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A Question of Etiquette

ObiwancanoliObiwancanoli Posts: 1,065 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
In the past few weeks, I've sent questions to Ebay sellers regarding the authenticity of the coins they're offering. I'm not doing this willy-nilly, but have run across some key date coins that appear in very nice shape, but have very lowball starting prices with BINS attached that suggest the coin isn't as nice as the pictures depict.

The coins I've questioned - a Morgan 1883-S, for instance - appear to be MS-63 or better, and due to the lack of this information in the aauction, it just struck me that I'd want some assurance from the seller that the coin is, in fact, authentic and genuine.

Is it impolite to ask? I've asked the seller twice now in 2 days, and still no response. Inclined to turn and run, most likely will, but for future similar circumstances, should I be asking the question differently? Or is it just something sellers consider insulting enough to ignore?
UBERCOINER

A Truth That's Told With Bad Intent
Beats All The Lies You Can Invent

Comments

  • ConnecticoinConnecticoin Posts: 13,109 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Post the auction here. I bet many on this forum can give you some guidance on whether the coin is real or not.
    *For Sale on Numismy* *For Sale on Ebay*
  • segojasegoja Posts: 6,141 ✭✭✭✭
    My guess is no response = over graded & over hyped and they do not want to box themselves in.

    With all the slabbed coins why would you ever risk buying something on E-Bay. For every raw coin that does well, 100's are shams.

    You get what you pay for.
    JMSCoins Website Link


    Ike Specialist

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  • LindeDadLindeDad Posts: 18,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Really good deals sometimes are not always that great.
    My Current project....https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/mysetregistry/album/160794
  • notwilightnotwilight Posts: 12,864 ✭✭✭
    It is a difficult question to ask without offending the seller but not unmentionable. If you word it politely and apologize for having to ask, kindof like your posts here, then I would say it is ok to ask.

    If you did ask politely, as I expect you did, then no-answer is likely an answer. --jerry
  • yellowkidyellowkid Posts: 5,486 ✭
    Their lack of response speaks for itself. Personally I wouldn't buy a raw coin that looked too good to be true.
  • ObiwancanoliObiwancanoli Posts: 1,065 ✭✭✭
    Here's the 1883-S I inquired about... one of two from this seller, and both coins were slabbed the same... it looks nice, but seller has others too, and I wonder...
    UBERCOINER

    A Truth That's Told With Bad Intent
    Beats All The Lies You Can Invent
  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,390 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Not at all impolite, and any seller should have no problem guaranteeing authenticity (if not for the fact that PayPal will arguably assure it). I have a blank war nickel planchet that was consigned to me, and soon after listing it, got a flood of emails regarding how authenticity was ascertained. I took this as buyers doing their due diligence, and after discussing the emails with the consignor, decided sending it to get graded first was the best option to take away these questions/fears.
    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • garrynotgarrynot Posts: 1,874 ✭✭✭
    If the coin was not authentic and the seller knew it would you expect hiom to admit it? I think alot of Ebay sellers who have pages and pages of raw coins and tokens don't know what they are selling, authentic or not.
  • PTVETTERPTVETTER Posts: 6,026 ✭✭✭✭✭
    since I do not do ebay I have a question?

    I was under the impression that MS grades such as an MS63 had to be in an acceptable TPG service holder.

    did that change?
    Pat Vetter,Mercury Dime registry set,1938 Proof set registry,Pat & BJ Coins:724-325-7211


  • AhrensdadAhrensdad Posts: 2,583 ✭✭✭


    << <i>My guess is no response = over graded & over hyped and they do not want to box themselves in.

    With all the slabbed coins why would you ever risk buying something on E-Bay. For every raw coin that does well, 100's are shams.

    You get what you pay for. >>



    What he said.
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  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,390 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I was under the impression that MS grades such as an MS63 had to be in an acceptable TPG service holder.

    did that change? >>

    The grade can't be written in the title (you can say BU, Choice Unc, etc.) but the opinion can be offered in the description. A price guide reference for any grade cannot be used.
    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • AUandAGAUandAG Posts: 24,936 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Go a step further and ask if they guaranty that it will grade at PCGS. (not genuine).
    This coin is circulated. Not MS at all.

    bob
    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com
  • Steve27Steve27 Posts: 13,275 ✭✭✭
    IMO the 1883-S is genuine, but appears to be an AU58 coin.
    "It's far easier to fight for principles, than to live up to them." Adlai Stevenson
  • botanistbotanist Posts: 524 ✭✭✭
    Sellers description now clearly states it is genuine, but apparently that information is a later addition.
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,820 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Is it genuine?

    That is a fundamental question. If the coin is a copy and not marked as such the eBay listing is not worth the electricity it takes to run the computer.

    It's not only polite to ask the question, it is essential that the seller answer the question truthfully. It's beyond etiquete; it's a matter of honesty and ethics.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • lcoopielcoopie Posts: 8,873 ✭✭✭✭✭
    don't waste your time there,
    you will be unhappy with the purchase.

    unless you are an expert, get a pcgs or ngc graded coin.
    LCoopie = Les
  • pakasmompakasmom Posts: 1,920 ✭
    CCGS - Could Cop Genuine Status
  • jonathanbjonathanb Posts: 3,754 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Even if I thought I was an expert at counterfeit detection (hah!), there's always the chance that an item was a really good counterfeit that fooled me.

    So as a seller, I would never say anything other than "It sure seems authentic to me" -- and that sort of response doesn't help a buyer at all.

    Try asking a question that could possibly get you a useful answer. "I plan on submitting this to [TPG]. I certainly am not asking you to guarantee a specific grade, but could I confirm that you would accept a return after [XX] days if [TPG] reports that this is not authentic or has questionable authenticity?"
  • al410al410 Posts: 2,402 ✭✭✭✭
    From the pictures the Morgan appears to be authentic, but even with all the light on that picture I would say it is at best AU, of course just an opinion from a bad set of pictures
    AL
  • ConnecticoinConnecticoin Posts: 13,109 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Here's the 1883-S I inquired about... one of two from this seller, and both coins were slabbed the same... it looks nice, but seller has others too, and I wonder... >>



    Run, Forrest Run!! That coin is AU, dipped to death, and likely hairlined. Also, any coin in a self-slabber holder like that is more likely than not to be a problem coin. Save yourself some time and avoid these "self slabbed" coins -- you are better off hunting raw coins.
    *For Sale on Numismy* *For Sale on Ebay*
  • ObiwancanoliObiwancanoli Posts: 1,065 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Here's the 1883-S I inquired about... one of two from this seller, and both coins were slabbed the same... it looks nice, but seller has others too, and I wonder... >>



    Run, Forrest Run!! That coin is AU, dipped to death, and likely hairlined. Also, any coin in a self-slabber holder like that is more likely than not to be a problem coin. Save yourself some time and avoid these "self slabbed" coins -- you are better off hunting raw coins. >>



    I've never considered (seriously, anyway) buying a coin slabbed other than by PCGS or NGC. While I've looked at others, and discounted any claim to a grade within the auction info., I'm pretty sure if it grades as high as a seller might suggest, why, then, didn't the seller choose a more credible company to slab it in the first place? When the Ah-HAH bell rings, that's when I start looking for other coins...

    Jonathanb, I like your response. I think I'm gonna use that, if'n ya don't object...
    UBERCOINER

    A Truth That's Told With Bad Intent
    Beats All The Lies You Can Invent
  • NewParadigmNewParadigm Posts: 1,322
    I bought from them before. All the coins I bought were genuine, buy were really low grades for the price. The pics are overexposed to hide the marks.

    Nice people, though, to deal with.

    I bought a ms66 peace. Sent it in. It came back au55. Looked amazing in pics

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