"Property of First Bank of the United States of America" ersatz "Gold Bars"
CaptHenway
Posts: 32,491 ✭✭✭✭✭
Just wanted to get these in the archives for the sake of future researchers and authenticators. My newspaper today contained a full page ad offering four five ounce "bullion copper" bars layered with 24 karat gold for only $49 an ounce, or $980 plus shipping. The bars are marked with an oval seal similar to old U,S, Mint bullion ingots. The seal consists of an eagle reminiscent of the John Reich eagle used on half dollars from 1807 to 1891, surrounded by the legend "PROPERTY OF FIRST BANK OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." Below the seal is a variable four-digit serial number (the digits are unevenly placed, as sometimes seen on territorial ingots); ".999GOLD;" a state name where the ad will appear (in this case COLORADO); and a small "EST. 1791." There is no indication of what the back or four sides of the bars say, if anything.
However, the headline says "Gold Bars." You have to read the text to see that they are gold-plated "bullion copper." Where the name "First Bank of the United States of America" appears in the text there is a trademark emblem "TM," so I assume that they hold the current rights to that name. The text contains quotes from Mary Ellen Withrow, "emeritus 40th Treasurer of the United States of America."
Comments
A fool and their money are soon farted.
The guy on the right looks kinda guilty.
My Saint Set
so are the intentionally trying to sucker people?
It shouldn't be too long before someone gets really upset about what they just bought.
I knew it would happen.
I'm always about people buying more copper. Maybe this is why it's all the way up to $3.05 PER POUND! Gotta get those ounces while they're hot.
They look pretty cool. Just another fantasy piece. Many of them in the market and people buy them because they like them and collect them.
Wow, is that deceitful.
--Severian the Lame
They need a history lesson.
The "First Bank of the United States" effectively ceased to exist when the bank's charter expired in 1811.
The name "Colorado" was not used as a name for any particular area prior to about 1860.
Avoid disappointment and future regret.
people will try to make a buck any way possible nowadays and there are fools who will buy this thinking they can get rich, just goes to show there are fools and scammers in the real world
2003-PRESENT
Unbelievable.... Forerunner of the TV coin hucksters. I knew several people who were screwed by the TV people....Really sneaky wording in those ads....Cheers, RickO
Never let facts get in the way of a good story -- truer today than ever in many aspects of life.
Part two of the story is when the buyers bring their investment to a B&M or a show to sell; then the lucky dealer that delivers a dose of reality instantly becomes the crook that is out to "steal" their investment. After checking with five or six other dealers and getting the same answer they soon come to the logical conclusion that all coin dealers are crooks.
Neat looking fantasy piece. Sad but I'm sure there will be many suckers for this scam.
Neat looking bars, but incredibly deceitful. Like, so much so that I can see lawsuits in the near future. They called them "gold" most of the article, and only slipped in "gold plated copper" once or twice that I could see.