1842 Seated Liberty Dollar Fake?

Is this a fake? What is your opinion?

http://cgi.ebay.com/1842-SEATED-LIB...ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

It's hard to say from his pics. Nothing jumps out at me at first glance. I would not bid serious money for this raw coin based on those pics.

 

I don't see anything with this that screams counterfeit, in fact it might be the real thing. But... if it is real, it has probably been cleaned. The pictures are not that great, and I would just pass this over without second thought based on the pics.

 

It's not one of the older counterfeits and I think it's authentic but the new counterfeits are really good and I don't know enough to tell the difference and I don't even know if they've been doing the SL Dollars. As to cleaning, I'd also have to agree but it looks like it was dipped and they did a pretty decent job (not that that probably matters). I think that after a few years stored in your humid attic, it should look really nice.

Personally, I'd buy it for the right price but currently it's already well above that price.

Ribbit

 

I compared it with a known genuine 42 dollar. Nothing jumps out, but the photo is not very good.

Personally I would pass on bidding. Reasons:

1. It's on e-bay complete with the poor quality photo and a variation on the family acquisition story..
2. It's on e-bay, fairly rare coin, NOT certified of course.
3. Even if genuine, I seriously doubt the claim that it's uncirculated. A certified uncirculated 1842 would be worth several times the current bid.

Anyway, that's my 2-cents...

Dan

 

I thought the story was a little fishy too. The guy has several decent looking coins up for low prices. Strange.

 

IF I were selling a coin of this value on ebay. I would want spend the extra buck to get enlarged pictures to allow the buyer to get a real good look. ONE THING I SEE... look at obveres of coin at 7:00 oclock, the rim appears to have cud or collar damage. Otherwise the coin looks authentic, but looks can be decieving. , ozark

 

Like you said the picture is not so great.....

If you follow the guy's story he is selling the coins for his mother.... He doesn't seem to know much about the coins he has up for sell. Also most of his previous items are records et cetera....

Could he really not know what he is doing putting up a bunch of coins of value? He has some nice looking gold up for sale that appears to be MS. Once again the photos are not so good, but very perplexing to say the least.

I went ahead and took a gamble on the 1842 liberty seated dollar. If it is not authentic I will get my money back. I can't really lose "alot" of money, but if it is real I think I stand to profit.

 

The picture stinks , it doesn't look MS exspecially the reverse , I'd definately want better pictures , I'd stay away from this one , it's probably real , but grade is ? Then again if it stays at this price or under $390 it may be worth it .
rzage

 

Basically the thought I used to bid on this item.

 

rhoggman , the issue

rhoggman,
there can be serious issues with refund policy.
1. The seller may want the coin returned within 10 days, or less should you request refund.
2. You would have to send it off and wait weeks for authentication to be 100% sure of authenticity.
3. If coin have ever been cleaned they can refuse it.
4.The seller can claim the coin that you returned, is not the coin he sold.
Lots of things can go wrong when there is big bucks at stake. If these coins were really a bargin, this person could easily sell them at a coin shop for a decent price & save big dollars for fees that ebay will charge.
I'm not trying to discourage you, only stating facts. Please don't take offence. Best of luck, ozark

 

My sense is the coin is real, and the photo technique is causing some to be overly concerned.

Incidentally, I believe I've commented on this seller before.

 

It looks real to me, but cleaned and it is not Unc.

 

Ozark , Very good points indeed .
rzage

 

That's excellent advice. I hope you don't get burned.

 

We will see.... I have taken bigger risks before and come out on top. If this coin is original and AU or better I could make a lot of money. DLRC is local to my area, and I can always hand carry the coin to them.

I checked out some of the guys story, and he mentions a real coin shop that still exists. I guess it is possible that someone could be selling coins purchased a long time ago and not really know their true value.
I will probably be outbid anyways as I think there are other people out their willing to take a shot on this coin.
Lets face it... if it is MS the price could go pretty high, and not many 1842's have changed hands publicly in the last 10 years according to coinfacts.

here is a link to an example MS 64
http://www.davidlawrence.com/auctions/viewitem.cfm?Inventory=94963&auc=4&lotid=3358&imagebase=

 

In the picture it seems to have great luster.... I'm not 100% sure it's not a MS coin. It surely cannot be less than AU which is why I think it is worth a little gamble.

The guy admits it has a few hairlines under 5x magnifying glass, but with the poor photography it is hard to tell either way. Even with the bad picture and yellow light it has AU details. He also says it does not have any signs of cleaning no rub marks et cetera.

Like I said .... maybe he is just stupid, or maybe I am just gullible... The things is the guys sells records for over a year on ebay, then sells a few coins for his mom. The story is plausible. I did not ask him if she died or just wanted to get rid of them. But it is possible he is just an airhead, and did not seek professional advice. If I were a little nicer I might tell him to remove all of his coin listings and seek out some help before he sells.... Check out his other items... All raw coins "purchased over 30 years ago". Everything before that is Elvis and AC~DC...

Who Knows? I'll be sure to keep this going. Even I am wondering how it will turn out.

I bet the bid goes closer to 1,000 before the end of the auction. I won't be bidding anymore, but I would love to see the coin in person.

 

Yes, you could come out really well on the deal if the price stays relatively low. I picked up a PCGS AU-58 1842 about a month ago, it's a beautiful coin - definitely cost more than the current ($610) bid.

Judging from the photos, I don't think there is a problem with the coin not being genuine. Probably your biggest risk is that it's cleaned, in which case it's probably not worth the current bid.

You might try contacting the seller and asking if he would make the sale contingent on 3'rd party verification/grading - in other words, would he accept a return if it is body-bagged by PCGS/NGC. I have done this a couple of times in the past with mixed results. If he says "no", I would be lots more suspicious.

Good Luck !!
Dan

 

good idea....

 

Outbid

I knew some other people were going to view this as a great opportunity like I did. I bid all the way up to 610. I was winning until the last second. Same deal on 1901 $10 Liberty Head. I bid all the way to $810 and was hijacked at the last moment. I did win a 1890 proof RD Indian Head for $91 . Oh well can't win them all. I would bid the same way agian.

The guy agreed to let me the coins graded. If they didn't hold up he would give a refund.

I am a little sad. I honestly believe those coins were nice quality MS coins. They both went in mid $800's. I think someone got a killer deal, and will double their money on thos coins.

I am happy with the proof Indian head. It looks nice probably PF 64 if I am lucky. I don't think he knew it was proof, but I could tell from the pictures, and he also gave it away that it was in a mint box with a COA.

He actually told me that to get the values of the coins all he did was look in Coin Values Magazine. Keep in mind these coins were raw. So he does not really know the grade.

Man... I am flabergasted you don't see this kind of thing often.