Invalid Cert upon Lookup

MrSlider

So, I am a bit confused on this one. I asked PCGS why the cert was coming back invalid, here is the response I got back.

"Thank you for contacting PCGS Customer Service.

The certification number is no longer valid because either the coin was submitted for a regrade or the coin was cracked out of its holder and the label/flip was sent back to us to void the cert number."

I am not sure what to make of this reply. Is there a good chance this is counterfeit or is there a better chance of an honest mistake?

DIMEMAN

I would say a typo....honest mistake.

MrSlider

Here's better images. If this is counterfeit it's one of the best I've ever seen.

I messaged the PCGS team back about adding it back into the system, but what is the normal procedure for this? Will I need to send the coin in?

matt_dac

Ouch - I would have checked before buying and passed on the coin.

MrSlider

@matt_dac said:
Ouch - I would have checked before buying and passed on the coin.

It was in a large lot of graded coins. All the other coins have checked out. This one is becoming a headache though...

Kliao

Did you pay a lot for it?

DIMEMAN

@Kliao said:
Did you pay a lot for it?

I wouldn't think so. It's a common date.

MrSlider

@Kliao said:
Did you pay a lot for it?

Paid fair market value for it when I added up the lot. It's not a throwaway coin.. it's a nice looking XF, I could see if someone tried to resubmit going for an AU.

AngryTurtle

Send them in the pics you show and tell them it is in your possession. Probably some sort of typographical error along the way.

TomB

It appears PCGS made a typo. The coin appears genuine as does the slab.

Hemispherical

Looked up the numbers immediately before and after and they are invalid.

Making no assumptions and this is just an observation.

MrSlider

@Hemispherical said:
Looked up the numbers immediately before and after and they are invalid.

Making no assumptions and this is just an observation.

The prefix (5710.45/) is correct for the 1917-S. I looked at similar PCGS 1917-S they all begin with the same prefix, but are scattered all over for the second half of the serial.

Nice investigating though, always appreciate a little outside the box thinking.

davewesen

I have had a few that cert was no good. Sometimes a email pic fixed it, sometimes sending them the slab/coin got it re-holdered. Once after a month of hemming and hawing they said it was reported stolen, and I have to send it back to seller for refund.

ms70

That reply assumes a lot without any real thought put into it.

You need to get someone on the phone.

coinpalice

it's a fake label, the bar code is cut off, fake labels always have short, cut off bar codes

MrSlider

@coinpalice said:
it's a fake label, the bar code is cut off, fake labels always have short, cut off bar codes

Not necessarily, look at the difference between these two side by side.
https://tinyurl.com/vfgjgsp

messydesk

Call customer service, ask them who to send a picture to so that the problem is fixed.

Hemispherical

@MrSlider said:

@Hemispherical said:
Looked up the numbers immediately before and after and they are invalid.

Making no assumptions and this is just an observation.

The prefix (5710.45/) is correct for the 1917-S. I looked at similar PCGS 1917-S they all begin with the same prefix, but are scattered all over for the second half of the serial.

Nice investigating though, always appreciate a little outside the box thinking.

Sorry, I meant cert #’s 22111153 and 22111155.

ms70

@Hemispherical said:

@MrSlider said:

@Hemispherical said:
Looked up the numbers immediately before and after and they are invalid.

Making no assumptions and this is just an observation.

The prefix (5710.45/) is correct for the 1917-S. I looked at similar PCGS 1917-S they all begin with the same prefix, but are scattered all over for the second half of the serial.

Nice investigating though, always appreciate a little outside the box thinking.

Sorry, I meant cert #’s 22111153 and 22111155.

I've seen that before though. It's not uncommon to find that.

lkeigwin

Call or email customer service. PCGS will ask to see photos of the front and back of the holder.

If that doesn't satisfy them you may be asked to submit the coin. If it comes to that I would politely ask that they email a shipping label. The cost should not be on you for their misstep.
Lance.

MrSlider

@lkeigwin said:
Call or email customer service. PCGS will ask to see photos of the front and back of the holder.

If that doesn't satisfy them you may be asked to submit the coin. If it comes to that I would politely ask that they email a shipping label. The cost should not be on you for their misstep.
Lance.

Thank you, this is good advice. The customer service team has already forwarded the photos to a "specialist". If that doesn't work, I will definitely call them and see what can be worked out in regards to sending it in.

MFeld

@coinpalice said:
it's a fake label, the bar code is cut off, fake labels always have short, cut off bar codes

The coin looks genuine and accurately graded. That leads me to believe it’s highly unlikely that the label is “fake”.

clarkbar04

FWIW I’ve never received an email reply from CS so I’d just call as a first resort.

slider23

I ran the barcode through a scanner and it came up 0057104522111154 the same as the cert number. It looks like you have a genuine coin in a genuine holder.