You got that right! True, that is a pretty simple rule to follow for grade, if you can see the coin in hand. But buying a coin from pics can be challenging sometimes, and if I was to buy a rare or key date, I would like to know that an expert has authenticated it.
I agree. Over the past few years, I've purchased more from internet dealers than others and if they don't/won't/can't screen out fake slabs, this is a major problem. At least we've been warned thanks to Coin Talk.
That is a very good fake of a 1795 $1 inside a rather good fake of a slab...warning-slabs are just as unsafe as buying "raw" coins.
I have mentioned this before. At a coin show a dealer I know pretty well showed me a slab and asked me if it looked tampered with. I examined the slab and could not see any way it was tampered with. However, the coin inside did not match the grade and was not even the same denomination as stated on the slab. He did it as a joke but it sure made me wonder about any slabbed coins. He also pointed out about the many fake well known TPG slabbs being counterfeited lately but said look at this. He then showed me a slabbed coin with a grading service I never heard of. Thought is was just a new one. He said, no it is just one more thing to watch out for. The counterfeiters know many buy slabs and have no idea about how many companies do that work. So you could have a slab tampered with, a slab with a top grading service faked, a fake grading service, a fake coin in a fake slab. HMMMMM. So now we must become plastic experts.
Hmmm...I just bought a lot of 13 NGC graded Morgans. One of them had the holograph carefully cut out and removed from the reverse of the holder. I guess I can figure out why....
99% of my coins are raw but I do have coins that I have wanted to slab in case something happens to me so my wife will get better dollar for them. Now I have to wonder if it's really worth it. I would think the "legit" TPGs could come up with better safety measures. Only problem is that it will further increase the price of slabbing a coin. THIS IS SCARY AND FOR TOO MANY REASONS.
There are still a couple of things to consider here - to the best of my knowledge nobody has yet seen any of these fakes in hand. Looking at pics is one thing, looking at the slab in your hand is entirely different. For example the hologram, you can not reproduce a hologram in a photograph - it's impossible. It is also extremely difficult, and expensive, to replicate one at all without the computer code used to make the originals. So while I cannot say this with certainty, I feel it is highly likely that if one were to hold one of the fake slabs next to a genuine example that anyone would immediately and readily see the difference. Something else to consider is that these are now known and you can bet that the TPG's will be going after these people with everything they have. And they have considerable resources so I don't expect them to last long.
As long as you have people implementign security measures, you will have peopel tryign to get past those security measures. When our Mother-Baby unit put in its new infant abduction system, I was there dozens of times so I knew the system as I wanted it for my pediatric floor. When it came to test the system, they asked me to try to "steal a baby" why? because I knew the system inside and out, knew its faults and its limitations. With a little homework, reaseach, intelligence and proper tools, anything can be faked. Be it for the almighty $$, pride in doing it or whatever....everyone needs a hobby I suppose :goof:
Did I get off the floor? Yes Did i get to the first floor? yes Did i want excitement and take the hardest of three ways out? yep Did i get cuaght they way i went and could i have made it out the other two ways? Oh heck yeah needless to say, my little stunt has added a new duty position when guarding agaisnt baby-nappings and they are installing new locks in the doors the limit certain exits to staff members only. next time will take a little more practice. :secret:
Where are these originating? Could China be a player? That would be much more serious than some garage operation!
