coin on the obverse I put it side by side with a photo of a real one(taken from Coinfacts) and notice this. With the top of the date still so strong shouldn't this line still be on the coin? It may be real and worth the risk but there are definitely some red flags.
I think its bad. Reason: The stars are all wrong unless there is a variety that I am unaware of which is possible. The cheek area looks to flat, short forehead dentils seems to be to drawn out from the edge of the coin. I havent looked at the reverse yet. Most of all my gut feeling based on his offerings on ebay. Why would someone have Morgans in PCGS or NGC holders and not this or the other bust dollars? And I have to clarify something... I have a pretty big gut.. so its a pretty big feeling.
I don't have the knowledge to know for certain if it is real or a high quality counterfeit, but it's not worth the risk unslabbed and unauthenticated.
i don't like the look of it either. Seller has a group of expensive bust dollars, and offers up such awful photos? I don't get it.
The problem here is unless you know the seller, that coin could be anything. A friend of mine saw a $5 Gold piece on ebay. He bid $5 as a joke and won the thing. The seller even paid postage. My friend had it authenticated and it was real. You never know. Now this one may be a person that found it in a drawer, in a box, got from someone and is just trying to get rid of it. OR, he knows what it is and we really don't. If possible it sure would be nice if all such deals could be made with the understanding that if authenticated by someone like PCGS then it's a deal. Otherwise, forget it.
Those pics show clearly that the second is a fake. Notice the 'bust ' area, and how thick the neck is.
I almost bought one a while back, until I found another one identical to it, with the same dings and marks as the one I wanted. That cured me of buying these raw and by the "look" of the OP coin, I'd be willing to bet it's a newer counterfeit. These are not coins you buy off Ebay, you have to have it in hand and be able to look at every tiny detail and even then, it may fool you. I've decided not to collect any of this series because of the counterfeiting problem and I can only imagine it won't be long before they are counterfeiting even more items, with the same quality as the OP coin. Ribbit
Well, the 1798 dollar sold for over $1800. I hope the buyer checks it over carefully. Also up for bid is an 1870 Dollar which the seller claims to be a 'proof.' Personally, in my opinion, it is not a proof and I have doubts that it is genuine. item # 110312954091
