Looking thorough eBay, I spotted this: http://cgi.ebay.com/1877-Indian-Cent-Hole-KEY-DATE-/170493789749?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item27b238c635#ht_500wt_928 to me, the N in ONE CENT (rev) looks strong. Since I doubt that this is a really scudzy and holed proof, I feel that this one is a fake. Any other opinions?
I actually have to wonder with the corrosion that maybe this is a dug coin the back is much better shape maybe it was stacked with other coins. I have found stacked coins and the top and bottom ones look like crap on the areas expose to the dirt yet the inside ones don't look as bad. Ice
The angle and lighting makes it difficult for me to say if it is a strong or weak N. As to whether a fake or not, I don't think so, but seriously, I wouldn't buy this one at all. I personally would rather have a replica until I could get an undamaged ( horribly) one. IMO.
It looks to me to be shallow, just worn, thus circulated, and therefore, not a proof. The seller does offer a 7 day return, I noticed.
I like the seller's line about filling the hole in the collection and still having a hole...gave me a grin It seems ok from me but I am far from being an expert. (I know the 7s are supposed to be lower than the 18 and it looks it...the N is pretty well obliterated though. The wear pattern and the overall color makes me think it has been on somebody's keychain for decades.
IMO opinion it is a fake, two of the main tells are the shallow N and the 2nd 7 being slightly lower then the first, I don't see either. An old fake yes as the 77 has been a key date for a long time and I would suspect that it might have been destroyed by an old dealer.
The Ns in One and Cent aren't correct and the second 7 in the date looks fishy. I wouldn't say probably fake, I would say definitely fake.
Well given that it does not have a shallow N, then it would have to be a proof that was released into circulation. The inside of the 'E' in ONE is too big for a '77.
if it was a proof then the edges of the coin would be sharp and not rounded at all. An easy thing to see in-hand.
Am I the only one who things that the obverse devices look heavily tooled? That's the first thing that jumped out at me. In addition to the hole and corrosion, definitely a coin to stay away from.
Response from Seller I queried the seller (in US with 100% feedback on over 1500 transactions) about the coin and got this response: Dear XXXX, I have had several people in my area see the coin and tell me it is real and I know the owner, I see the things that you don't as well as the other people and the other bidders, this is real, please do not bid on this coin I do not was this trouble with a badly damaged coin like this ,,, its not worth it,, PLEASE DO NOT BID THANK YOU I see the lower 7 on the second one and as for the N well it appears ever so slightly shallow but with not every characteristic, coins is real please buy a slabbed one thank you, R
I've never sold on eBay. Is there an option for the seller to allow the questions to get posted, or to keep the question private?
Wow, talk about a sketchbomb seller reply! "You know how to tell it's fake, so please don't buy it and neg me!"
I agree I actually thought it might be real but with his reply I now believe it is fake maybe and old fake but still fake. Ice
I'd been leaning toward real but was reluctant to chime in because of the reverse problems others pointed out. I'm highly suspicious.
Not only is the "N" too strong and the 7s not quite right, but the headband is all wrong. Somebody really had a good time creating that one. I wouldn't pay a dime for it. I hope the buyer knows enough to return it. ....Tom
