Ebay $20 Gold coin question

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by johnny54321, Jun 8, 2009.

  1. johnny54321

    johnny54321 aspiring numismatist

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  3. TheNoost

    TheNoost huldufolk

    I almost don't think its UNC. Look at the details in the eagles face and the tips of the scroll as well as the hair just under the ear and to the right of that.
     
  4. bqcoins

    bqcoins Olympic Figure Skating Scoring System Expert

    I dunno, but you're right it just doesn't feel right when I look at it.
     
  5. johnny54321

    johnny54321 aspiring numismatist

    Well, I'm not going to say anything to the authenticity of this specific coin, but on my counterfeit $3 gold piece, the lack of connection between the denticals and the ridge of the rim was one of the indicators that the coin was fake.
     
  6. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    Agreed.
    It doesn't look right to me.

    And part 2 of my opinion is my standard response for a coin of this value.
    Before I put my money down for anything costing that much I want it in a slab, preferably PCGS or NGC.
     
  7. raider34

    raider34 Active Member

    I can't really tell, I hate pics like that, you can never tell what the coin really looks like.
     
  8. FreakyGarrettC

    FreakyGarrettC Wise young snail

    Hobo... Where are you???
     
  9. tpsadler

    tpsadler Numismatist

    I am not sure about the BU claim, the photos leave way too much for your imagination. While this is not a recomendation for DGS I do like to review their photos for coins. DGS does claim their slabbed coins are authentic and I have no reason to think otherwise. That being said you may want to review this photo information for an 1897S $20 LIB. http://www.dominiongrading.com/authentiview_lookup.cfm?digiserial=011409001

    The denticles not touching the rim is a first red flag when attempting to authentice coins. Not only do the denticles not touch the rim on the reverse from 8-10 they are uneven in both space and height where they do touch the rim (Second red flag)
    Personally I do not trust ebay ratings as these are easily manipulated by skillful sellers (By no means am I saying all sellers with high ratings are bad, just these ratings may not be as accurate as they would appear.)

    I think this coin would be a bad risk.
     
  10. RickieB

    RickieB Expert Plunger Sniper

    I'll take a stab at it and say it was constrained in a mount??

    Jewlery piece? Just a honest guess!


    RickieB
     
  11. tmoneyeagles

    tmoneyeagles Indian Buffalo Gatherer

    DO NOT BUY FROM THEM!!!
    EVER EVER EVER EVER!!!

    They are the biggest photo docs out there!
    They makes AU's look like BU's
    MS62's look like MS65's
    They doctor each and every one of their photos

    Beware of this seller! Greatsoutherncoin!
     
  12. Hobo

    Hobo Squirrel Hater

    I was out in the yard.

    At first glance I don't see anything about this coin that jumps out at me. I do wonder why, if it is as nice as the seller claims, it is not slabbed. That in and of itself is a warning flag.
     
  13. tmoneyeagles

    tmoneyeagles Indian Buffalo Gatherer

    Here are the negative/neutral feedback given out by buyers, to greatsoutherncoin

    [​IMG] Coin was cleaned but failed to mention. No response to my concern...
    [​IMG]Put me on email list for more sales w/o permission. Coin not as described
    [​IMG]Coin Graded Pr61 No where Near Gem. spent 70.00 for Grading
    [​IMG]Item is significantly different from photo. no response to 3 emails
    [​IMG]"UNCIRC" WAS AU. GAVE TO NCG TO BE SURE: AU 58. DIDN'T REFUND AS AGREED. MESSER
    [​IMG]Coin not gem BU. Photo hid large scrape on rev.
    [​IMG]Auction said $3 shipping, was charged $7 even after contacting them.
    [​IMG]Coin did not match description. Prompt, no hassle refund.
    [​IMG]The shiping was fairly slow...
    [​IMG]Beware uncertified proofs; surface not natural; returned for refund; took while.
    [​IMG]Coin was not original - returned for refund.
    [​IMG]BEWARE BUYERS This "SOLID GEM BU" came back certified AU-58. Seller didn't care
    [​IMG]CLEANED COIN-Had assured me that it was Original-Lost $40.50 in transaction
    [​IMG]ATTEMPTED FRAUD: Sold a doctored AU as a BU GEM! No REMORSE! Not a word!!!
    [​IMG]Coin was faded unlike picture where detail was great, not satisfyed,no responce!
    [​IMG]won MS64,rec'd AU,coin rec'd wasn't coin in pic,obvious switch,wasn't even clos
    [​IMG]Received item timely; not uncirculated; returned item, no problems;
    [​IMG]<<<< PHOTO GREATLY EXAGGERATES LUSTRE ON THIS COIN... very disappointed! >>>>
     
  14. tmoneyeagles

    tmoneyeagles Indian Buffalo Gatherer

    And here are the rest...
    Some of them were left multiple times

    [​IMG]makes you pay for ins and then does not buy it, posting states ins is optional
    [​IMG]IT WAS GRADED BY PCGS AND NGC AS HAVING "ALTERED SURFACES" - USELESS 2
    ME !!!!
    [​IMG]Not MS/Whizzed/AT/ExpectDoctoredCoins/RefundCheerfullyGivenButWhoNeedsTheTrouble
    [​IMG]I Paid for book & priority ship via PayPal on 7/4 Now 7/23 No book & No response
    [​IMG]Coin as overgraded. It is VF; not AU as advertised.
    [​IMG]The coin is overgraded. It is at best XF; not AU Ch as advertised.
    [​IMG]NOT PQ, photo appears touched, worn spots on coin show detail in photo, emailed
    [​IMG]Seller grossly overstates coin grades/values and cheats buyers.
    [​IMG]GROSSLY overgraded. Seller knows what they are doing. Selling SLIDERS - BEWARE!
    [​IMG]Coin was overgraded, actually not even close. Won't buy from again!
    [​IMG]coin was sent out came back cleaned, dealer of this size know this should say so
    [​IMG]Coin was not near the quality advertized
    [​IMG] I never recieved the item
    [​IMG]shipping alittle slo
    [​IMG]Will not honor transaction...do not order from this person
    [​IMG]took 6wks for delivery
    [​IMG]to much light in the photo
     
  15. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    It's a fake. Here is the picture f his reverse next to one in an ANACS slab.

    [​IMG][​IMG]

    As mentioned you can see the denticals are all wrong. Next question, what happened to the horizontal lines in the shield? Also note the lack of "fullness in the eagles wings and the general lack of sharpness in the design features. The features on the first one seem bold but the are still lacking something.
     
  16. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    condor
    Thanks, just look at the In God We Trust.
    The lettering is all different!
     
  17. johnny54321

    johnny54321 aspiring numismatist

    Good detective work Condor. Should we report it? Inform the seller? I knew that GSC photoshops to some extent and can overgrade, but I've done business with them several times with lower value coins and have not been disappointed. Them selling fakes is new to me. I will give them the benefit of the doubt that it was not intentional, since they deal with so many coins, they may have overlooked this one.

    Though looking at Tmoney's list of negs/neutrals is scary, we also have to remember that they sell thousands of coins a month, so the ratio isn't too bad. You just have to be careful.
     
  18. tmoneyeagles

    tmoneyeagles Indian Buffalo Gatherer

    Yes, being careful would be smart, dealing with any seller on ebay
    I would never buy from greatsoutherncoin... Too many negs/neutrals, and it is too scary for me...
    If this is a fake, I'd message GSC, and ask him if he was aware, if he says it is real, and tells you to back off, then I'd report him, but hopefully he gets the idea
    If we can justify why it is a fake, I bet he will pull the listing
     
  19. Doverboy

    Doverboy Member

    Agreed with the detective work. Also, Kanga makes a strong point, too.

    For the record, I recently purchased from GSC with no issues.

    They describe this coin as Choice Unc, and if they believe that, would be acting IN THEIR OWN INTEREST by having it slabbed. Somebody there realizes this is, at best, a problem coin and at worst, counterfeit. Assuming it is gold, the current bid already makes money for them.

    Unfortunately, there are simply too many uninformed buyers that make this sort of maneuver profitable. I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but can't do so when it comes to a $1,000+ coin.

    Sad, sad, sad . . .
     
  20. johnny54321

    johnny54321 aspiring numismatist

    Ok, I sent him a message informing him. Please do the same if you can, so he has more than one opinion to go by.

    thanks,
    John
     
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