What should I do? Received wrong coin.

I bought a 1924 Lincoln cent via eBay from a dealer I generally regard as OK.

Today I was practicing with that coin to improve my photographic ability.

It occurred to me that my photos don't look anything like the eBay originals. The originals have a unique spot pattern on the reverse, like this.

The coin I have has unique marks which I believe are Planchet marks. It has none of the spots.


So I went back to eBay and I can see this coin for sale now, with the same marks as the one I was supposed to receive. New pictures, but the same unique pattern.

This transaction occurred in late April. The coin is now $95, I paid $38 for it, or at least I thought I did. (Usually I match any marks from the photos to the actual coin to be sure it is the same one - I don't know why I did not catch this one.)

"Blazing luster, stunning color and all original surfaces. Hardly a bag mark or nick to be seen. A great Lincoln graded MS by us. Please view photos carefully such that what is pictured is what you will receive."

I am not entirely unhappy with the coin I have, but what would you do in a case like this?

 

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The guy's probably using 'stock' photos. Troubling.......

 

The three possibilities that occurred to me are that he meant to sell the coin he sent me for the posted price, but accidentally got the wrong photo. Or (if this had been a higher value sale) possibly a bait / switch. I prefer to think that no malice was intended. Or, maybe he grabbed the wrong coin from the bin.

 

Very easy to tell it's a different coin. The "T" and "E" in United are almost gone in your pic, and his are fine. Since it's past the return time frame, the best you can do is message him the discrepancy, and also include that you notice the "same coin" is listed again by him and must be a stock photo. Tell him you bought the one in the pic. If he blows you off, then maybe open a SNAD dispute against him since you can tell it's a different coin and that he is using the same pic for multiple listings.

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Am I the only one who thinks the coin you received looks better and is more interesting due to faint T and E?

 

I do.
Except for the T and E.

 

No, you are not! The coin is bright in hand with cartwheel luster, and has these striations that appear to be in the planchet. They run right into the rims and the wheat ears, and match on the front and back.

That is part of what makes this interesting - and makes it a serious question about whether I take an action or don't. And that's why I think a variety of viewpoints would be good to hear.

 

I would easily keep the one you have based on the pics.

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I think it was probably an honest mistake on his part. I have received the wrong coin multiple times, and always message the seller to let them know. If it has been THAT long before you noticed, I would not even bother asking to exchange. If you were happy with it that long, I think you should keep what you got.

 

Bully argument.........

 

Had you received a lesser coin, most of this board would have erupted with accusations of fraud and demands for the seller's head, yet because the opposite happened, for the most part I hear crickets....

The decent answer is this.... ask yourself if it had been lesser coin, if you would demand the seller make it right. If so, you then hold yourself to the same standard. Contact him and offer to make him right. Crazy concept for some, I know.... but quite simple really.

With that said, this guy is doing himself no favors using such god-awful photos...

Best of luck.

 

Well said!

 

I'd keep it.

 

If the coin was $38 when you bought it (or thought you bought it) and it's $95 now, seems to me it could be a case of seller's remorse resulting in you being sent a different coin. Why he would have remorse, I have not a clue.

 

Show us the obverse.

 

The obverse is also posted in the Post Your Lincolns forum.

 

Never mind.

 

Oops, I did not mean to be rude. I cross-posted that it was in the other forum at the same time you were asking to see it. Here it is.

Note the striations match the ones on the reverse. There appears to be a bit of a planchet break under the last T of Trust. And the shoulder does have plain old scratches.

One thing about not getting the expected coin, is that maybe it was worth more than I paid, and maybe less. I think I got appropriate value for what I paid, to the best of my judgement, even if my bidding may have been based on the wrong photos entirely.

But maybe I am overvaluing it, or undervaluing it. So that alone means the best policy is to contact the seller and make sure both parties agree that a reasonable transaction has occurred.

 

Looks whizzed - anybody else seems it hasn't been please chime in!!

 

If the purchase was made in April then I would not contact the seller. If it really bothers you, you could send the seller a very polite message explaining that you only now realized the coin was different when you went to photograph it AND that you also see the original coin is now listed again. I would not have any expectations of a favorable reply but it might not hurt to take a shot. Again, only if it really bothers you.

As for the coin itself, I personally don't find the spots (possible "environmental damage"?) to be appealing. However, as others have posted, the coin you received has wear on some of the letters so that pretty much cancels out with the spots, in my opinion.

As @Markus1959 points out, there may be some hints of abrasions from light cleaning on the coin received. If that is the case then it makes the possibility of bait & switch more realistic (as a means to unload cleaned coins). I'm not saying that is what is happening here or that it is likely.

If I were OP I would chalk this one up to a learning experience since the discrepancy was noticed beyond 30 days from the date received. Need to check those coins closely upon receiving them.