1793 Cent - Ebay - "Expertly re-engraved"

When I first saw this coin on the EBAY listings, I really thought someone was trying to pass this off of a genuine coin. When I looked more carefully, it was listed as "Expertly Re-Engraved".

I don't know about you, but the re-engraving made me shiver. I think it's ugly as sin! I would have gladly taken it in its original worn condition! This seems a travesty!

AND... to boot.. they want $6K + for this thing! YIKES!!!!!

What are your thoughts? Am I just being too critical, or too hard on the seller? I know people try to sell the strangest things for the strangest amount of money.. but damn... This brought a tear to my eye!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

You ever seen one of those movie stars who's had so much plastic surgery that from some angles they don't even look human any longer?

Like that.

 

Even worse, I think. IMO it looks like one of those Royal Oak Mint pieces now.

 

So was she:



Ooops, err

 

yikes. rawr lol

 

I don't understand how they could even give that a vg details grade. What original details are there to go by?

 

They killed whatever value this had when they took an implement to it.
If they sell it for $6000 they are criminals.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1793-Libert...105997?hash=item211ff5898d:g:j5UAAOSwPCVX2aGG

Link in case you were wondering.

 

I can't blame anyone for selling it, and in a certified holder there will always be a buyer. I just hate the way sellers use adjectives as selling points, in this case the word "expertly". That's just wrong!

 

BTW I just found this coin in the Stacks Bowers archives. They described it as a "rather curious example" reengraved in a "rather fanciful manner". Sort of like "charming" in a real estate listing or "great personality" in a dating profile...

 

How on earth did that make it into a holder?!!!???

 

Great personality, errr :::: fugly.

 

They had to be guessing based on the reverse.

I would have called it MUTILATED rather than "Expertly" re-engraved. But I just passed by quickly since the reverse looked too good to be a forgery.

 

I've seen that coin on eBay before and it made me cry a little on the inside...and maybe a little on the outside too!

 

I guess this is EXPERT BODY WORK...

 

My guess is they are catering to the art community rather than the collectors market. It's more of a token on a 1793 planchet. I actually kinda dig it - it's a WOODY!

 

Are you sure that's not artificial flavoring?

 

There is a market for things like that, but a 6k market I doubt. Also agree "expertly" is being rather optimistic

 

The rims and the reverse can be used for grading the details, as well as authentication.

 

I agree this thing should have never made it into a holder. I guess there is a policy that if it can the authenticated and is chemically stable (within the limits of normal reaction with the atmosphere), then it can be slabbed as genuine. It's more a matter of aesthetics than anything that bothers me. It probably has no more metal mass manipulated than some coins with mounting marks or hole plugs. But trying to recreate lost detail on the devices somehow seems more wrong.

The various adjectives and adverbs, like "expertly", "excellent", etc. fall in the realm of puffery, not fraud. I do agree with the "remarkable" description, but not in the sense meant in the ad! Seller is entitled to what they can get without fraud. If it brings thousands, it's the buyer who deserves criticism for their poor taste.

Cal