It's Halloween, and this auction really scares me.

lordmarcovan

Link

It scares me because of the "too good to be true" factor.

I remember seeing some truly incredible coins at the Money Museum in Richmond, VA years ago, and they had a 1486 "guldiner" of this design. It was absolutely stunning. Though a rare and valuable coin, it was not even close to being the most valuable in the museum, and yet it's the one that stuck with me the most.

This piece here is frightening because I don't see any obvious red flags. It looks like a circulated silver coin should, to me. I've got the Levinson Early Dated Coins of Europe book at home, and a Davenport Large Silver Coins. I think those list this.

The seller isn't Chinese, but for all I know, the coin could be. And his feedback rating is 2... with zero sales, and two purchases, one of which was a cologne gift set endorsed by a rap musician. That right there is enough to scare me off, even without his self-declared $477.77 reserve (which would be a steal if the coin were genuine).

Nope, don't worry- I ain't bidding. It's just too scary. But this is one of those auctions that just makes me go "hmmm."

Who can point out the red flags I haven't mentioned?

PS- oh, yeah... "Returns not accepted", too.

blu62vette

There are times when things out of brooklyn scare me more than most other places. It sure seems to have a nice strike, good detail left. Is that normal?

worldcoinguy

I would consider that to be the holy grail of talers. Overall it looks like a respectable piece but most likely not the real thing. The fields look too smooth and the date font looks wrong for the 4.

Here is one from a WAG auction in Sept (which sold for $50k):

lordmarcovan

That's right up there with the octagonal USA Pan-Pac $50, at or near the top of my top "dream coin" list.

In other words, coins I could never hope to afford.

Yep. That auction really frightens me, and yet it's oddly compelling, in a "what if" sorta way. Knowhutimean?

But it's like the fake 1804 dollars that some bidiots will still take a $500 gamble on. Sheesh. Really, now, people. Do you really think you're gonna get a multimillion-dollar coin for 500 bucks?

WillieBoyd2

But he says "L@@k" so it MUST be authentic.

theboz11

<< <i>But he says "L@@k" so it MUST be authentic. >>



Did seem strange that he put WoW L@@K after the Picture and description

Looks nice and round to me.

CIVITAS

It's one of the 1953 restrikes that's been worn down and had the restrike date smoothed off.

Here's the restrike for comparison. Link

SereneDude

Gosh, I don't know why you guys are soooooooo suspicious.
Seller has a "2" FB, won't allow returns and is selling a very rare coin for a pittance.
What could possibly go wrong?

Pokermandude

His feedback is super low, but the fact that he seems to know the "Ebay way" leads me to believe this is just a new account. His use of "L@@K" and the over the top/hidden shipping costs on some items makes me think he was previously an ebay seller 1yr+ ago.

SereneDude

After looking at the link of the 1953 copy, I'm convinced the coin at auction is a fake.
It would be highly unlikely that the only really heavy wear on the coin would be in exactly the spot where the restrike date was.

JamesMurray

<< <i>It's one of the 1953 restrikes that's been worn down and had the restrike date smoothed off.

Here's the restrike for comparison. Link >>



Well , thats that put to bed then , excellent post CIVITAS

worldcoinguy

So the question I have is logistically how do you wear down one area of the coin like that and not make it overly suspicious? Perhaps they shaved the 1953 off and then made it a pocket piece for awhile? I'm curious to know how the devious go about their deviousness.

DoubleEagle59

Feedback of "2".

I'd 'L@@K' the other way.

TwoKopeiki

<< <i>It's one of the 1953 restrikes that's been worn down and had the restrike date smoothed off.

Here's the restrike for comparison. Link >>



Nice catch, Josh.