Too Good To Be True ? - GEM BU 1908 Indian Head

I bought this coin and a few more very similar looking ones on eBay. I'm thinking about sending it to be graded but the color looks just too good to be true. I need help from experts.

 

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Something dosent look right to me the fields look to smooth but i could be wrong, lets see what other say!! One rule i like to follow don't buy raw coins of ebay if you aren't 100% sure what your getting !

 

The pictures are actual eBay posting pictures. Actual coins look even better as if they were just minted, the color not the surface of course. I haven't seen any other Indian Heads like these.

 

Is that damage to the rim just under the date?

 

Something looks altered. Im willing to bet you get an Altered Color designation.

 

rickmp, I'm not sure but the actual coin looks fine.

RedRaider, Would you agreed that even an Altered Color designation would be better than keeping it raw?

Any idea on the value of this coin?

 

It appears to be in a white 2X2 holder, If so, then the white balance in the photo is way off, and I am sure the coin does not have that color depth. Correct the white balance either on the camera menu or a program like photoscape until the holder image is the same color as the actual holder.

 

If it were an 08 S, I would grade it, but an altered color 08 P would not be worth much more than the grading costs. If you have a coupon and freebie grade with NGC/PCGS, might take a stab at it, but not if you are going to pay $30+ for grading fees.

 

Here is the same coin under Dallas morning light. I took this with my cell phone just to show the color. And it's 1908-P so I'll think twice before I send it. There were a kinda of bidding war going on for these coins on eBay and all the bidders have low feed backs ( teens to 2 - 400 range ) so real coin dealers weren't considering them. I took the risk and bought 5 of these. They are really pretty, though.

 

No, it would not be if this coin was graded altered color you might be able to get 15.00 dollars for it and that would be generous !!

 

Boy! did I get suckered. I guess that's how you learn. I let greed get the best of me.

 

Looks a lot like a cent that has been cyanided. (cleaned in a sodium or potassium cyanide solution.)

 

You live and you learn. If you can, I would return all of them. Typically if a seller had all gem BU RD indian cents, they would pay to have them graded. Those are all $450+ in MS65RD. They all look the same, which tells me they were all cleaned/altered by the same person.

 

If this coin was a 1908-S, I would be sure it was an alibaba special, as it is , I am highly suspicious, as the dealer would likely have certified at least 1 before offering them as raw. The holder with printed "Gem Uncirculated Indian Head Penny" and the date hand written, indicates that many are to be expected identically. I have never seen preprinted holders like that. My scam sensor is buzzing. IMO.

 

I don't know, I guess I was really drunk at that time..... I won't blame the Chinese though, They got some good food...

 

The Chinese will make up a very very shiny set of Indians for you -- a 1908 is 15c less than a 1908-S because they don't have to engrave an "S" on the die.



China: several thousand Indians, Large Cents, and Half Cents, circa 2011.

 

Don't get me started with them Chinese. This is another one of their jobs that I'm a victim of.

 

Care to post a link to the auction? Seems like you might have good grounds for opening a Significantly Not As Described case, but I'd like to see what the seller claimed in the listing.