Can anyone stop the lunacy? Heritage 1939 Jeff proof with "scarce" Reverse of '38 at $1,66

RGL

Original message: I am so excited! I have a couple of 1939 Proof Jeffs with the steps of 1938! I thought it was the Reverse of 1940 that was the scarce variety. I thank Heritage for setting me straight. To quote Heritage's description: "1939 5C PR67 PCGS. Reverse of 1938. A scarcer proof variant that shows the "wavy" steps on Monticello as seen in 1938." LINK

Edited to add: My gosh ... this coin is at $1,450 bid and $1,667 with the juice ... for an 89/5 coin Heritage's own price guide lists at $245 to $315. I e-mailed Heritage about this yesterday and received no response. Does anyone else have better contacts? Their description obviously is leading someone on. No knowledge is a dangerous thing!

Well, I see Heritage now has edited its description to remove the word "scarcer" from the description (with no acknowlegement of my e-mail), but someone still is getting ripped as it stands...

solid

Well it is "A scarcer proof" as compared to 1940 and later mintages, and it is
a variant since they made both types in 1939...but a very misleading description.

Intentional???

CarlWohlforth

I am pretty sure the final price with be within their estimated value too

My guess is it will be closer to $1 than a million, LOL.

leothelyon

I am so excited! I have a couple of 1939 Proof Jeffs with the steps of 1938!

lol Go ahead and bid the million, one more won't matter.

Leo

P.S. I know that you know that I know that you were just kidding.

STOCKFORD

I hate to inform you but in 1939 proofs had the wavy steps rev of 38[ pop report 1094 total graded]
only a few have the rev of 1940 straight lines
the 1939 proof rev of 40 is the scarce one
pcgs has only graded a total of[ 34] 39 rev of 40

now for the 1940 proof it flip flops
the 1940 rev of 38 is the scarce one
only [28] total graded

segoja

Looks like someone is getting ready to be burned.

This description is not only misleading, it's not even factual. Over 99% of the mintage of the 1939 proof nickel is the same reverse as the 1938. Stating it's scarce..and inferring that it's different than the normal makes me never want to bid on a Heritage auction.

Also remember NO RETURNS!

keets

plain deceptive advertising and a good example to show how it's important to study up. heritage should get called to the carpet about this but the bidders need to check what they're bidding on. someone is in for a big surprise and heritage is proving greed to be a sore point for the hobby's future.

al h.

kieferscoins

They may have just wrote it up wrong and it is an honest mistake. I would give them the benefit of the doubt. As for the price versus the price guide estimates provided, I am wondering if the buyers see something that I don't.

Cameron Kiefer

RGL

I don't care if this is a wonder coin someone has seen in person or someone bidding sight unseeen. If if listed it in a misleading manner, I am canceling all bids and pulling this lot in a heartbeat and asking the consignor how much he wanted ...

keets

........it would appear that they have removed the word "scarcer" from the description. wouldn't that affect previous bids?

al h.

BNE

This is very bad. I don't think it was intentionally deceptive, but someone did not do they're homework. One would expect far better from Heritage, especially since the true "variety" notes that fact on the slab.