This is primarily for @Insider: This ICG-graded 1877 IHC is in an EBay auction this afternoon at 3:18 ET. The ICG number is 2555550301 which shows up in an ICG search as a 1935-D nickel. Is this just a database error or is this a fake ICG slab?
That's Magic Mike the coin Dr. He probably couldn't get it slabbed at NGC because of questionable color.
I know it's Mikes Mountain Values and I know the rep he has here. But that's not the question. Why does the slab number show as a 1935-D nickel on the ICG lookup? And the follow-up question is if this is a fake slab and coin?
I seriously doubt he would ruin his reputation on ebay as a Top Seller by selling a coin in a fake holder. Maybe ICG made a mistake.
I checked. We just had a major software upgrade to move our company into the coming decades. Our IT guys are aware of a glitch possibly affecting coins submitted. The OP's post confirms this; something I was not aware of. I'm guessing submissions around August to October are involved. Apparently, we have corrected the serial number on a half dozen coins so far. There has NEVER been a charge that ICG slabs have been counterfeited. All our material is made in the USA and NOT CHINA! The kind of errors we make are universal at every major TPGS. Furthermore, I personally put a grade of MS-62 RB on that coin. IMO, it is a typical low MS Indian cent with market acceptable color.
Thanks @Insider. I am gratified that we can continue to trust ICG. A simple database error was what I was hoping for. I relied on that assumption when I put a bid in on the coin. Got blown out of the water, BTW.
I don't usually check prices of coins but 6K just shows the Price Guides are just "guides." I probably would have thought to bid half the hammer price.
Well the shells were counterfeited at least once, but they didn't use ICG labels. The Morgan Mint released a group of silver eagles back in 2003 in fake ICG shells. As soon as they appeared I contacted ICG asking why they were permitting someone else to use their very distinctive shell style. They said "What are you talking about?" and I sent them pictures. Morgan Mint was immediately served with cease and desist orders. The slabs were only available for a couple days before they were pulled from the market. A few weeks later Morgan Mint was back with a newly designed shell which at first glance LOOKS like an ICG shell but the actual shape is rectangular. The fake shells and the newly redesigned ones were made in China.
That would make a nice holder for a slab collector. Thanks for the correction. In my writing I try to NEVER use the word "NEVER." I should have at least written AFAIK because in 2003 I was working at NGC and knew very little about ICG until they made the news around 2007-2008.
