Ebay: Funny looking 1931-S cent
Connecticoin
Posts: 13,009 ✭✭✭✭✭
See link below. I think it is likely an altered 1936-S. What do you think?
I messaged the seller with this pic of a genuine 31-S for reference:
1
Comments
36? Why? I don't see any evidence of a modified "6".
Looks like shelf doubling in the L I B E...
peacockcoins
It looks legit to me. Because so many 1931-S cents were preserved in mint state condition a well worn one like that looks off ...but it isn't.
Altered date
Could be a modified 37-S or 38-S. To my eyes the "3" looks like it is from a 1936-S, with some of the "3" shaved off the top. It would seem to me that altering a "6" would require less metal movement than a "7" or "8"
I think they chopped of the top of the "3" to make it look like the real thing, but the shape of the "3" on the ebay coin is still clearly (to me) different than the genuine 1931-S.
Yes, and the "3" is also too far away from the "9" for a genuine 1931-S.
Looks like a slight curve on the bottom of the "1". I guess altered date also.
My Original Song Written to my late wife-"Plus other original music by me"
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8A11CC8CC6093D80
https://n1m.com/bobbysmith1
Maybe. There looks like there might be a slight curve at the bottom of the 1.
The toning pattern in the field does not appear to be disturbed. If it were altered this should not be the case. I'll agree that this coin needs a closer examination. The shaping if the 9 and 3 appear to be somewhat different than the mint state 1931-S that is pictured in this thread.
Would like to see the two examples overlaid or juxtaposed. Beyond my skill. Not interesting value-wise but a great authentication exercise.
Notice the difference between the 9 and 3 on the genuine coin and the coin in question. The top of the 3 goes above the top of the 9 on the genuine example. Not so on the eBay coin.
Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
Life is roadblocks. Don't let nothing stop you, 'cause we ain't stopping. - DJ Khaled
The 3 in the date looks out of place. Otherwise, very tricky to evaluate.
On a second look the bottom tail of the 3 looks too long. Very clever attempt to create an altered date to look genuine.
First I don't know the copper and don't know the counterfeit / altered coin. I would guess it is some type of counterfeit versus altered real coin. This by looking at the letters and how soft the Lincoln details are compared to the VF20 (the lowest graded one in coinfacts images). Many of the letters appear off. Possibly a few of them:
WE
The rounder shape of the D (real more slender inner loop) and similarly for many letters with a loop or rounded: a different looking B (upper and lower loop size), the U (bottom roundness), the S doesn't appear to curl top and bottom as much. Some similar things in LEBERTY and some fat appearing letters.
.
.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=wwmUMvhy-lY - Pink Me And Bobby McGee
.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=D0FPxuQv2ns - Ruby Starr (from 'Go Jim Dandy') Maybe I'm Amazed
RLJ 1958 - 2023
3 is way different
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
Is there a consensus of what the original date was?
peacockcoins
The shape of the 3 is unique for 1931. The coin that the OP is questioning is an altered date as the 3 does not match that of a genuine coin.
And thus the "S" mintmark is added?
peacockcoins
I meant to say 1931 rather than 1933, and I have edited my comment. The coin has an altered date.
It just looks like wear to me. Repeated handling will squash down the high points and make them lower and wider. I don’t see anything wrong with this coin, although I prefer them newer.
Deleted my original post since I compared the wrong pictures.
The OP's coin is not in question. It is the one below it I linked (from the currently running auction).
peacockcoins
"Seller does not take returns" says it all for me.
BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
On the genuine coins the top of the 3 is slightly higher than the 9, but on the suspect coin the 3 is even with the 9. Wear won't change that.
What are things coming to when people are counterfeiting REALLY lousy looking details 1931-S Lincolns?
Could be just practice honing their craft.
IT'S Counterfelt
If you don't specify your return policy then that phrase is automatically added into your auction. With ebay's policy there is no such thing as no returns/no refunds.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Well, hope the winner wanted an altered/fake 31-S for 53$
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
I'd pay that if it was in a legitimate PCGS holder, for some weird reason I would love to have some actual obvious counterfeits in legitimate holders -- with TVs!
I reported it and EBay decided that it is a legitimate coin -- real geniuses these AI cost/benefit calculators that they must be using, they certainly have nobody with any numismatic knowledge.
The template I use:
And what does PCGS charge for authentication? I'd rather not pay a $5 listing fee, thanks.
I think if a few reports come in it gets nuked. I e-mailed the seller of this auction (another altered date) and he ended the listing.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/267048380861?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=zmTeP3YhRsG&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=bxjklrq3tfe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY