09 S VDB Real or Fake?

Was thinking about bidding on this. What do you think?

http://cgi.ebay.com/AU-1909-S-VDB-Lincoln-Cent-Split-Wheat-1909s-VDB-/330453671044?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item4cf092dc84#rpdId

 

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I wouldnt buy nothing off ebay unless its certified.

 

If they are saying it is genuine I can never understand why they wouldn't take the time and get it certified.

 

The VDB 1909-S is popular to counterfiet and add the initials. Anything off eBay of this caliber coin, needs to be in a PCGS< or NGC slab to consider bidding on it.

 

I would not buy that coin unless certified esp. off of ebay. Also, there seems to be some type of discolor or odd marks above the mint mark. Just IMO why take a chance with that type of money and get one that is certified.

 

That kind of a coin would need to be slabbed for me to bid on it. That being said, in my opinion it is probably genuine, but may have been cleaned and artificially re-toned. The obverse looks like it may have been dipped. The shine/reflection off Abe's hair has telltale signs of dipping; a bright un-natural reflection. That would explain why it's not in a slab.
The seller guarantees it's genuine, and he does have a 7 day return policy. That leads me to believe it's genuine. So if you bought it, and didn't like it, you could always send it back.

 

The only thing that I would ever buy off of eBay is hoarding-caliber coins. Cheap Morgans, Peace, lots of silver coins.

 

My first take is that it is counterfeit, but I am not at home to confirm everything. However, eBay does guarantee it. therefore, you should not lose much if you want to stab at it.

 

I'm amused that he says, "It's genuine. Look at the pictures."

The mintmark looks like location #4. Looks like it's in the right spot, but something is odd about the wear on the coin. The year and mintmark are worn rounded, but the fields are so clear. RaceBannon may be right about it being "treated." The silvery spots are the same color as the irregularities inside the obverse rim from 6 to 9 o'clock and 2 to 3 o'clock. Makes me think some artificial coloration.

I dunno.

 

can you explain how that is done?

FWIW, I have no expertise with wheaties but any coin worth way over a thousand dollars begs the question, why is it not already in a slab?

 

The first thing to ask is why isn't this coin already slabbed? Who in their right mind would sell a coin that nice unslabbed and risk losing their a$$ on feebay? The coin looks like an MS-65 by the pictures, this guy can't even grade accurately and calls it AU? Come on, you'd have to be a fool to bid.

 

I don't recall examples with the "chips? die gouges? on the C and N of CENT.

 

Look at the N in UNITED

 

Take a good look around the mint mark. Suspicious "clean" spot all the way around it. That's enough for me to back away. I vote added MM.

 

The Mintmark seems awfully low, but I know there is much variation in the MM location. But I anxiously await the Lincoln gurus opinion.

 

As I stated earlier, I am not at home. However, look here http://www.cointalk.com/t78043/. That MM looks like or very close to #4 and the "N" looks good, and it looks to be a struck coin. However, something just does not look right.

 

I don't know with pennies exactly, but I have heard of the designers initials being stamped in.

Exactly.

 

The fields don't look right, the way the fields meet the rims don't look right for a 1909. The reverse appears TOO sharply struck. It would be interesting to see the edge of this coin. I'm suspecting a "Bay Area Counterfiet" from spark erosion dies.

 

The coin has the correct diagnostics for a real coin. Its not in a slab because its a no-grade for the color and prob other reasons if you could put a loupe on it. I would not buy any svdb unless you can correctly authenticate one yourself slabbed or not. The info is out there and easy enough to find.

 

Here's a link to an ad that has a slabbed one.... you can see some differences between the slabbed coin, and the one that isn't...like the aforementioned 'N'.
(the slabbed cent is going for $5,600)

http://cgi.ebay.com/1909-S-VDB-Linc...em&pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item4cf0a92cea