Coin Doctors and The Law

itsnotjustme

With the recent thread about painted cameo coins, I started wondering...

What legal action can be taken against coin doctors?
Are they violating any laws when they...
... perform their doctoring to enhance a coin's appearance?
... sell a coin they have enhanced?
... submit a doctored coin?
... sell a coin that graded higher due to their efforts?
Where is the legal line between doctoring, and accepted practices such as dipping or conservation?

This could be a whole can of worms!

clw54

I don't know that a law against submitting a doctored coin would be a good idea.

DMWJR

No need for a specific law. Fraud covers it nicely.

majorbigtime

Absent fraud, deceit or misrepresentaion, there is nothing illegal about "doctoring" IMO. I nevertheless beleive the practice is widespread, and "stinks"!~

nwcs

You can do whatever you want with a coin. But if you misrepresent it to someone else who is buying it then it violates law. If you say nothing about it one way or the other then I think it's the buyer's responsibility to find the problems.

roadrunner

Once the doctor finishes the coin, and then the TPG certifies it, the liability is really on the TPG. The TPG has spoken and the grade stands. That's a business risk they are well aware of and need to keep on top of as they go forward.

roadrunner

MrEureka

Once the doctor finishes the coin, and then the TPG certifies it, the liability is really on the TPG.

Two points to make.

First, the fact that the TPG certifies a coin doesn't let the doctor off the hook. It just makes the TPG the easiest target for recourse. But if a coin's owner knows who doctored a coin, he would be foolish to ignore the possibility of going after the doctor.

Second, the TPG can go after the coin doctor. I'd be surprised if there isn't language in the TPG Dealer Agreements that gives the TPG specific rights in such cases. In other words, even though it's legal to doctor a coin, the submitter may have signed a contract that prohibits him from knowingly submitting doctored coins. And if that's the case, the ultimate liability may indeed often rest with the doctor.

DMWJR

<< <i>Once the doctor finishes the coin, and then the TPG certifies it, the liability is really on the TPG.

Two points to make.

First, the fact that the TPG certifies a coin doesn't let the doctor off the hook. It just makes the TPG the easiest target for recourse. But if a coin's owner knows who doctored a coin, he would be foolish to ignore the possibility of going after the doctor.

Second, the TPG can go after the coin doctor. I'd be surprised if there isn't language in the TPG Dealer Agreements that gives the TPG specific rights in such cases. In other words, even though it's legal to doctor a coin, the submitter may have signed a contract that prohibits him from knowingly submitting doctored coins. And if that's the case, the ultimate liability may indeed often rest with the doctor. >>



I agree with you, but I don't think there even has to be a dealer agreement for the TPG to have recourse against the doctor. A slab is akin to insurance, and doctoring the equivalent of insurance fraud. (I know there is an insurance policy to go after the policy holder, but others can be indicted for insurance fraud as well).

Jdurg

The difficulty is in trying to prove that the person doctored the coin themselves. There is the possibility that the actual doctor is many owners down the line, and the person who is submitting the coin is not aware that it was doctored.