Counterfeit Gold Eagles
Herb_T
Posts: 1,755 ✭✭✭✭✭
I would have never guessed that my 2010-w $10 (one each via NGC AND PCGS) and a 2012-w $25 NGC. All of them had what looked like correct hologram stickers on the back. The two that were NGC had holders with large clearance between the coin and the white plastic on the holder. The easiest tell is Gauden’s initials on the front. The counterfeit is clearly not AG, but a mish mash. The initials on the back of the coins have what looks like a different font, close but not correct. The easiest tell is the AG.
I want to thank Kliao and ifthevamzarockin for pointing out the problems with the coins. There are other issues with the coins and holders, but the AG clinched it for me.
Potential counterfeit 
Good coin
0
Comments
Ok, I’ll bite. Where did you get these coins at?
Sorry
More photos of both sides of all coins may help others learn what to look for.
There is no question that the first is no good. All the details are wrong.
eBay! I have been able to go back and find the seller that sold me the $25 gold coin. I will make this my mission tomorrow.
Of course the coin that was sold to me, wasn’t the coin that was delivered!
Post pics of both sides of all coins
And
Both sides of the slabs
Wow, sorry to hear about this. Have you checked the coins for material content?
I will provide further answers and photos. I need to get the process moving for getting my money back with eBay/PayPal.
Yikes! Keep us posted as we all benefit from this situation. Good luck. Peace Roy
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Sorry I had to break the bad news but hopefully it ends out well for you and you get your money back.
The fake labels on those coins were pretty good in my opinion and would have fooled me.
Collector
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Wow... Sorry to hear this.... Buying gold is risky, and when not evaluated in hand, very risky. Seems you were scammed with the switch. Good luck with the process... Hope you get your money back. Cheers, RickO
These are the three suspected eBay sellers that sold me the counterfeit coins.
Hope eBay comes to the rescue for you.
Let us know the outcome.
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
eBay sure doesn’t make it easy. Had to do a lot of digging!
Details on that counterfeit are extremely mushy. I’m sure the seller was hoping you would just put it away with only a cursory inspection. Good luck on the resolution - I’m sorry this happened to you.
tell them it is illegal to mail them, then keep them
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/295
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/298
And they were right! I decided I needed more room for coins and that meant getting rid of duplicates that I had…it was only the keen eyes of some fellow forum members that turned this up. I will stay after this until I get a resolution. I sent messages to the 3 sellers. What is probably a coincidence, but all 3 of them had feedback in the 120 range…+/-1!
If you used a credit card to pay you may have better luck with them rather than ebay.
Would you mind sending pictures of the entire slab(s)? I'd like to use it as examples and challenges in my facebook group. Thank you and sorry it happened to you. The first pic posted is clearly NG.
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Good luck, another reason to buy expensive coins (to me at least) from face to face with a dealer or from a known credible source (BST comes to mind, for most of us).
bob
Posted
Any chance of getting reverse slab shots too?
got a Sigma?
Repetition of ignorance is ignorance raised to the power two.
Look at the face closely. It's definitely off. Even the hair details are off.
That top one reminds me of a ghost
Does PCGS take an active role in stomping on counterfeit PCGS slabs?
Sent to you
No need for a sigma, additional pics, where did you purchase from etc. If you cant quickly tell they are fake from the original pic you have no business buying PMs unless you like to be suckered out of $$$ IMO. Hope you sire (the op) recovers your lost funds.
The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
BOOMIN!™
The NGC labels look like they were made on a cheap copy machine. That’s the easy tell.
The pcgs counterfeit holder is quite deceptive but has subtle tells that I won’t disclose. I’ll only say to examine every detail with a genuine one.
How can you be “sure” about what the seller knew or hoped?
Edited to add: ...other than through the post below this one.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
For all the folks saying the OP should have spotted a problem.
I did a little research on the $10 NGC.
It was sold using a photo of the genuine coin & holder.
The seller sold 2 of these within a few days.
The seller went out of their way to deceive and anyone here could have been a victim of this well played scam.
Listing photo
My understanding is that the seller posted a legitimate coin and photos for sale and sent the OP a a different coin which was fake. Seems pretty clear cut case of fraud Mark. Are you defending the sellers actions? If so, why?
Of course it could happen to anyone - the photos posted were legitimate… I don’t think anyone is blaming the victim.
Of course I’m not defending the seller’s actions or blaming the victim. Were your questions serious?
My understanding is the same as yours, now, but it wasn’t at the time of your post, to which I replied.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
@MFeld - Only partially serious. I interpreted that you thought I was blaming OP - which I am not.
I was also confused why you might think this case is anything other than fraud after OP stated, “Of course the coin that was sold to me, wasn’t the coin that was delivered!” prior to either of our posts.
Anyway, the dangers of internet commenting. Cheers!
I think the Sigma will let him know if these are gold counterfeits or counterfeits made of some other material.
Sorry for the misunderstanding - I didn’t think for even a moment, that you were blaming the OP. And I initially missed “Of course the coin that was sold to me, wasn’t the coin that was delivered!”. That was my fault.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I have found 2 of the 3 charges. I have talked to the cc company and they opened up disputes for them. I am still trying to find the method I used to purchase the third coin. I will keep looking.
That sounds encouraging. Best of luck.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I found the third and is disputed.
There were a rash of these floating around in NC a few years ago, several dealers here got scammed
Jim
One of the dealers here, (no longer in business) had called me over to look at a few , I instantly detected the fakes, he had no clue, had bought like 15-20 of them
Ouch!
The coins themselves are an easy giveaway, but that PCGS slab is a pretty convincing fake.
MY GOLD TYPE SET https://pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/complete-type-sets/gold-type-set-12-piece-circulation-strikes-1839-1933/publishedset/321940
Did he ever get the opportunity to determine metal content?
They look plated to me, but not sure of under metal.
Agree. It wouldn't make sense to use real gold to counterfeit a modern gold eagle. Probably gold plated brass. The slab keeps it from being easily weighed and most people don't have ready access to a Sigma analyzer.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Agree. You see real gold with coins that have a premium. At best, thick plating on a bullion coin or bar
Color me confused. Why buy graded bullion on ebay? Factoring in ebay's fee would make the final cost high let alone the risk factor of 1) unknown seller 2) eBay 3) shipping.