Wow, how do you like this one. Isnt a 1944D worth like 4 cents, but with alittle bit of work on the date, it appears to be worth a whole lot more to the ebay community. And thats with them being clearly informed. Would it be wrong to do this myself then clearly state what I did, LOL Im just kidding but I do find it amusing. http://cgi.ebay.com/Lincoln-Wheat-C...ryZ39456QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Looks like he listed it as a normal 14d, and someone told him what it really is. If I had to guess it looks like an innocent mistake the seller tried to correct after being informed, but hard to say for sure.
My guess it will still go for quite a bit to someone who is going to re-sell it and not be so honest. Just my guess.
Thats why I posted it. I agree with both of you. I think it started out as an honest mistake that someone pointed out to the seller. But I want to watch it to see what happens. I too think its going to keep going up.
I wrote her and told her it was a 1944. Apparently, I was not the only one. At least she is honest enough to change her listing.
Even so, $26 is what the bidding is at, for a fake that can be spotted from a mile away? Yikes, even if it is being bought by the unscrupulous and put back on the bay it'll be spotted in a minute.
so let me ask another dumb question. I seem to be full of them. Still learning. How can you tell it was altered.
I dunno. I don't like this one. Feedback of 7 selling things like Incredible Hulk memorabilia and the first coin is a 1914-d Notice that the auction title hasn't changed. An honest seller would pull this.
They cannot change the title if it has a bid already. Its possible she changed the description, but not the title. and then someone bid on it...
This is where educating yourself and having a reference library can make you a better collector and help prevent you from getting taken by buying a counterfeit or altered coin. There are plenty of resourses available - books, DVDs, on-line references, weekly column in Coin World, ANA Summer Seminar Counterfeit Detection course, etc. Here are a few references that I have: ANA Counterfeit Detection Vol. I & II, Detecting Altered Coins (2nd Edition by Bert Harsche), Detecting Counterfeit Coins Book 1 (Lonesome John), Detecting Counterfeit and Altered US Coins DVD (JP Martin). If you know what to look for an altered 1914-D Lincoln cent is easy to spot. In 1909 when the Lincoln cent was introduced the designer placed his initials - VDB - on the lower reverse. After lots of complaints the initials were removed entirely. In 1918 the initials were placed on the truncation of Lincoln's bust where they remain today. So genuine 1914 Lincoln cents do not have VDB on Lincoln's bust - but 1944 cents do. If you see a 1914-D Lincoln cent with VDB on Lincoln's bust you can be sure it is an altered 1944-D. The 1944-D cent is altered by shaving off the diagonal and crossbar of the first 4. This leaves a larger space between the 9 and the 4 than is present on a genuine 1914-D.
WoW!!!! Do you guys see it. It ended at $51 and another $5 for shipping. When I first posted this, it was up to $10, so it went up another $40. I figured it would go alot higher, but didnt think that much. Who thinks the buyer plans to resell????
Note the odd, unnatural spacing of the numerals in 1914. There is too much room between the "9" and the second "1". That's because that "1" was a "4". They shaved off part of the "4" to make it look like a "1". Oldest trick in the book for phony 1914-Ds. If this is NOT a real 1914-D, but an altered 1944-D, why does it NOT have the VDB on the shoulder ? Possibly because the same hustler who shaved off the "4" also modified the shoulder to remove the VDB. In any event, these metal-shaving actions disturb the metal which is easily seen under a loop. They'll try to cover that up with fine brushing, but you'll see it.
I would have bid on it up to around $20. I would not have resold it as genuine. I would have liked to have it as an educational piece. It was overpriced (for me) at $50+.
First, let me say, this one cent has -FAKE- engraved very deep and large on reverse as to keep this 1944d from ever being sold as a 1914d one cent..I did this one for a forum some time back to show how easy it is to move metal on a coin to keep the space between the 9 and 1 closer...Again it has -FAKE very large and deep on reverve..
