Is this real? Calling all Lincoln experts!

Hello, everyone.
Got this '09-S VDB the other day off eBay. Can you tell me if it's real or not? Seems to be a reputable dealer with good feedback and everything. I'm just a little gun shy after hearing all this stuff about counterfeits. Thanks!!!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

a little closer look at he mint mark would be good

Rick

 

Just curious. If this coin is counterfeited, how would you do this?

 

If the lines you mean are the concentric 'circle' looking lines radiating from the mint mark, then I think those are JPEG artifacts (digital flaws introduced when the picture was converted to JPEG format), not actual marks in the metal. A focused closeup of the date, mint mark, and VDB would probably the experts here to confirm or deny the coin's authenticity.

 

When I first looked at it, it looked ok !! but without being able to get a good look at the Mint mark and the style of the S as well as what GD pointed out, its best to stay skeptical,,

This is a coin that probly should not be bought raw !! authentification is a must !!

Rick

 

I would never, ever, buy a key date coin on ebay unless I personally knew the dealer or it the coin was slabbed by one of the top TPG's. I have seen AU 1914-D's go for over $400 that were nothing more than a "shaved" 1944-D Lincoln cent shaved down to look like a 1914-D.

If you read some of David Bower's article, he once stated he saw more 1916-D counterfeit Merc's at one coin show than real ones!

As for your coin, this is tough because most counterfeits are with an added "S" mint mark since the 1909 VDB is not a difficult coin to obtain. Hope you have a return policy IF the coin isn't the real deal.

 

I guess you should send it to one of the top grading services (PCGS, NGC, ANACS) to have it authenticated then sit back and chew your fingernails. Problem is this would take longer than the seller's return policy so if it did come back altered, then you'd be stuck with it. First you need to get it to a pro (hopefully there's one in your area) before time runs out.

I've been sitting here chewing my nails for a month waiting to see if my friends 1866 20c piece comes back "non-altered or non-cleaned". If it's good then it's mine to buy!!!

 

Post deleted due to a mistake in info given. True post follows.

 

Just as a side note, it's also helpful to know how counterfeits are made and how to spot the fakes. There's an excellent book out right now that is something of a "how-to" guide to counterfeiting coins, of which I cannot remember the title, that will be very helpful to anyone wishing to learn to spot fakes. For instance, it's fairly easy to tell that a '14-D is shaved down because there is an abnormal amount of space between the 9 and second 1 in the date.

So you're absolutely right, that buying key dates on the internet is VERY risky unless they're reputably slabbed, and you ought to find a dealer that you trust, but if you know how to spot the fakes, you'll be much better off.

I'll try to find the title of the book for anyone that's interested - unless someone here already knows which book I'm talking about here!

~AJ

 

The one I use (not sure if the same) is the Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit detection by PCGS.

 

Looks like you have a phony...but why not sell it back on ebay and get pretty much what you paid for it to begin with? You always see some people placing bids on non slabbed pieces on there for pretty nice premiums...I should know...I'm one of them .

 

Because that would be fraud...and you can get sued and alot more for fraud...I would contact ebay and the seller...if they won't make it right...either keep it as a learning coin or sell it AS A FAKE...

Speedy

 

Not only is it fraud, it is ILLEGAL. You cannot sell coins or currency that are known to be or suspected of being tampered with to increase their value. (id est: counterfeit $20 bills.....) If you attempt to sell it and someone decides to turn you in, you might get a call from the United States Secret Service! You'll have to either eat your losses or hope you can get a refund.

~AJ

 

No.... that's not the one - the one I'm thinking of isn't really a detection book - it's like a how-to guide for the processes used to make counterfeit coins.

~AJ

 

First of all, thanks to you all so much for contributing.
Yes, I think the lines are from the actual process of the digital scan. Upon magnification the "S" looks sunk in there a little, as if it was made by a die. In other words it's not completely flat like an S added to a plain VDB would be (in the mind of a greenhorn like me at least). Also "in person" the coin under magnification is evenly brown; it doesn't look like new metal has been added.
Let me know what ya'll think.

PS There is a return policy by the way.

 

Another thing: I compared the S VDB to a regular VDB and the rim seems much wider. Is this another indication to the coins authenticity? Thanks