1955 Double Die Story
SellStock
Posts: 19 ✭✭
Ever since I started collecting when I was 7, I used to dream about owning this coin. I stopped collecting for several decades but started up again about 8 years ago. I searched for years for the right grade and price and finally found one back in the spring -- I purchased a 1955 double die lincoln graded 64 RB by PCGS from a West Coast dealer at a show.
It was only after I got home did I decide to look for those tell tale markings on the back of the coin to ensure that it was real and not a counterfeit - two die polish lines to the left of the vertical shaft of the T in the coin (PCGS had it slabbed, so I just didn't think twice about it when I purchased the coin).
Horrors! Where WERE those die polish lines?
The PCGS Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection states "To see these lines adequately, it is recommended that the coin be turned perpendicular to a light source and viewed with a magnifier of at least 5x. The light will help create a shadowing of the lines so they become more apparent. These die lines are well-protected because they are so close to the letter; for that reason, they appear in grades
as low as Good or Very good."
Well, I searched for an hour with 18x magnifier and found nothing! Panicked, I wanted to return the coin and scream at PCGS!!
After calming down, I decided to use a microscope. Under 100x power, I coudn't believe my eyes -- the die polish lines WERE there and in the correct position, just as pictured in PCGS Official Guide.
I had seen them on an earlier 55 double die coin graded AU55 by PCGS a few years back and they were CLEARLY visible under a 5x magnifier, so you can understand my short-term frustration. OK, so my questions are:
1) Why are these die polish lines not visible at 18x magnification? If they are so well protected, what the heck happened? I assume that wouldn't detract from the value of the coin (but what dealers are going to be carrying around microscopes to coin shows 20-30 years from now? Perhaps the PCGS name on the slab is all that matters!
2) Anybody else have an experience like this with ANY coin slabbed my a major grading service?
3) More importantly, has PCGS ever "goofed" in authenticating a coin when it was in fact counterfeit? I assume they would make good on any coin they certified, graded and slabbed if it turned out to be counterfeit.
Anyway, for a few short hours, I thought I was a victim. I can now breathe a bit easier.
I have enjoyed reading this forum for the past year. This is my first post so I apologize if it's a bit long.
Cheers!
It was only after I got home did I decide to look for those tell tale markings on the back of the coin to ensure that it was real and not a counterfeit - two die polish lines to the left of the vertical shaft of the T in the coin (PCGS had it slabbed, so I just didn't think twice about it when I purchased the coin).
Horrors! Where WERE those die polish lines?
The PCGS Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection states "To see these lines adequately, it is recommended that the coin be turned perpendicular to a light source and viewed with a magnifier of at least 5x. The light will help create a shadowing of the lines so they become more apparent. These die lines are well-protected because they are so close to the letter; for that reason, they appear in grades
as low as Good or Very good."
Well, I searched for an hour with 18x magnifier and found nothing! Panicked, I wanted to return the coin and scream at PCGS!!
After calming down, I decided to use a microscope. Under 100x power, I coudn't believe my eyes -- the die polish lines WERE there and in the correct position, just as pictured in PCGS Official Guide.
I had seen them on an earlier 55 double die coin graded AU55 by PCGS a few years back and they were CLEARLY visible under a 5x magnifier, so you can understand my short-term frustration. OK, so my questions are:
1) Why are these die polish lines not visible at 18x magnification? If they are so well protected, what the heck happened? I assume that wouldn't detract from the value of the coin (but what dealers are going to be carrying around microscopes to coin shows 20-30 years from now? Perhaps the PCGS name on the slab is all that matters!
2) Anybody else have an experience like this with ANY coin slabbed my a major grading service?
3) More importantly, has PCGS ever "goofed" in authenticating a coin when it was in fact counterfeit? I assume they would make good on any coin they certified, graded and slabbed if it turned out to be counterfeit.
Anyway, for a few short hours, I thought I was a victim. I can now breathe a bit easier.
I have enjoyed reading this forum for the past year. This is my first post so I apologize if it's a bit long.
Cheers!
Steve
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I also love to go through rolls to find coins.
BST
MySlabbedCoins