Konyang T'ongbo on ebay - Is it real?

sumnom

I have never seen one of these come up on e-bay before. It is a commemorative piece issued by the King of Korea in 1896 to mark the end of tributary relations with China. Bidding is over $200.00 right now but if it is the real thing I would imagine bidding will go much higher.


Konyang T'ongbo

spoon

Heckuva historical coin if it is genuine.. but I certainly am no expert on cash type coins. Is this one supposed to be cast or struck? (looks struck) [see what I mean about not knowing anything!]

Well, 10 bids from only 3 bidders. You would expect more for something like this, wouldn't ya.

sumnom

This coin was struck.

I think this would be quite the event if real but I am at a loss as to its authenticity.

This is one of those coins that doesn't have a listed value in the usual books. Does anyone have any auction info maybe?

Stork

Do the other items the seller has look genuine? That may help in how you look at this item.


Cathy

sumnom

I did see some other things from this seller that looked iffy but this one looks so good.....

sumnom

i looked more carefully at the other auctions from the same seller and found that most of the Korean coins are misidentified and wildly over priced. But the seller does have the konyang t'ongbo, a rare issue, identified correctly. Why miss the common junk coins but recognize the possilby rare one?

Askari

Interesting coin!! Although I'm unfamiliar with Korean coins of this era, the patina seems period. Of course, I've heard that Chinese counterfeiters are getting pretty good at faking patinas. Still, I don't see anything that makes me think it's fake.

sumnom

Askari,

I have the same gut feeling that this is real. The seller has got a bunch of stuff wrong in his description but the coin looks right. At first I thought it was fake because of the crude calligraphy but after looking at the image in Mandel, it appears to be correct, crude though it may be. I just don't understand why it is not getting more bids.

Stork

Maybe distrust for sellers from China? Also, alot of his feedback is unreadable (on my computer anyway). I don't know anything about these, nor how good the counterfeits can be, assuming the picture is really his etc. Well, those are my somewhat cynical thoughts. On the other hand, there may also be lurkers in the waiting in the wing to snipe. It'll be interesting to see what it goes for.

sumnom

Yes, on the one hand I am suspicious because this seller is trying to sell very common stuff at "uncommon" prices in his other auctions but looking at the bidders, some of them buy a lot of Korea material so other people clearly think it is real.

I dunno, I dunno....

Stork

Well, to stay in character, I must say: Go For It!

On the other hand, listen to your gut reaction too. And let us know



Cathy

Askari

Frankly, if it's important to your collection, I'd say risk it and go for it. Just because a seller is inept at identifying items doesn't mean they aren't authentic. I've gotten some good bargains because of it. For instance, I snared some rare Austrian notgeld from a dealer who had mistakenly identified it as German. At least this guy has it correctly identified and claims to have a full return policy.

sumnom

Askari,

I am thinking the same thing. Maybe you could talk to my wife for me?

sumnom

Well, I bid for it but I was sniped. It went for $481.00. It is probably all for the better since I can't really afford to spend money like that on coins right now.

I think the sniper got a deal. This piece is probably worth a lot more than that.

Askari

Eh, I don't do that "talk to the wife" thing ... we each need to carry our own crosses. Sorry about being sniped out, but on the bright side you won't be having to move into the doghouse.

sumnom

Yes, life in the doghouse with nothing but a konyong t'onbo to keep me warm would have been a miserable existence indeed.

lordmarcovan

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I dunno, but it sounds tasty.

I'll try one, with two egg rolls and some fried rice, please.

BigAlan

Well, I bid for it but I was sniped.

Just keep telling yourself "It was fake."

sumnom

Big Alan, I am trying to forget the whole thing ever happened!