Need Help with authentication of coins

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Teresa a-zestate, Jun 10, 2017.

  1. Teresa a-zestate

    Teresa a-zestate New Member

    Hello,
    We have an estate sale company and are responsible for pricing and evaluating these for a family. We took these to a couple of places locally to help authenticate, with various opinions. We do not want to put these in a sale if they are fake priced as real.
    We are not looking for values, just an honest opinion of if they are real or not, what to look for etc.
    We have lots of knowledge in fine jewelry and watches and other antiques/collectibles, but we do not have much knowledge of these. We see the potential value we want to be sure.
    Thank you for any help you may be able to provide.

    I know sometimes it helps to know a little history of items. We only know that our client is an elderly gentleman. He said that he acquired the coins 14 yrs ago.
    When his father died he found them in the back of his fathers desk, he put them in a suitcase with some other items, and he has had them in that suitcase ever since he brought them home.
     

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    Last edited: Jun 10, 2017
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  3. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    Stand firm in your price they look legit.
     
  4. SuperDave

    SuperDave Free the Cartwheels!

    You will be leaving an extremely large sum of money on the table - some of these might have value reaching five digits - if they are not authenticated and graded by a respectable third-party grader. Most of them are types which a prudent collector simply would not purchase outside a slab. I do not mean to seem cryptic, but a forum like this does not lend itself to the small book I'd need to write in order to cover each coin in the detail it deserves.

    Whatever you read here, and there will likely be some knowledgeable folks responding, do_not offer these coins in raw ungraded form.
     
    coin_nut and lordmarcovan like this.
  5. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

    The 1814 dime shown in the picture is a fake. It does not match any of the 5 known die varieties. The reverse purports to be JR-5 (Statesofamerica) variety, but JR-5 looks nothing like that. Also, the obverse and reverse lettering and overall style is not congruent with that of authentic coins.

    I am not an expert on Capped Bust halves, but the date style of the 1807 is unlike any that I have seen. It looks very strange. I have strong doubts about that coin.
     
    coinsareus10 likes this.
  6. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    The 1814 dime is fake, the 1807 half next to it is fake, the 1798 dollars are fakes I would say the 1797 half dollars is fake and I would say several others are fake as well. With that many readily identifiable fakes in the group I would consider them all suspect without in hand authentication, and not just from mediocre images.
     
    lordmarcovan likes this.
  7. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    Yes, I saw some pieces that looked wrong, too. That tends to throw some doubt on the rest, even though there were others that looked "OK" (meaning only that they might've fooled me, based on pictures alone).
     
  8. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    The coins need to be pulled from the sale. That's a shame. If real they would need to be sent to a major coin auction to receive the true value of the collection. Hope you have someone in your area that can check each coin. Maybe there is something in the group that's real.
     
  9. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Tersesa, if I might make a suggestion - just return the coins to the gentleman and say thanks but no thanks.

    You don't know any of us here and have no reason to trust what anyone says. But the two members who said some of the coins are fakes, well, I've known them for quite some time, one of them for 17 years now. And me, I've been involved with coins since 1960, and if those 2 guys said a coin was fake that would be good enough for me. But you don't know me either.

    Your only real choice to know for sure if the coins are real or not, would be to send them in to either NGC or PCGS and have them authenticated and graded if genuine. But to do that would cost you probably in the neighborhood of $500, and maybe more. And even if they are fakes you still pay. And it would take 2-3 months for you to even find out for that's how long it takes, most of the time anyway.

    And yeah, you could take them to a local coin dealer and ask his opinion. However, coin dealers get fooled by fakes on a daily basis, so that might not be a really good idea. But it's your choice.

    If it were me, I'd give 'em back.
     
  10. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    I think that solution might save you the most trouble in the long run.
     
  11. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    Nope, not even close.

    As stated, several of these coins are suspicious. If you have a coin dealer local to you, I would recommend taking them to the dealer and asking for an in-hand opinion. It is possible that some of them are genuine.

    However, there are at least 2 coins in that pile that could be $30k$-$75k (each).... which means you really want to be sure. It also, unfortunately, means there's a good chance they're fake.
     
  12. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    I realize that I said something I shouldn't have. I don't have the experience that others here have.
     
  13. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    At least you admit it, P&G. Heaven knows I've stuck my foot in my mouth plenty of times. It's embarrassing, but I'm sure we've all done it.
     
  14. CoinBreaux

    CoinBreaux Well-Known Member

    There is something that is bothering me about the coins. From a distance they look like pretty good fakes, but I close up there maybe some signs that they are fake. All of them have this mushy, off look, and I can't quiet put my finger on it. I think most of them, if not all, are fake.
     
  15. Teresa a-zestate

    Teresa a-zestate New Member

    EVERYONE has been very helpful. We think we may have the coins looked at further. Will weighing them help in comparing them to alike coins? Thank you
     
  16. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    If the weight is incorrect, they are definitely fake.

    If the weight is correct, that doesn't mean they are good - counterfeiters quite often use the correct weight and metal, to fool people.
     
  17. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    The only way to know for sure is to have the coins authenticated, in hand, by an expert. And that means NGC or PCGS.

    edit - and if they are genuine, it's gonna cost you a whole lot more than $500.
     
  18. coinsareus10

    coinsareus10 Well-Known Member

    Well worth the sub.Send them in and keep us posted.
    Good luck.
     
  19. Lucky777

    Lucky777 New Member

    I have a Dime just like your 1814 and sent it in to be graded! Looks very similar to yours
     
  20. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    The 1795, and both 1798 dollars are fakes. I'd say the 1794 and 1797 1/2 dollars are most likely fake. The 1814 dime is fake. I suspect the 1807 half-dollar next to it of being fake. The other half dollars I am less sure about, but I would consider them guilty by association. If ANY of these coins have a reeded edge (except for the dime) they are fake. Many of the fakes from the time when these were made are also magnetic, not all of them, but many of them. So that would be another easy test.
     
  21. coloradobryan

    coloradobryan Well-Known Member

    I concur on the experts opinions. None of the coins pass muster.
     
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