Is this the latest SCAM trend on eBay?

braddick

Take a replica of an older coin and DAMAGE it. List it with an emphesis on the damage and maybe, just maybe the consumer will overlook the bigger picture: it's a FAKE to begin with!
Here are two examples:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3047308551&category=11947
This "1794" Large cent is a Gallery Mint reproduction that has been altered to a 1793 dated "coin". Even PCI got that right with their bodybag note: "Not a Mint Product". Then, someone outside of PCI wrote on the flip the altered date (deceptively making it appear as if PCI also denoted that too). NOW it's being passed off as an authentic coin, just altered.

Second example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3046380891&category=11976
Here is your typical, run of the mill replica Bust dollar, but this one's special. It has an added hole that once again is aimed to falsely mislead you away from the fact it is a cheap replica and into the world of a real Bust dollar but with the hole. After all, there are plenty of authentic Bust coins with holes, but replicas? The Collector isn't used to seeing that.
eBay. It's getting scarier and scarier!

lava

I thought I was protected by my rule of thumb, don't buy raw, until some of the board members recently wrote of being able to neatly crack slabs along the seam, possibly to replace the coin and reseal.

Cam40

The ol` smoke and mirrors trick. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. I am the great Oz.

The same tricks with toning are used alot too.To cover hairline scratches etc. Sometimes it happens naturally
though in mint sets. Thats why we sometimes see some high grade dark toners. The thick patina will fill in alot of the small scratches so if you cant see them, they aint there right? Result: No visible signs of contact marks. Big plus on the technical
aspects of the grading process.

hookooekoo

lava,

It is my understanding that all discussions on the concept of crack out and replace the coin are impossible without the slab showing damage.

Now the damage to the slab might be small enough that a picture can be taken such that it dosen't look damaged. But inspecting the holder in person will reveal the damage.

Am I still on the mark here guys, or has someone really found a way to crack open a slab without damaging it?

lordmarcovan

I saw that Bust dollar. Even though I was looking for holed Bust dollars, that one didn't bamboozle me for a minute, despite the strange photo angle.

Placid

I guess soe-moon99 will get another neg but keep $294.78

mozeppa

look at this!



i've emailed the guy told him it was fake ...he's still trying to sell it as the real deal !! suposed 14-d

coindaughter

linky

To make a link, click on the 'http (link icon)' button and paste the URL, hit enter, it will prompt you for a label. Lable, enter, and ta-da!

mozeppa

thanks! so much! ta da !

puff

The seller of the 1st coin has 3652 positive feedbacks with "no" negatives, or neutrals. So maybe he isn't aware that the coin was made by "Gallery Mint"? There is 3 days left on the auction and I have pointed out to him in a e-mail his possible oversight in his description. We'll see if he makes an addition to his description.


The second seller!!! This guy should be kicked off Ebay!!! With approximately 100 feedbacks with 10% of them negatives! This seller is definately a "thief"!!! But we all know Ebay isn't going to kick him off because they like the percentage profits they make from the sellers to much!!!

But since both of these coins are raw, and not graded by PCGS or NGC, then that would immediately take me out of the picture as a possible buyer, even if they were a series I collected. Unfortunately the poor neophyte that wins this coin will think he has made one heck of a buy, until he takes it to a knowledgeble dealer, or collector and learns the truth!

Wheat's Walkers

lava

Some of those photos from the prior thread showed some minor damage, but if you weren't looking for it you could easily be buying one. Maybe it is worthy of a survey, but how many of us inspect the seam of a slab when we buy a coin?