Hello, I recently won an online auction with an 1811 Capped Bust Half. looked very good online but when I received the coin things started to look strange. I did not take pictures before I sent it back. The auction house did refund the purchase price. What made me feel it was counterfeit was the edge. This half had a reeded edge. The auction haouse had three people check it out and all said it was genuine. Is this possible? Thank you
Welcome to the forum. Absolutely not, 100% no, no way should an 1811 half have a reeded edge. If what you are calling is a reeded edge was actually a reeded edge then the auction house should not have sold it as genuine and should not have had people call it genuine. Realistically, I can't confirm or deny that without anything more than your description. I wish you could show us pictures, because without them we really can't tell you anything more.
That is what I thought. There was no way that it could be genuine. It is troubling that the auction house found not just one but three people whom would vouch for it. Everything was just too crisp considering some of the other wear. Thank you.
To be fair... we aren't saying we agree with you. We don't know you at all. We're saying we need to see pictures of what you describe. There are effects which might look weird to a novice but which may actually be genuine. If a reputable auction house (that's the key - reputable) has 3 experts who agree its genuine, that's a a convincing sign. If the auction house is some rural nobody who sells cars and sometimes coins, that's something else. There really is just no way for us to tell you anything based on the complete lack of information you've given us. What we're trying to say, Charley, is we really can't tell you anything without pictures or more information.
when in doubt refer to a coin book such as "the redbook" United states coins. it pretty much covers every question I have ever had. Local coin shops or book store might have one.
If three of their people said an 1811 Bust Half with a reeded edge was good, they are not a coin auction house.
