AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGH - stupid stupid stupid - I need your advice

Udo

I recently was browsing through some auctions on ebay.de when I came across an auction which aroused my interest. As usual for the German ebay coin auctions the image in that auction wasn't that good, but hey, it was kind of big, not comparable with some other sellers' pictures which often are as big as a small stamp. It was a bit fuzzy though (as usual) and it was the only pic in that auction. It showed the reverse of a 1914 3 Mark coin.











The seller didn't provide a picture of the coin's obverse and the only thing the description said was: "3 Mark 1914." Normally I avoid such auctions, because I always get the feeling that the seller has got something to hide, but from the picture I thought that the coin could have some nice luster.

But what coin was it exactly? I decided not to ask the seller, I simply supposed it to be a 1914 Prussian coin, because the seller had some more auctions running where others asked what was shown on the particular coins. Did I mention that the seller only shows a picture of the coins reverse in all of his auctions?

Well, there are several different Empire-coins of 1914, all of them with the same reverse, but what the heck, why not gambling a bit? So I bid an I won the coin for 15,50 Euro.


It showed up today and when I opened the envelope and the coin came out in that sort of tinkered cardboard, I was given my first surprise, it wasn't a Prussian coin, It was an Anhalt coin commemorating the silver wedding of duke and duchess and it was nice !!! It was much better than I ever had expected and it is listed at a higher value than a 1914 Prussian coin.


But at the next closer look I was wondering about the coin's packaging and I couldn't believe what this guy had done!

He cut out a piece of cardboard in the middle in which the coin fitted and then wrapped both cardboard and coin with a sticky tape! The sticky tape on the coin's devices! What a jerk!












AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGH - I freed the coin immediately, look at the sticky tape













How can I get rid of adhesive left-overs on the coin's surface? I'm wondering what else he had done to the coin, he obviously knows nothing about how to handle a coin correctly, perhaps the coin was a outstanding example before he handled it, perhaps he's selling the collection that his grandpa had built over decades, what a pity!

coinpictures

That moronic seller deserves a neg... unconscionable... or is it one of those "antique shop" or "flea market" mopes that occasionally has a good coin?

Egads...

laurentyvan

The seller didn't provide a picture of the coin's obverse and the only thing the description said was: "3 Mark 1914." Normally I avoid such auctions, because I always get the feeling that the seller has got something to hide

Uh, bingo!

And, if he had nothing to hide, his poor presentation was hand in hand with his improper packaging.

I think you had all the clues necessary to run and hide from this particular e-bayer.

You will get expert advice on how to clean this coin shortly, I'm sure. Sorry for your bad experience...

Edited to add: what was his feedback like? Did you check his feedback (items) to see what he had sold in the past? I can't believe this individual got away with that kind of action too many times without a neg. I can see giving him a critique when you do give feedback.

Udo

Thanks Dan and Laurent.

The seller had a feedback of 27, 100% positive. He didn't offer any numismatic items in the last three months èxcept of two banknotes.

1jester

Fortunately, no permanent harm has been done. You can safely remove the sticky residue with acetone. Soak the coin in acetone a few minutes, and feel free to gently rub off the residue while the coin is submerged in acetone. It will come off with no damage. I use a system of 4-5 separate glass bowls, with enough acetone in each bowl/jar to cover the coin, so I'd say about 3 cm in each bowl. Use the first bowl to soak it and rub off the residue, and then dip the coin quickly in each subsequent bowl, and at the end of the process, let the coin drip-dry for a couple seconds (acetone dries very fast), and you're done. Do this in a very well-ventilated environment, or outside, and do not under any circumstances be around any source of flame. Acetone is very flammable. Use pure acetone from a hardware store.

Nice score!

And contact the seller to see if he has any other coins, before he puts them on ebay!! Maybe he has a lot of nice coins.

Udo

Thank you very much Mike

lordmarcovan

Gaah! What an idiot!

Just take a cotton swab and a little acetone. It'll give you a happy ending.

Edit: I see the good Jester already suggested that, with perhaps a more sophisticated technique.

I would not neg the guy as I think it is just a case of ignorance- the auction bears witness to this. Give him a harsh positive such as "good coin and smooth transaction but poor packaging- used tape directly on coin", to teach him a lesson. Or if you're really mad, a neutral. But don't neg him. You got the coin and it was a good buy.

earlwbollinger

Like stated above, acetone should do the trick.
But do it outside with a breeze at least. Acetone is toxic, I'd wear surgical gloves though, and avoid rubbing the coin if possible.
If it is real gooey, maybe some GOO OFF and then the acetone treatment. But don't leave it in the GOO OFF stuff very long, I am not sure what effects the citrus cleaner chemicals have on some kinds of metallic coin alloys. There are several brands of the GOO OFF stuff at different stores, it is basically used to remove tape residue from things.

Refrema

I found a similar problem in some of the older coins that my father had.

A 10 minute bath in acetone did a great job. If there is a lot of the tape residue on it, you might need a second bath in fresh acetone.

Personally I would not leave negative feedback, but I would send him a message.

Good Luck,

Bob

1jester

You're welcome, Udo!

And I wouldn't use anything but my clean fingers to rub the coin with. I've done this procedure countless times (also to remove tape residue) with no detrimental effects on the coins.

I've never tried the Goo-Gone product, so I can't comment.

Udo

Thank you very much for your friendly advice, Rob, earlwbollinger, Refrema and jester again.

I too thought that a negative would be to hard for the seller.

coinkat

The sad reality of this story is that looks like a great coin!

WillieBoyd2

I would just send an email to the seller asking that he not use tape for future shipments.
I would not give him a negative or neutral for that.

coinkat

I would do a neutral... but I am not the ebay user that others are.

JamminJ

Leave the seller a positive, you'll want to buy more from him.

lordmarcovan

Steve27

" Fortunately, no permanent harm has been done. You can safely remove the sticky residue with acetone. "

I agree, I've had it happen too. Acetone is great, and it's very very safe for coins. I wouldn't neg him, but I might send him an email telling him not to do it again.

rhound1977

Looks like a nice coin though, Koinsolve will also work..

What a knuckle head..........

lordmarcovan

Wow, I think I just spotted a Hound Yeti.

wybrit

It looks like a good buy. You've gotten some good advice too from that Yeti whatshisname from Eastern Europe. .

1jester

<< <i>It looks like a good buy. You've gotten some good advice too from that Yeti whatshisname from Eastern Europe. . >>



Have I been elevated in status??!! Should I be so honored!

TheKidCollector1991

Ooh A fellow victom!

I had this happen to me numerous number o times!

JZrarities

It does look like it has some nice Color....