A bogus 1839-O half dime on eBay
MrHalfDime
Posts: 3,440 ✭✭✭✭
Yet another bogus half dime has appeared on eBay, this time an 1839-O. I assume it is another of the ubiquitous Chinese counterfeits, but it appears to be even more 'comical' than some others seen. The letter punches and sizes are not in the proper proportion, nor is their placement accurate. The seller claims " ... it was found in the bottom of an antique toolbox and was unidentifiable as an American coin", which is understandable, since it is not. The seller has lots of Barber coins for sale, as well, but I will leave the determination of their authenticity to others. The seller appears to have a good (100% positive) feedback rating, albeit a short one.
They that can give up essential Liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither Liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin
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Comments
bob
unfortunately it was ended before it could be nuked
.
two of us that said that, and he did not want to sell a fake. Said he got it in a Ebay roll of cents
and was stoked to find it. He did offer it back to the seller as he thought his getting it was in
error but the seller did not want it back! He was disappointed that he didn't score!!
lol
bob
edited: Mercury dime roll not cent roll.
reminds me of the fake money used to teach kids about money
I'm the seller of the fake half-dime on ebay.
I want to set the record straight of what occurred today.
I was notified by two members of the Ebay community that I had listed a counterfeit coin. I was unaware the coin was counterfeit...I rarely have the opportunity to deal with half dimes. I did a cursory search for completed items, a quick grade based on shield letters, and listed it. Hindsight being 20/20, I should have more closely examined what I was selling.
The coin came from another dealer on ebay as part of a junk silver lot which included 50 mercury dimes (with the "shtick" being that they were found in an old toolbox). While counting the dimes, I happened upon the sludge covered half dime. Knowing I couldn't sell it as-is, it was cleaned. Looking back, this is probably why the shiny "cast" appearance didn't set off alarm bells...that and it never occurred to me that half-dimes were counterfeited.
After being notified by Bob and another ebay member, I took steps that any reasonable person would: The listing was immediately removed voluntarily. In addition, I began a thread in ebay's coin discussion forum soliciting the expertise from members to help spread the word about fake coins on the market.
For those who have information and comparative pictures you'd like to share, the link to the discussion group on ebay is listed below.
http://forums.ebay.com/db1/topic/Coins-Paper-Money/Counterfeit-And-Fake/5200096732
Lastly, I reached out to the seller who I got them from. He genuinely and promptly responded that this coin had somehow made it by him, too. I don't blame him...it was filthy and he thought it was a Merc. In a bit of irony, he said I could refer anyone to him if my reputation came under fire and that he'd "set them straight". But I don't feel I should either disclose his identity nor rely on him to prop up my reputation.
I've been a lifelong collector of coins and currency, an ebay seller with multiple accounts for >5 years, and have earned my 100% feedback through honest dealings with the public. For anyone who doubts this, search my feedback and contact "barbaraandtony" and ask them if they remember the buyer who returned the two additional 90% quarters that they had accidentally sent. They will give you my ebay ID.
I would like to thank Bob for reaching out and educating me on this matter. After all, this is what should occur in a self-regulating industry. I'm a follower of Austrian economics and libertarian, so I could go on about this principle for 12 more pages...but I won't. Point being, I believe the two members who contacted me realized, due to my feedback and number and type of listings, I did not fit the profile of someone who would knowingly sell fake goods. They did the reasonable thing and reached out to me to let me know.
And for laughs, to the person who was upset my listing wasn't "nuked"...rest assured, ebay has already hit me with a policy violation which will possibly extend the amount of time before I get top-rated seller status and the discounts tied to it. In short, this bad listing will cost me for months to come.
This has been an embarrassing but positive experience...though I'll get dragged through the mud for a bit, I've learned something about coins and that is always a positive in my book.
Regards,
leesa.gossett
Buying top quality Seated Dimes in Gem BU and Proof.
Buying great coins - monster eye appeal only.
First of all, thanks for taking down your listing. Good on ya' for that.
Now,
Staircoins
welcome to the forum, i as well encourage you to poke around a bit. you never know what you may find here.
for those that wonder what at least one diagnostic would be for this particular coin. some may say the date looks good, maybe the surfaces are just corroded, well the O is in the right position etc.
this will lock it in for you :-) hope it helps.
Our mints simply NEVER produced authentic coins with this font, especially 19th century coinage
edited to add: i am thankful there are counterfeits this easy to identify. i'd prefer the job be easy as oppose to difficult.
ebaybuyer,
I sent you a message through ebay. I never considered selling the coin as a fake...that's kind of interesting. I'm glad you reached out...I was about to take my frustrations out on the little guy with a ball-peen hammer!!!
Regards,
Nevermind, I don't think it would be wise to sell a counterfeit coin since it's not clearly marked as a replica or copy. Guess I'll do the right thing and contact the secret service about the counterfeit and get some feedback from them.
Sorry,
I would like to congratulate you on your honesty.
I'd give you positive ratings for eBay anytime.
Also, as a contemporary fake, they are very collectible.
See the Davignon book on counterfeit Bust $1/2's.
BHNC #203