All the magazine articles have me a little gunshy lately, about all the fake coins and fake slabs from China. I think I'm finally ready to add a Trade dollar to my type set, but I don't want to get ripped. If I can't find the right coin at a shop or show, I might get one from eBay. I plan to buy either an NGC or PCGS slabbed one. From a seller with at least a few hundred transactions, 100% perfect feedback, and one that is located in the United States. Is there anything else I should try to watch out for? Thanks.
Have you checked out David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC)? http://www.davidlawrence.com/invent...6/pn/US-Coins/pickseries/175/sn/Trade-Dollars Chris
Read up on identifying fakes. The trade dollar is one of many older U.S. coins that are faked, mainly because the majority were sent over seas. Even though a seller on eBay has perfect feedback doesn't necessarily mean they are on the up and up. How do you know the seller hasn't created many accounts that send that feedback? My best advice to you is shop around locally. If a dealer in your area doesn't have what you're looking for, they can find it through their sources for coins.
Thanks for the link. I'll check it out. I haven't been on that site for a while. I guess I kind of forgot about it. I guess this leads to another question. What about Heritage? Do they have in house experts verify that what they sell are genuine coins in genuine slabs? Good points. I'm not in a big hurry, so I'll try local first. Thanks.
I think you are more likely to get ripped off locally more so than online. How closely do you think some grumpy old guy with more coins than time to closely inspect every one for authenticity? I mean really? One coin for a type set ...not the biggest purchase that you will ever make. Just spin the barrel and pull the trigger your chances are 50/50 that you will get a real one. Gotta like those odds.
My best guidance is if you wish to buy such specimens, acquire them slabbed by a top-tier TPG until you are fully comfortable within yourself to judge raw specimens - however which way you end up deciding to purchase them raw. At least with a top-tier TPG, authenticity is guaranteed such that if such specimen is determined to be not authentic in the future, they will pay.
be really careful and ready to spend... I was winning a AU Details (chop marks) 77 CC with 2 min left at $280 and it jumped at the end to $840... just my experience
Unless he would be visiting MajorBigTime's coin shop, where you're required to use CENT instead of PENNY, that is utter hogwash.
Anacs and ICG are ok too, as far as authenticity goes, but watch out for the older small white ANACS holders, as these were faked heavily a few years ago. I think you have a sound plan.
Disclaimer: This poster is a VERY anti-slab collector and his opinions tend to display his bias. They have good people, but don't count on it. They would almost certainly recognize a counterfeit coin, but I wouldn't guarantee they could spot a fake slab. We have caught them selling coins in fake PCGS slabs, the 1989 rattler counterfeits. They like slabs though, they don't have to grade them, and they don't have to worry about authenticity. If you read their auction rules they have a clause in there that coins in slabs from the major services are not returnable for any reason. If you have a problem take it up with the grading service. In the case of authenticity though they would probably take it back (because they have another clause that says all coins are guaranteed to be authentic. These two clauses conflict, but it probably lets them apply whichever one would be to their best advantage.) and then they would take it up with the service. So my only concern would be that since they let the services take so much of the responsibility, and better than 90% of the coins they sell are slabbed, they may only look at the coin with an eye toward description for the sale, and not toward verification of grade and authenticity.
