About a week ago I saw on EBAY a 1999-s proof set silver COA and Empty holder for sale with 9 bids at 54.00 with 3hrs left to sell. Is this for the purpose I think it is? To put other coins in it and sell as the real thing??? If so I am very scared
I guess it could be, but not necessarily. The COA is not a good sign - since that was obviously for the coins that are no longer in the holder, and should be kept with the coins not the holder. It could also be that a lot of these sets have been cracked and split up. Now someone has pulled a complete set back together, and would like to purchase the holder to display them as they were originally intended.
The scenario I think most likely, and part of what Rick said is that for example a 1999 set was given to someone for Christmas/birthday and the recipient unwitingly discarded the box etc. Later they (or the coin dealer they sold it to) discover that it is worth a bunch, and decides to find a box for it to make it worth even more. Where do you look for a box first? Problem is several other people have the same idea hence the bidding war. The extra boxes come from those who have sent coins in to be graded. Of course other possibilities exist!
Like it or not - there are those who will buy these empty boxes and COA's - place clad coins in them, and sell them as the genuine article. It happens.
I missed the part about the empty holder. I was thinking box. But there are still those who might need the box and COA for what I mentioned. Yes, there are a lot of unscrupulous folks out there, we've all learned that.
Wouldn't it be difficult to break open a holder without damaging or causing evidence of tampering? Are there tale-tale signs on the holder that collectors can look for to detect such deception?
[QUOTE='Ol Silver]Wouldn't it be difficult to break open a holder without damaging or causing evidence of tampering? Are there tale-tale signs on the holder that collectors can look for to detect such deception?[/QUOTE] Not really, the plastic cases open easily enough - and can then be re-closed. By the way, Welcome to the Forum Ol' Silver
O.K. now Im stunned! I have thought for so long that if my coin was in Mint Packaging it was safe, are we saying its not? What about PCGS slabs?
PCGS, NGC, ANACS, ICG slabs can't be opened and put back together without leaving a really bad looking slab. Now SGS slabs...they can be opend and put back together but I would hope you wouldn't be buying any of theirs! Speedy
If you took the coin out of an SGS slab and replaced it with one from your pocket, you have a 50/50 shot at actually improving the quality of the coin in the slab from what was in there... So no risk to the buyer there.
Well, that depends. If you bought it from the mint, yeah you're fine. It also depends on the packaging to a degree. The modern Proof set cases can easily be opened and reclosed. The mint set package cannot be opened and reused. But I have seen counterfeit mint sets, yes even modern ones. It's not that hard to roll two pieces of cellophane together. The bottom line - KNOW who you are buying from and TRUST them - or else don't buy it.
