Real or fake? Buying on ebay.

Pedzola · October 17, 2018 4:21PM

I found a coin on ebay that looks like a great deal. How can I tell if it is authentic and not a fake chinese slab?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/323504354261

If I were to purchase it would go straight to pcgs to get reholdered with gold shield. Just dont have the confidence to know its real. Opinions?

AlexinPA · October 17, 2018 4:37PM

Verify the slab on the PCGS site then a seller with 100% feedback - go for it. They do sell a lot of China Pandas.

Pedzola · October 17, 2018 4:46PM

Many fakes have valid certs. The pcgs slab museum doesnt have any labels of this color.

Smudge · October 17, 2018 5:00PM

Checks out ok. Slab # is correct. Feedback is 100% positive. Good to be careful, but that should be ok, but I haven't dealt with them, maybe someone here has and can vouch for them. Bringing attention to a coin you are interested in may get it snatched from you.

Pedzola · October 17, 2018 5:06PM

Appreciate the collective knowledge here. Would rather risk a snatching than make a pricy mistake. can anyone help ID this gen holder? I am pretty new so I am just going by the pcgs website that shows different slab types. I dont see any with this color label. Do they fade?

Alltheabove76 · October 17, 2018 5:06PM

PNG dealers dont sell fakes.

bolivarshagnasty · October 17, 2018 5:10PM

Everything looks ok with this ebay auction. Does the price reflect recent auction results for similar grade?

Pedzola · October 17, 2018 5:22PM

@Alltheabove76 said:

PNG dealers dont sell fakes.

How can I tell if this is a PNG dealer? PNG website has a search and I didn't find any listings in the sellers location.

Price is on the lower end of recent auction price according to coinfacts.

Not trying to be obtuse here, just want to learn and avoid a mistake.
I am new to buying graded coins, just starting to build a type set, and so far have avoided anything online that didnt have a trueview to compare to sellers pics.

jmlanzaf · October 17, 2018 6:11PM

@Pedzola said:
@Alltheabove76 said:

PNG dealers dont sell fakes.

How can I tell if this is a PNG dealer? PNG website has a search and I didn't find any listings in the sellers location.

Price is on the lower end of recent auction price according to coinfacts.

Not trying to be obtuse here, just want to learn and avoid a mistake.
I am new to buying graded coins, just starting to build a type set, and so far have avoided anything online that didnt have a trueview to compare to sellers pics.

Just pay by credit card via PayPal. Little risk as you can always issue a charge back.

jmlanzaf · October 17, 2018 6:13PM

@Pedzola said:
Many fakes have valid certs. The pcgs slab museum doesnt have any labels of this color.

It's a regular blue label. The white balance on the photo is just off.

Regulated · October 17, 2018 6:14PM

The seller is a friend of mine - it's absolutely real, and he is PNG.

blitzdude · October 17, 2018 6:49PM

Lots of fakes on ebay. Not saying this one is but certainly be cautious with any purchase you make there. Also I don't care who the dealer is, PNWhoever, dealers get fooled too. Personally I think holder looks off because seller is trying to doctor original photo in coins favor. Almost impossible to determine authenticity via a digital photo.

Pedzola · October 17, 2018 7:49PM

Thanks all. I am going to sleep on it. I am leaning towards it probably being authentic but better pictures would lend a lot more confidence. I was going to look for one of these at a show coming up in november. Maybe i will hold off. Will see if its still up tomorrow!

thefinn · October 17, 2018 7:54PM

There is such a thing as being too cautious. Knowledge replaces trust in aces. I have seen people so overly cautious that they miss out on great coins at good prices. Then when it's gone, they can't figure out why.

ms71 · October 17, 2018 8:06PM

Hope I don't light the fuse with this, but I'd be leery of a coin at that price without a CAC sticker. No way to know whether it has been submitted to CAC or not; but given your admitted lack of experience, it would be wise to consider waiting for one you like with a sticker. The sticker says it's been looked at by one of most highly regarded graders out there, and generally results in a greater realization when the coin sells.

derryb · October 17, 2018 8:10PM

@Regulated said:
The seller is a friend of mine - it's absolutely real, and he is PNG.

this

BlindedByEgo · October 17, 2018 9:40PM

1). So long as you pay through PayPal with CC you're covered.
2) @Regulated vouches for the seller
3) Seller is in PNG directory
4) Price is in-line/ low compared to auction results
5) Seller offers 14 day returns.

I like coins with a bit of color, so it's not for me,, but looks like a nice coin at a good price. I wouldn't re-submit it, but a submission to CAC may be worthwhile depending on how it looks in-hand.

CuKevin · October 17, 2018 9:46PM

@Regulated said:
The seller is a friend of mine - it's absolutely real, and he is PNG.

A vouch from Regulated is all I would need to know you won’t have any problems.

BlindedByEgo · October 17, 2018 9:48PM

@ms71 said:
Hope I don't light the fuse with this, but I'd be leery of a coin at that price without a CAC sticker. No way to know whether it has been submitted to CAC or not; but given your admitted lack of experience, it would be wise to consider waiting for one you like with a sticker. The sticker says it's been looked at by one of most highly regarded graders out there, and generally results in a greater realization when the coin sells.

Although I wouldn't hit disagree on your post, I'm not sure that in this price range a second opinion is that necessary. Not much downside even if it were overgraded by a full point - especially from PCGS.

I sometimes wonder how we older folks ever survived without TPG's or post-TPG verification. Smoetimes a few dollar "education" is valuable... Don't get me wrong, these days I'd send it out for CAC myself, just to make it more re-salable.

ricko · October 18, 2018 6:59AM

The statement by @Regulated would be enough for me.... Cheers, RickO

Connecticoin · October 18, 2018 7:12AM

That IS a good price, assuming the eye appeal holds up in-hand. Better buy it before someone else does

jmlanzaf · October 18, 2018 7:55AM

@ms71 said:
Hope I don't light the fuse with this, but I'd be leery of a coin at that price without a CAC sticker. No way to know whether it has been submitted to CAC or not; but given your admitted lack of experience, it would be wise to consider waiting for one you like with a sticker. The sticker says it's been looked at by one of most highly regarded graders out there, and generally results in a greater realization when the coin sells.

You are, of course, free to only purchase CAC coins if you wish. However...

An MS-65 is an MS-65. A CAC sticker might make it a high end MS-65, but NOT having a CAC sticker does NOT mean it's an MS-64. As a result, you are choosing to pass on a lot of good coins, including coins that were simply never sent to CAC.

FredWeinberg · October 18, 2018 8:04AM

I know the owner too - PNG member,
and the coin/holder is fine.

ms71 · October 18, 2018 8:25AM

@jmanzlaf wrote: You are, of course, free to only purchase CAC coins if you wish. However...An MS-65 is an MS-65. A CAC sticker might make it a high end MS-65, but NOT having a CAC sticker does NOT mean it's an MS-64. As a result, you are choosing to pass on a lot of good coins, including coins that were simply never sent to CAC.

I agree completely. My suggestion was based on the OP's admitted lack of experience, and intended only to offer him an extra level of assurance. Yes you may be "choosing to pass on a lot of good coins". For an inexperienced buyer going for a $1,000+ coin, though, I think it's more important to be protected against not choosing to pass on a coin that may not be all that you thought it was.

jmlanzaf · October 18, 2018 10:07AM

@ms71 said:

@jmanzlaf wrote: You are, of course, free to only purchase CAC coins if you wish. However...An MS-65 is an MS-65. A CAC sticker might make it a high end MS-65, but NOT having a CAC sticker does NOT mean it's an MS-64. As a result, you are choosing to pass on a lot of good coins, including coins that were simply never sent to CAC.

I agree completely. My suggestion was based on the OP's admitted lack of experience, and intended only to offer him an extra level of assurance. Yes you may be "choosing to pass on a lot of good coins". For an inexperienced buyer going for a $1,000+ coin, though, I think it's more important to be protected against not choosing to pass on a coin that may not be all that you thought it was.

Fair enough

Pedzola · October 18, 2018 2:03PM

Thanks all - I am still a newbie, and appreciate the input. Small world that forum members were able to vouch for the seller! I did not buy the coin but somebody did. It was a great deal today with ebucks.

I decided to hold off since im already way over the coin budget this month. I might end up regretting skipping this one but seems like 1917 slq's are not so rare that I wont ever find another good deal.

Congrats to whoever got it.

morgansforever · October 18, 2018 2:10PM

@jmlanzaf said:

@Pedzola said:
Many fakes have valid certs. The pcgs slab museum doesnt have any labels of this color.

It's a regular blue label. The white balance on the photo is just off.

It's probably a scan of the slab/coin, in hand bet this SLQ looks great. I personally would image the coin, just me.

Gluggo · October 18, 2018 3:00PM

Sold somebody bought it!

slider23 · October 18, 2018 5:12PM

Another method you can use to check authenticity of coins in holders is to check the barcode. If you really suspect that a coin or holder is counterfeit, you can make an image of the barcode and check it with a free barcode reader. Most counterfeits in holders do not have the correct barcode. For the coin in question, I would not have gone to the trouble of checking the barcode as the seller is solid and the coin and holder looks solid. Below is the barcode scan on the OP coin. The numbers at the bottom of the page matches the PCGS numbers.

Download barcode and image data in XML format or request help from barcode expert.
File: s-l1600 (51).jpg
Pages: 1 Barcodes: 1
Barcode: 1 of 1 Type: Interleaved2of5 Page 1 of 1

Length: 16 Rotation: none
Module: 3.6pix Rectangle: {X=9,Y=3,Width=590,Height=43}

0057096621658697

Unknown · October 19, 2018 2:31AM

This content has been removed.

Pedzola · October 19, 2018 4:11AM

I posted above that I did not buy it, sadly. With comments here i was confident it was authentic and a good deal, but ultimately my bank account was not agreeing with another coin this month! I am going to look for an SLQ for my type set at a coin show coming up in November.

Connecticoin · October 19, 2018 7:43AM

I did not buy it either. If I did, I would not have made that post

Real or fake? Buying on ebay.

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