eBay sellers unfamiliar with Occam's razor

seanq

The eBay Error category is littered with auctions for misshapen or damaged junk people think must be some rare Mint mishap. This latest example, not to pick on one particular seller, really pushed me over the edge. Let's say you found an old dime with some extra metal on the rim, 180 degrees apart. The metal is a different color than the coin. You might think the metal was somehow tacked to the coin after it was made. Or you might think the coin was once contained in a piece of jewelry. But if you were this eBay PowerSeller, you would know that you had a rare and desirable experimental planchet with wings.

I'm sure I'll mangle the citation, but Occam's (or Ockham's) Razor states that in the face of several possible explanations for a phenomenon, the simplest is usually the correct one. I don't expect every error seller to be an expert on coin manufacture, but applying a little common sense to their discoveries would go a long way. Occam is probably lucky he didn't live to see eBay.


Sean Reynolds

kranky

"Experimental Metal with Attachment Wings"

You're right - Occam's razor certainly applies. You'd think the seller might spend a few seconds thinking about the sheer number of coin handling machines that are based on the fact that coins are round. Those pesky "wings" might cause some problems, methinks!

JxnBoy

Occam's razor is usually correct. Did anyone notice Lisa Simpson quoted Occam's razor a few weeks ago on a Simpsons episode?

Anyway, this seller obviously doesn't know much about coins, but how about this seller in another thread? I beleive everyone agreed that this person is simply trying to pass off a frauduelently waffled coin.

There's no shortage of idiot bidders or scam artists on ebay. You just need to do your homework and make the best informed decisions. Even that doesn't always work though....

EvilMCT

But this is from a power seller with only 4 negatives; this must be legit! Just think of the advantages of having wings on your coins. Pockets full? Just tether all of that change together and let 'em spread their wings. Just make sure you secure the other end of the line!

Ken

quattrocoins

"Winged Roosies"!

Ya gotta love it!

nwcs

Creative selling for sure.

rottnrog

Sean... I emailed the seller and he has pulled the auction.

dorkkarl

hey!!! check out my signature line!!!

had it since day 1.

K S

Dog97

Hmmmm I wooda thought it was from where they broke the coin off the thing, let me see I know what I'm trying to say but I can't think it. You know where the parts for model cars are all molded together on a tree and you have to twist them apart and trim the sprue off with an exacto knife before you glue them together.

rottnrog

I also emailed the seller of the waffled coin. The sellers father emailed me back and said I was stupid! He said he works at a metal plant and he got it from someone who got it from someone who works where they make the rolls of clad for the mint and it is real!! LOL I gave him Fred Weinbergs email address and told him if I was stupid maybe he should email someone who has seen the wafflers in action and call them stupid too!!

Shamika

The coin was probably part of a ring that was broken off.

What's so experimental about it?

baccaruda

but Occam's (or Ockham's) Razor states that in the face of several possible explanations for a phenomenon, the simplest is usually the correct one.

Yes, but Ebay's Razor states that in the face of several possible explanations for a phenomenon, the one that nets you the most payola is the angle you use.

ccrdragon

I love that explanation Baccaruda!!!

relayer

I guess it didn't fly

keets

..........if the good friar were alive to witness some of what actually works today, he'd probably be found face down on the wine cellar floor!! his is a razor that cuts deep.

al h.

razorface1027

HEY!...Don't be talkin' bout' Razor like dat..