Is this real?

I would question this dealer's credentials for that piece even making it into his inventory.

 

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T he more I look at the picture of the coin the more I can’t believe I fell for it. And it really makes me wonder how he did not spot it. Makes me think he sold it to me on purpose. How could he not have realized it. Makes me feel silly.

 

I'd have to pop back into the shop tomorrow and see whether the fake is back in the case. If it was being passed off as real again, then I'd know to never go back there.

 

Interesting thread. I just don't know enough about gold eagles, or other gold coins. But I'm learning as my interest in coin collecting changes over the years. My arrival today.

 

Is that the double eagle Skeletor variety?

 

no, lol, just 5$

 

Oops, I was referencing the fake St G. that was the subject of the thread. I should have been clearer. Your Eagle is a beautiful coin

 

my mistake, since it has been a while since I had been in coin forums, I dident know much about his coin, I did however notice what struck me initially was the eyes and color of his coin, and since I had got that yesterday, and it was beside me, I was looking at it for reference.

 

Sad about the fake. As far as this dealer goes, they did the right thing but it is troubling that it was out there for sale. Is the dealer an ANA member? PNG member? Most dealers (should) have a metal analytics device to readily determine whether coins and bullion are authentic and contain the appropriate amount of whatever metals the item purports to have. These machines cost around a thousand a piece but are a comparatively small investment to make sure fake stuff doesn't make it into the market place.

 

That dealer is either very incompetent or very crooked. If he’s crooked, he’s got a lot of nerve because that piece isn’t even close.

I dare say if you held that piece in you fingers, it would not feel like the real thing. Slabbing has ended the tactile aspect of handling coins for many collectors, but when you hold a double eagle in your fingers “it feels like quality.” The coin has a unique density for its size that exceeds that of a silver dollar.

 

From the photo, the 1904 Liberty and the Morgan look good, but... I'd have a really hard time trusting a dealer that sold that original piece as genuine. If he isn't crooked, he's dangerously inattentive.

 

The 1882 Dollar and the 1904 $20 gold look good, but I will warn you that I had a bad one in the 1970s. The coin looked pretty good, but the giveaway was that the words "TWENTY DOLLARS" on the reverse were weak at the bottom.

The 1882 Dollar is a common date, and the 1904 $20 is the most common date in the entire $20 Liberty series. Finding another one will be no problem, and for very little more, you can get a certified example. That's the road I take when I am buying collector coin U.S. gold, except for the very modern mint issues.

 

He does not display the coins so as far as I know he could still try to pass it off.

I believe he sends his coins to NGC. He’s more of a pawn shop owner. I guess he should still have a tester if he’s in the business.

I will have to post a pic of the reverse when I get home. I don’t remember if the “twenty dollars” was weak.

Honestly, the coin felt good and I didn’t think twice to closely inspect the coin. I quickly glanced at it. I feel like the weight was good just by feeling it. I didn’t think to measure. It’s things like this that really make you learn. I hope I don’t fall for something like this again.

 

Chalk it up to a learning experience.

 

Awful looking fake. The OP must know nothing about the series to even think of buying a counterfeit as bad as that one.

 

I guess I have been lucky. My first contact with coins was when I inherited the coins my father left me. After that, I would buy a coin for one of my sets, usually at a Coin Shop. I didn't buy any gold for about 4-5 years. I wanted to study the coins that were gold. I have a book that I got from a dealer. I bought a 1865 $10 Liberty Head Gold Coin and a 1904 $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle. Both were RAW. The dealer sent took them to a coin show and had them graded. the $10 Liberty Head came back from NGC, MS 61, and the 1904 $20 Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle. Boy, this one was a surprise to me and the dealer. It came back UNC DETAILS, Obverse Scratched, total cost of the $20 Gold Coin, $1,325. The $10 Liberty Head came back with a final cost of $725. That was in 2009, and I wouldn't sell either one. I did buy the MMIX (2009) Ultra High Relief Gold Coin, graded by PCGS MS68. I got the box, book and shipping box and material. I got it for about $1,500 in 2009. I've had several people tell me I should sell it. None were to impressed by the grade of MS68. I was, and still am.

 

Just to comment with another view. Maybe the dealer (not a "dealer" if a pawn shop) trusts others to verify items and label them correctly. He may have taken an inexperienced employees word for it, without even looking closely at it.
A friend of mine runs a pawn shop, and contacts me for any numismatic items that comes across his desk. I may have approved a good fake, and he sold it without knowing.
The only coin store for over 125 miles, is run by an elderly gentleman, but has three full time employees that look, grade, put in holders, any new acquisitions, so it's possible he may occasionally sell a coin that isn't up to his standards. Just saying.

 

Would love to see pics of your coins. It pays to stack early and often.

 

Credentials...we don't need no stinkin' credentials

 

Gosh, the guy just sold you a fake and turns right around trying to exchange it for other coins in order to make that right? And then you barely looked at them? I would have demanded a full refund and walked away.