Fake 1909-s vdb

Yes. Its very fishy. And illegal.

 

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Actually, modifying a US coin is more along the lines of defacing the coin than it is counterfeiting it. Like Hobo nickles. They are real nickles, but have art on them.

Regardless, it is a FAKE 1909-s VBD coin, even if the 1909 and VBD part are real.

 

There's only one reason someone would add an S to an 09 VDB, and it ain't for art's sake.

 

To be honest, I do like how the S looks on a coin. Much better than the D or the really ugly P

 

I've found that "questionable offerings" are often not advertised, but just happen to be mentioned after contact is made. If a seller posts a photo of a known or clear fake, there is a good chance it will be flagged and/or someone else will post an ad pointing it out, but if offered one-on-one, it can be easier to pass off, especially if the potential buyer is blinded by an apparently great price and/or does not know what they are doing.

Craigslist is what it is these days, but at least give the guy credit for not trying to pass it off as genuine.


It is worth mentioning that certain contemporary counterfeits can be quite collectible and valuable, but any fake S-VDB would not be one of them IMO.

 

This is true. In the short time Ive been collecting, Ive been offered a 09-s vdb 3 times. One was a ridicious offer, one was way below market which didnt sit right with me right away and this last offer I started this thread about. Atleast he didnt try to scam me.

 

There is a known counterfeit that I would buy . It was made by Henning

 

And Henning nickels can get quite pricey. There's still about 100K plus of them resting on the bottom of the Cooper River, about 5 miles from my house.

 

For the specific coin you mentioned, I would not buy it.

With that said, fake coins are not worthless. There are multiple counterfeit early coppers which are highly collectable and bring strong 5 figure prices when offered for sale, 1848 small date, 1793 smith type, etc. They are contemporary forgeries and have been collected in their own right for over a hundred years.

Then there are electrotype and cast copies of of early large cents and half cents which, if well done, do bring premiums. I have seen multiple electrotype fakes of half cent proofs bring around $100 each. I have seen wreath cent cast copies bring close to $300. These were coins sold by knowledgeable dealers to knowledgeable buyers, no one was being ripped off. Basically, there is a market for well done copies of high value coins, I presume bought by collectors to fill a hole for a coin they do not have the means to fill. Think 1796 no pole half cent, high grade 1793 chain/wreath/liberty cap cents, etc.

To the OP, like I said to start the answer to the specific question you asked is do not buy that coin. To the bigger question of is there a market for collecting known fakes/forgeries? Yes there is.

 

+1

I would also buy Ancient Fourees (ancient contemporary counterfeits), along with contemporary counterfeits of other coinages.

Modern fakes and altered coins I wouldn't buy, especially at the price the OP is being offered.