Hi guys. I just came across on ebay some nice pillar coins (and others) that have counterstamps on them. I said, "Wow!" But then I have noticed there are 3 sellers that have posted similar (not same) items with similar listing formats, all located south of the Philippines, all with 0 feedback score, but using Paypal as mode of payment. And surprisingly, there are lots of bids on the items. Then in my mind I began to question authenticity. You can check ebay for these sellers yaney9798 , angelness**6, someness**63. Here is one item that just ended, a YII countermarked 1767 Limae 8 Reales Coin : http://cgi.ebay.ph/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150807456399 Please check out other items of the sellers: http://www.ebay.ph/itm/150807457795?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649 From someness**63: http://www.ebay.ph/itm/1771-Old-Sil...849?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item1c269a8029 http://www.ebay.ph/itm/1735-SPANISH...389?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item1c269a8a15 http://www.ebay.ph/itm/Old-Silver-C...990?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item1c269a8c6e
Guess these coins traveled to the Phillipeans just like they did to China , but with no feedback I'd give these coins a wide bearth , no bidding from me . Too many fake pillar coins out there .
I'm with rzage hobbyist, I wouldn't take the chance. Too many question marks as to authenticity, etc. Bruce
Thank you guys. Yah, I tried contacting the sellers several times but I got no response. In the listing it said even that the seller will respond to questions within 24 hours. It seems the 3 ebay accounts are owned by 1 and the same owner. Oh well.
Pillar dollars are right up there with Trade Dollars. You either better know what you are doing, buy from a dealer with return privileges, or buy it slabbed. Way over half of them on EBay are fakes to me.
If you are of sound mind and body, you would not buy 1 of these from ebay. Even a slab is not a guarantee.
When countermarked coins are cleaned such as these are, that's a huge red flag. The cleaning hides the contrast between patina on an old coin and the shiny look of a modern stamp, which is what often gives away the stamp as not being genuine.
