Are there not any kind of laws preventing people from copying/selling these? http://cgi.ebay.com/5-oz-2010-QUARTER-HOT-SPRINGS-AR-SILVER-ROUND-999-/180660502956?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a103481ac The sellers info states that they're in California, but the description sounds more like dialog from a bad Kung Fu movie.
I'm not familiar with the National Parks quarters-- is this silver round of the same design and size as the genuine Hot Springs quarter? If so, then this round may be in violation of the Hobby Protection Act, which requires that all deceptive reproductions of real coins be incused with the word "COPY".
what leads you to believe that it is fake? the fact that they use replica in the description? they are replicas of the actual quarter. dont see anything that makes me feel its fake. they have over 3300 positive feedback in 7 years on ebay.
The seller him/herself says that it is a replica. Yet it seems to be a genuine article. Maybe the seller is confused because the coin is so big but the face value is only 25 cents?
(1) The description states "extreemly (his spelling, not mine) good quality replica" (2) The title/description uses the word "round" 5 different times. (3) I never heard of, much less have seen pictures of a PROOF Hot Springs 5oz coin from our Mint. But, so people don't think I'm just calling someone out...I've sent the seller a question regarding it's origin.
Checking the US Mint's own web site, it doesn't appear that there is a proof version of the 5 ounce coin. Thus this round, if it is a privately-struck piece made to the exact same standards as the Mint-produced coin, should have the word COPY on it.
i dont feel you are calling this person out. nothing wrong with informing fellow coin talkers :thumb: i still beleive it to be a genuine ATB 5 OZ coin. lets see the response you get from the seller
This stuff honestly doesn't bother me so long as the sellers disclose that they're selling replicas, which this one does in his auction's description. Quite frankly this is the Mint's fault. They're the ones who seemingly continually try to create scarcities, particularly with the ATB 5 Oz Series. I mean they drastically lowered the number they were going to produce, telling suppliers two different numbers within a 48 hour period.
It looks like it may be the bullion issue to me. There is no "copy" stamped on it or the name of a private mint. Let us know what the seller says about the origin. TC
Yep look slike just the bullion version to me... Plus with all of the trouble the mint had making these I doubt there are many people faking them yet...
If you look at some of their other auctions, the wording in the descriptions flow a lot better. Maybe they were just drunk at the time of writing it, or copied it from somewhere. But they don't sound like a bad kung fu movie in other listings.
Okay, here's the answer I received today after asking if this was a legitimate 5ozer from the US Mint: Dear *****, Hello, Thank you for looking at my auctions. I don't know. It has an arrowhead logo on the back. It's a very high quality proof received in a large coin flip that looks like it was that original. That's all I got. God bless. "Arrowhead logo"?!?!?! Large coin flip that looks like it was original"?!?!?! I'm actually more confused after reading his response :headbang:
I know fabricators that could make a mold from an original, pour it, plate it, and have it back to you in less than 24hrs. The 3in size of these 5ozers will be much easier to work with. And seeing that they're going for $300-400+ each...don't think our Chinese friends aren't all over it. All you have to do is take a trip to any local Flea Market to see their handy work. Mine is stacked to the ceiling with counterfeit goods.
Given that explanation, if it's not in official government packaging, I wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole.
Looks like the real deal to me (a proof-like bullion coin). The "arrowhead logo" must be the NPS logo on the lower right quadrant.
