Fake PCGS slab and 1916 D Mercury Dime
Bruceswar
Posts: 2,869
Right now I am a loss for words. I will just post these images and let you all comment away. I will be contacting PCGS ASAP. I do not want to reveal all the details yet as to how I came into this coin as I want to talk with PCGS first. Please note this is not bashing PCGS at all.
0
Comments
Coin came out of the Bay Area & IIRC was sold on ebay. Real cert # but fake coin in fake holder. Almost like someone bought real key coin, cracked it and saved the paper insert then manufactured a fake coin in a fake holder. Got his/her money back on the sale of the fake and had a raw key.
If that's your scenario, your seller is in on the con. He may not have done the deed but is disposing of the coins for the other crook.
Here is the real coin.
Real Coin
Crooks.
Sorry.
If that 16-D was authentic it never would have slabbed.
Doug
<< <i>Once again, why are so many collectors buying junk on ebay? I know there are plenty of honest people on ebay, but there are also so many fakes.
If that 16-D was authentic it never would have slabbed.
Doug >>
Don't be so quick to judge. There was no mention of where this came from. You think if this one had been on E-bay it would have made it past the forum police and E-bay watchers? I will not give out more details yet, but that is a pretty good clue about E-bay.
Greg Hansen, Melbourne, FL Click here for any current EBAY auctions Multiple "Circle of Trust" transactions over 14 years on forum
1916-d Heritage 2010
And as pointed out earlier, it is now up for auction on Heritage.
Why do I mention this?
Buying certified coins, on line via ebay, teletrade, heritage etc, is often the safest way to purchase. It allows you to do the necessary research (looking the coin up at Heritage, Terapeak, ebay, teletrade etc) to compare the coin at auction to the original coin. PCGS and NGC show photos and/or auction links of the actual coin simply by entering the certification number:
PCGS Certification look-up
NGC Certification look-up
<< <i>The 'real' 1916-d in the 'real' PCGS slab last sold on Heritage back in May, 2010:
1916-d Heritage 2010
And as pointed out earlier, it is now up for auction on Heritage.
Why do I mention this?
Buying certified coins, on line via ebay, teletrade, heritage etc, is often the safest way to purchase. It allows you to do the necessary research (looking the coin up at Heritage, Terapeak, ebay, teletrade etc) to compare the coin at auction to the original coin. PCGS and NGC show photos and/or auction links of the actual coin simply by entering the certification number:
PCGS Certification look-up
NGC Certification look-up >>
If you put in the cert number there is no photo. This is not in a PCGS secure plus holder. The cert number obviously matches up with the grade / date.
PCGS isn't going to do anything. It's their problem, for which they need to be more vocal in how they are (will be) handling it, but not their coin.
<< <i>Why all the intrigue and secrecy? Post the details.
PCGS isn't going to do anything. It's their problem, for which they need to be more vocal in how they are (will be) handling it, but not their coin. >>
Details will come out in a few days time. Once I get to talk to the people I need to.
<< <i>The font isn't right, this looks like one I had earlier this year (from ebay). They never get the size or spacing of "PCGS" right. I'd bet the printing is also glossy, which doesn't match any authentic PCGS inserts.
Crooks. >>
Most of the forum reported fakes have off fonts. I will repeat, do not depend on errors in the fonts for spotting fake slabs. It is a relatively easy task to match fonts, paper and plastic. I believe the better fake slabs are slipping through the nets, with millions of dollars worth of value finding homes in long term collections every month. It is mostly cruder fake slabs that are being spotted. Most of the fakes are currently being moved on Ebay. However, many of those buyers are reselling their fakes at venues such as small shows, flea markets, coin club auctions, so venue alone now offers little protection. Be careful out there.
I'll keep watching for additional details.
<< <i>
<< <i>The 'real' 1916-d in the 'real' PCGS slab last sold on Heritage back in May, 2010:
1916-d Heritage 2010
And as pointed out earlier, it is now up for auction on Heritage.
Why do I mention this?
Buying certified coins, on line via ebay, teletrade, heritage etc, is often the safest way to purchase. It allows you to do the necessary research (looking the coin up at Heritage, Terapeak, ebay, teletrade etc) to compare the coin at auction to the original coin. PCGS and NGC show photos and/or auction links of the actual coin simply by entering the certification number:
PCGS Certification look-up
NGC Certification look-up >>
If you put in the cert number there is no photo. This is not in a PCGS secure plus holder. The cert number obviously matches up with the grade / date. >>
No, but, there is a direct link to the coin with pictures. All recent PCGS submissions and all secure plus PCGS holders now have photos.
<< <i>
<< <i>The font isn't right, this looks like one I had earlier this year (from ebay). They never get the size or spacing of "PCGS" right. I'd bet the printing is also glossy, which doesn't match any authentic PCGS inserts.
Crooks. >>
Most of the forum reported fakes have off fonts. I will repeat, do not depend on errors in the fonts for spotting fake slabs. It is a relatively easy task to match fonts, paper and plastic. I believe the better fake slabs are slipping through the nets, with millions of dollars worth of value finding homes in long term collections every month. It is mostly cruder fake slabs that are being spotted. Most of the fakes are currently being moved on Ebay. However, many of those buyers are reselling their fakes at venues such as small shows, flea markets, coin club auctions, so venue alone now offers little protection. Be careful out there. >>
Which is why, for any coin of high value (yes, I sometimes buy coins of high value from ebay) I'll at least send it in to PCGS for a re-grade or re-holder within the 90 days that ebay gives you to file a claim. This assumes that PCGS would catch a face coin or fake slab during the re-holder process. It also gives me a chance to get a tru-view once in a while. The problem with this approach is that CAC stickers get tossed out. Not a huge problem for me, as usually these coins are going in my long term collection so the sticker doesn't really matter. Someday if I decide to sell, hopefully CAC will either have a better system than the stickers, or will have a lower cost "re-sticker" option.
Immediately upon receiving the coin I filed a claim with ebay and send the coin off to pcgs for "verification". PCGS said the holder and coin were fake and I was send a letter of confirmation stating it being a counterfeit.
THey also drilled a hole in the holder and scratched the words bad holder on the obverse.
I faxed the paperwork to ebay and was refunded within a day. Total time was about 9 days.
even if the coin looked decent .... it amazes me that of all the things that the fakers get right, they have a terrible time printing a proper font!