"The People's Court"

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by rlm's cents, Feb 19, 2010.

  1. rlm's cents

    rlm's cents Numismatist

    Just had a case on People's Court. Jules Karp (a real coin dealer) sold a 1799 bust dollar to a lady in 2005. Now, she tries to sell it and finds out the coin has been "altered". She sent it to Heritage for them to auction it and they fax her back that the coin would not slab by PCGS because the coin has been "Cloroxed". Never heard of that term and neither had Mr. Karp. Why do you "Clorox" a coin and what does it do?

    Had a couple laughs when Mr. "I've been in business for over 50 years" knows the Heritage "dealer" and was familiar with "Pacific Coast Grading [something]" a.k.a. PCGS.
     
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  3. borgovan

    borgovan Supporter**

    Just a form of cleaning to remove surface contaminants. My guess is it ended up changing the surface color enough so that the coin was recognizably altered.

    How did the case turn out? Unless the dealer specifically stated the coin was not cleaned/altered, I don't think she has a case.
     
  4. rlm's cents

    rlm's cents Numismatist

    She had a case, but no proof. She had nothing stating what she bought (it was 2005) and the fax from heritage was not even on a Heritage letter head so the only "expert" on what she had was Mr. Karp. She got nowhere with that.
     
  5. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    it makes sense, if she didn't even have a receipt, how can she prove anything!

    Besides, suppose she sold the coin, how could she prove the cost basis?

    She couldn't prove it, and it could be deemed all profit.

    Lesson: Keep records.
     
  6. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    Did Jules really say: Pacific Coast Grading?

    If so: Wow, 50 years wasted.
     
  7. rlm's cents

    rlm's cents Numismatist

    Yes! He actually said "Pacific Coast Grading" and then something I could not catch for the S.
     
  8. mpcusa

    mpcusa "Official C.T. TROLL SWEEPER"


    Cloroxed!! :hammer:
     
  9. quartertapper

    quartertapper Numismatist

    I think it would definately be a hard case for any plantiff to win. Who's to say she didn't alter the coin's surface, or even worse switch it with a different coin. These are all worst case scenarios, but all things that a coin dealer could potentially deal with every time a high dollar coin is sold. Then add the high quality counterfeits out there these days, I am glad not to be a coin dealer sometimes.
     
  10. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    I'm not sure she had a case even with a receipt. I would think too much time had passed. I can think of several ways the dealer could have had fun with this.
    What else did the dealer have to say and what did the judge have to say in the end?
    Wish I had caught it.
     
  11. coinman0456

    coinman0456 Coin Collector

    you must understand, most of those pawn dealers live by their gift of convincing you they are something they are not, that your item is less than what you think it is, or their items are more than what they actually are.
     
  12. willieboyd2

    willieboyd2 First Class Poster

    I always thought that those "Court" shows were scripted.

    :)
     
  13. bqcoins

    bqcoins Olympic Figure Skating Scoring System Expert

    No, they pay the participants for showing up. Generally more than what the case is worth to start with, so the most money you end up out is the fee they payed you for going on the air.
     
  14. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    As I have said more times than I can count - many dealers don't know squat about coins.
     
  15. rlm's cents

    rlm's cents Numismatist

    Actually, I am sure some are scripted - Divorce Court, for instance. However, I know People's Court and Judy are not scripted. I do not think Mathis and Brown are. The rest of them????
     
  16. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    Yeah I caught that show yesterday. It was a good show maybe that coin dealer got some business out of the deal, but maybe not especially with that PCGS comment. lol Anyone here know that guy?

    I'll tell ya' what, it was a very good example on why you don't clean coins and whatever you do. Stay away from cloroxing!! :D
     
  17. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    Did Jules still look like a disaster?

    He usually wears a jacket that is half falling off of him, and filthy.
     
  18. rlm's cents

    rlm's cents Numismatist

    He was not Joe College Preppy, but he was descent. I am sure these shows have their own make-up crews. In spite of that, you could tell he was not a neat-nick.
     
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