Can you tell if this is an added mint mark on a 1909-S VDB cent?

DNADave

I'm highly suspicious but don't really know what to look for.
(not interested in bidding, just curious)

1909-S VDB

xbob

I'll let a lincoln expert comment on the "S".

Based on feedback though, I'd be suspicious - Toolhaus link

razorface1027

I took the liberty of emailing him/her regarding this item. I expressed to the seller that I'm a skeptic and would like to know WHY it's not in a top tier slab. By their feedback, they're familiarized with certain top tier grading companies. It baffles me why such a highly sought specimen isn't in a slab.




Tom

mrdq

It's fake.. links to come

I OWN The fake one shown in COPPERCOIN'S book Looking Through Lincoln Cents p. 48.

Hard lesson to learn when you consider it's been held in my family for 30 years and turns out to be glued on S.

coynclecter

<< <i>I'm highly suspicious but don't really know what to look for. >>



On a $4000 coin????

What you look for is a Third Party Authentication. Don't buy a coin like that without one.

mrdq

coppercoins

The coin appears to be a genuine example, die pair #3. There were four die pairs used on all genuine examples, and dies #3 and #4 are the toughest to tell apart from one another.

The mintmark appears to be of the correct type and location, but the coin is not MS, in my opinion. Looks like an AU55.

Of course to be 100% certain the coin is genuine I would have to examine it in person or have good microphotographs of the date and mintmark area.

mrdq

That mintmark doesn't look too flattened out to you? The upper curve of the S looks way to squished to me but your'e right, That photo sucks when the MM is the best diagnostic tool.





I'll defer to the expert, but maintain my opinion

clackamas

You can buy a slabded 65RB for less than he is asking. Pass, even it was real

jdimmick

I agree with CD, the coin looks genuine, but does not look MS. The coin has definite high point friction, probably AU-58. Also, thier may be something on the color as it looks slightly off?

BigE2

Boy. I'd really like to check the edge on that sucker.

michael

just give me a microphoto blowup of the vdb and s mintmark

razorface1027

Here's the response I received...

"Hello; Call me skeptic but, why is this not in a top tier grading company slab? It being a highly sought specimen, it would be a prudent to have it authenticated, graded & slabbed."

.
Indeed it would, if the two top grading companies weren't taking 30+ days, and I'm too cheap to pay the $100 to have it graded in a week. I'd rather let someone else have that pleasure.


If this coin were mine to sell, I'd MOST CERTAINLY have it GRADED. Somethin' soundza fishy.

mr1931S

Isn't the spacing between the letters and periods in "V.D.B." on the "S" coin different enough from those on the plain "V.D.B." to tell if an "SVDB" is genuine?

What say you, C.D?

midwestcoin13

It's fake no doubt about it.

coinbuf

Looks real to me but I'd aggree it's too big a risk at that price.

Chris

midwestcoin13

If it was real it would be slabbed

coinbuf

<<If it was real it would be slabbed>>

Wrong! I have three, one slabbed and two raw. A coin does'nt have to be slabbed to be real.

Chris

coinguy1

<< <i>It's fake no doubt about it....

If it was real it would be slabbed >>

Not necessarily true, and I'd advise against stating your opinions as facts. It could be genuine and still be a horrible deal at that price, due to it being less than MS65 in grade (it looks AU) and/or re-colored.

midwestcoin13

<< <i><<If it was real it would be slabbed>>

Wrong! I have three, one slabbed and two raw. A coin does'nt have to be slabbed to be real.

Chris >>



Due to the date of the coin best to buy one that is slabbed

midwestcoin13

<< <i>

<< <i>It's fake no doubt about it....

If it was real it would be slabbed >>

Not necessarily true, and I'd advise against stating your opinions as facts. It could be genuine and still be a horrible deal at that price, due to it being less than MS65 in grade (it looks AU) and/or re-colored. >>



With that date the best thing to do is to buy one thats graded.

Merc

The picture is not good enough to tell. I need a close up of the S and the top rim. There are die struck counterfeits made using real 1909-S VDB cents as the template for making the dies. They have the correct size and shape S. With a picture this small, it could be real or a nice fake. One thing I can tell that it is a circulated coin.

midwestcoin13

if it's fake it's not a bad looking one.

coppercoins

<< <i>Isn't the spacing between the letters and periods in "V.D.B." on the "S" coin different enough from those on the plain "V.D.B." to tell if an "SVDB" is genuine?

What say you, C.D? >>



Seems every die was different - some had even spacing, some had closer spacing. Some had heavy dots, some had a dot missing. You can't tell by the shape and spacing of the initials alone. Too many different ones.