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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Morgandude11, post: 2106247, member: 37839&quot;]I just wanted to post a thread for some of our newer collectors, as certain issues keep coming up with greater frequency, as to whether or not coins are genuine, or are they able to be graded.&nbsp; My preface is that this is not a commercial for TPGs, nor is it a warning away from buying raw altogether--the fun of having a raw coin in hand, and finding a nice one of any series is a thrill.&nbsp; However, there are certain caveats for purchase of unslabbed merchandise, especially on eBay.&nbsp; As folks have ascertained, especially by negative experiences, there are a lot of dubious sellers on eBay.&nbsp; There&nbsp; are also a lot of honest, decent sellers, who will give you (the new collector) some really lovely coins so as to start or fill out a growing collection.&nbsp; Here are some issues to consider:</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Is the price too much of a bargain?&nbsp; Look at the price guides (PCGS, NGC, Greysheet if you have it, etc).&nbsp; If it is artificially low, chances are that the coin is NOT what it is advertised to be, or worth one&#039;s time.</p><p>2.&nbsp; Be careful of certain series.&nbsp; Morgan Dollars are notoriously counterfeited, and some of the fakes are really good.&nbsp; They will pass magnet tests, and pass even more detailed scrutiny.&nbsp; Look at these coins carefully, and compare with photographs of genuine coins--look for positioning of mint marks, and lettering.&nbsp; Look at the overall devices and see if the proportions are appropriate.&nbsp; PCGS photo grade does give examples of the coins in various grades, so it can be a useful tool.&nbsp; Assume that raw Morgans may be fakes, but not necessarily, and counterfeiting common dates can be very profitable, as many people do not question whether or not one would go to the trouble to mass counterfeit an easily obtainable coin--answer is that they will.</p><p>3. Grading raw coins is extremely subjective.&nbsp; Learn to grade--if necessary, set aside some money for the purchase of coins that you don&#039;t care if you lose money.&nbsp; Remember, that just because somebody says a coin is &#039;BU,&quot; that has no meaning as to whether or not a coin really is BU, or a cleaned and buffed circulated coin, made to look shiny and bright.&nbsp; Also assume that many raw toned coins can be artificially toned with ease.&nbsp; Blast white coins from the 1800s can be easily dipped to make an unattractive coin look better than it is--however dipping always removes metal.&nbsp; Correct dipping is an art.</p><p>4. Avoid certain series in the raw, unless you know them well.&nbsp; It is estimated that probably more than 50% or more of Trade Dollars on eBay that are raw are either counterfeit, or damaged.&nbsp; Buy them with extreme care, or don&#039;t buy them at all.&nbsp; Slabs can be counterfeited as well, so be careful.</p><p>4. BUY FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER.&nbsp;&nbsp; Read this again.&nbsp; Okay, so you have read it. Read it again.&nbsp; BUY FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER.&nbsp; Your chances of getting a really nice coin that is raw is increased many times over if you buy from a high integrity source.&nbsp; If you don&#039;t know from whom to buy, just ask--there are many sources for great dealers on this site.</p><p>5. If you buy moderns, try to get them from the US Mint if they are available.&nbsp; If not, look for ones sold in original mint packaging with the box, and certificate of authenticity to avoid fraud.</p><p>6.Expect to make mistakes in grading, and expect to buy coins that are not graded properly--it has happened to ALL of us.&nbsp; No shame in learning from experience.</p><p>7. Buy the raw coins for your own enjoyment, not for investment.&nbsp; It takes a lot of skill to cherry pick for investment purposes--remember, this is a hobby, and hobbies are fun.</p><p>8.Don&#039;t impulse buy, and jump all over the place.&nbsp; Stick to one series, and compare coins--if you&#039;re looking for dollars, stick with dollars so you can compare them with other examples.&nbsp; If you go off in too many directions at the same time, confusion can abound.</p><p>9. Talk to friends and fellow collectors.&nbsp; Compare experiences.&nbsp; If there are shows around, go to them as a spectator first, and a buyer later on.&nbsp; Get some experience in the coins that you intend to purchase.</p><p>10.&nbsp; Read.&nbsp; Either read books on the coins that interest you, or read articles, price guides, and grading standards online.&nbsp; Knowledge is very important in being able to make a smart decision regarding whether or not a coin is appropriate for you.</p><p>11.&nbsp; Most of all--don&#039;t buy a coin that does not appeal to you.&nbsp; Really nice coins tend to &#039;Jump out&quot; from others of similar date, series, and kind.&nbsp; Eye appeal is super significant in this area.&nbsp; If it looks wrong, DON&#039;T BUY IT.&nbsp; If it looks beautiful, and doesn&#039;t seem to have issues, it will make you happy for a long time.</p><p><br /></p><p>Please feel free to add suggestions to this thread.&nbsp; Thanks for your time in reading it.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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