Possibly Counterfeit 1914 Matte Proof Cent

dunkleosteus430

I came across this coin on eBay. It looked cool, so I decided to see if it had a True view on PCGS's database. Upon entering the certification number, PCGS said that it was invalid. I probably checked more than fifteen times to make sure I was correct.
I'll include screenshots and an eBay link.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/274229877581?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=wVaOeP6CTF6&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=ws-7tvnjshe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

ifthevamzarockin

Sometimes there are errors in the look up system.

If the owner of the slab contacts PCGS they can get it corrected.

FlyingAl

I can't bring it up either, but I don't see anything in the coin that raises red flags. I'd wait a day or so and try again, and perhaps contact PCGS if needed.

burfle23

Interesting; bar code reads OK:

P0CKETCHANGE

Another potential cause is if the slab was sent to PCGS for a Regrade. The old cert number would be retired and, if the seller were using a photo of the prior slab, it’d come up as invalid. An edge case, perhaps.

That said, I avoid that particular seller because of their listing practices. They once posted an eBay listing for a coin I had bought from them months prior. More recently, they sent me a different coin than was pictured—same year and grade, but different coin. I promptly returned it thru eBay.

MFeld

I don’t remember having seen a counterfeit Matte Proof Lincoln cent and the picture doesn’t give me reason to think this is one.

kaz

Listing says "you will receive the nicer of two in stock." Wonder if they tell the next buyer they got the less attractive coin?

Relaxn

Mechanical error and PCGS pulled it from system? Idk just thinking

LanceNewmanOCC

@burfle23 said:
Interesting; bar code reads OK:

.
pcgs cert lookup app won't pull it up. says invalid. tried multiple times and restarting the app. fwiw

TomB

The coin is good and the problem (if any) is on PCGS's end.

ChrisH821

I don't know how certifiedcitynet sells any coins. They use stock photos for very expensive coins and have some very strange listing practices.
I don't think the coin pictured is actually the one for sale.

dunkleosteus430

Okay. I'm not very experienced with purchasing coins online, much less expensive ones. Thanks everyone for the feedback!

MonsterCoinz

@ChrisH821 said:
I don't know how certifiedcitynet sells any coins. They use stock photos for very expensive coins and have some very strange listing practices.
I don't think the coin pictured is actually the one for sale.

I doubt any of the photos in their listings are of the coin they are selling. They 'have 2 in stock but you'll get the nicer one' basically means 'we have 1 in stock but here's a picture of another one'.

DelawareDoons

Sometimes PCGS will pull certs if a coin is stolen, but I think the message is different and says to contact them? Can't remember offhand.

ElmerFusterpuck

"You will receive the nicest of two in stock, not necessarily the imaged coin." Saw this on more than one listing.

That's a huge reason for me to never buy or even look at listings from this seller. Quite a few of their descriptions within their listings are piled deep with snark. Guess they have it out for the ones that deal in moderns.

braddick

I agree.
Why have stock photos of super expensive and scarce coins?
(Really, why have stock photos at all, but that's for another thread...)

lkenefic

Beautiful coin in the OP... I wonder about the likelihood of actually getting it... Whenever I see this from a seller, I'm thinking "bait and switch".