PT Barnum said:
AUandAG
Posts: 24,802 ✭✭✭✭✭
"There is a fool born every minute". Harsh reality is what it is, and there are not only fools but con men born every minute. Here is an example that all the youngster collectors should pay attention to and learn. This set I bought some 20 years or so ago. Paid $2k or thereabouts (forget the exact amount now). It was an ebay seller with not so good pics. However, I did communicate with him before bidding and he said he's in Guam (Military) and that it was given to him by his brother for some event or such. Well, being ex-military I knew the risk was zero because if it wasn't what he advertised and if he didn't want to refund, I would have his commanding officer on my side. That's how it works in the services, 'eh boys?
Anyway here are the pics. It's been at the bottom of the safe all this time and I suppose will go back there tomorrow. lol.
bob 
Comments
Is that an UNC cent? I sure hope not.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
Oh dear.
Why did you keep it?
Okay, I'm lost. What are we looking at, a $2k 1990 proof set?
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
That stinks. The Cent was exchanged with a mint state example and sold as a No Mint Mark Proof?
Never mind. I got it now. I'm slow! Thanks!
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
P.T.Barnum also said" Many people are gullible, and we can expect this to continue."
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
I'm sure the guy who sold you that set is still telling the story, too.
So you were confident you had this military members name, branch and unit in Guam?
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
This story makes sense to me. Nice score.
@johnny010 ??? No score was made
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
Double agent?
I thought it was "There's a sucker born every minute." But it seems Barnum didn't say either.
Whatever. That was a lousy thing to do.
I can't remember how many times I've gotten rid of dumb purchases because I hated seeing the reminders.
Lance.
Yes, it's a UNC cent. I've kept it so as not to let it out into the collecting community. I still can't see how it was opened.....must have been poorly sealed at the mint. My kids might think they scored when I'm gone, 'eh?
lol
bob
@AU and AG You could dismantle the set and sell individual coins or keep whichever ones you like. No need to keep it as ut is.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
For sure I could do just that. However, I keep it to remind myself the follies of buying from pics. I'm sure that I will break it up someday, just not been in a hurry. Great teaching tool.
bob
@gumby1234
I don't think that the original mint packaging was just cut and the UNC cent inserted. I rather think that the entire mint packaging was replaced after the cent was changed out. Have you compared the packaging with know mint packaging. Seems unlikely they could exactly duplicate that?
There’s some irony here.
I'll take a look tomorrow....yes I have many mint sets to compare with.
bob
What's the irony?
bob
You did get your $2000 refunded, correct?
It’s his birthday.
How did you pay? If you paid with a credit card or PayPal, do a charge back since it is misrepresented.
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
I am sorry to hear about this.
After 20 years???
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Do you recall how the set was "promoted?"
Some call it tuition... I just say lessons learned.... Carry on... Cheers, RickO
There’s no evidence that P.T. Barnum actually said “There is a fool born every minute.” or for that matter, the more frequently quoted “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
But even if he had, I wouldn’t necessarily label someone a “fool” just because they did something foolish.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I missed that part. It's hard to believe that you ever thought that cent was a proof considering the fields did not have mirrored surfaces. The guy that sold it to you may have bought it that way not realizing he was also being scammed. In any event, thanks for sharing your bad experience. You may very well be sparing another forum member a similar bad experience.
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
There is not a collector alive who has not been taken advantage of or was over come with emotion instead of information.
WS
Especially when we were younger and more trusting!
K
P.T.Barnum also said " Many people are gullible, and we can expect this to continue."
Every time I think of P.T. Barnum the "Cardiff Giant" comes to mind. I visited the Farmers' Museum in Cooperstown, New York, in 2001 when we were at the MLB HOF and the highlight was seeing the Giant on display.
Or when you are old, foolish and totally driven by something.
To lighten the mood a little, here is my favorite P.T. Barnum advertising token.
P. T. Barum is credited with saying "a sucker is born every minute" yet there is no historical record of him ever having said this. He is portrayed on the 1936 Bridgeport commemorative half dollar since he was their most prominent citizen.
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
Barnum was an honest business man, but part of his act was "the humbug" to get the customers in the door. Tom Thumb and that group were part of the game. Tom Thumb, a.ka. Charles Stratton, seems to have a been a talented entertainer. He was something more than just small in stature.
It wasn't promoted at all. Just a pic(s) and 1990 proof set as description.
bob
@VanHalen Yes, he refunded and said keep the set.
@WaterSport He knew what he had when the bid went above $100. It was an open auction on ebay with multiple bidders. We sent several messages back and forth and I (and probably others) explained the No S issue with this date.
@PerryHall He had no problem refunding once I received the set (took about 10 days as I recall) and notified him the cent is a business strike and not a proof. I sent side by side pics of his coin and a proof cent of he same date to show him the difference. He absolutely understood. 20 years ago but I think I paid with Paypal for the protection.
bob
It's sort of like the old story of two dealers celebrating their rip when the glue on the added mint mark suddenly gives out.....
It was not a rip, remember this was 20 years ago and it was an Ebay 7 day (maybe 10) auction. I was the high bidder.
bob
Thanks for sharing the back story. Glad it worked out well for you. Speaks well for the men and women in our military
"First to fight for right and freedom,
And to keep our honor clean, "
Oh I know..... just a similar..... "wait a dang minute" type of experience.