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Message:: [QUOTE="Morgandude11, post: 1835376, member: 37839"]I agree with the need to do research on coins--Lord knows the folks need to learn before they buy, and know what they have, and what they're looking for. However, none of that can be gained in a book in terms of authenticity.  Fakes abound in the numismatic world, and the only way you can be decidedly sure that the coin is real is to have it authenticated by a TPG.  Most really good fakes can fool marginal dealers, who will happily sell them as authentic. Ones gotten "way below market' must be suspect, as given the level of information out there on coins, people selling them know as much as YOU do when you want to buy them.  Why assume they are ignorant, and will sell a $150 coin for 5 bucks?  That happens extremely rarely, and less and less with the information available out there.  If you think a coin may well be genuine, SEND IT IN to PCGS OR NGC, and risk the submission fee to find out if it is authentic.  Makes sense, rather than agonizing over the "is it real or counterfeit" song all the time.   Better yet--buy certified coins if you are not super familiar with the series. My inflexible rule is--DON'T BUY RAW, unless you know the coin extremely well, and all of its variants.[/QUOTE]