Tricks used to deceive local auction buyers-a word of caution

rec78

I am talking about local auctions by the garden variety auctioneer who knows nothing about coins but sells them at auctions. Most auctioneers around here say "you can see what you are bidding on so all sales are final",(I know they sell a lot of counterfeits sometimes this way)- OK fine--I have gotten many good deals this way. I know there are many tricks but here is one that you should know about.

Many years ago I went to an auction where they had a complete set of mercury dimes including the 1916-D(only a ag/g in a Whitman bookshelf album. I did not buy this set but a person that I know bought it. He put it his safe-deposit box for a few years - To his dismay when he took the 1916-D out of the album a few years later--Guess what? There were two coins there(In the 1916-D slot) a 1916 and 1917-D worn thin front to back in the 1916-D spot. There was no 1916-D dime in the set-So he got royally hosed. Too late-no recourse.
Just a word of caution-make sure you take the rare coins out of the albums for examination before you buy them.

Bob

19Lyds

Wow! Excellent advice but I don't think they'd allow you to take anything out of the album to examine it before you bid.

After you receive it, it could still end up being another he said/he said scenario as well.

My advice is to try and be extra cautious. I can see where something like this might be attempted at a coin show as well and I know that get a little jumpy when you ask to remove stuff from albums. It never hurts to ask though.

GrumpyEd

I've heard of the same thing being done with cardboard flips, 2 coins glued or just placed in a tight fitting flip.

Wasn't there also a member that got a high grade 16-D sandwich in a fake slab?

TwoSides2aCoin

Five Cent's worth
and my 2 cents , as a reminder.

PerryHall

This practice was also common with Capital three piece plastic holders since the center was thick enough to allow two coins to be housed in them.