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Interesting how this will play out, fascinated by the story...(you want to play Sherlock?)

For the sake of anonymity, I'll withhold specific links/details until I can get some feedback/sort out from the seller as to what is happening? Once I do, I'll post the details...

There is a coin for sale on eBay in an old rattler that looks really nice. I always check the cert # on PCGS.com. I did, and it comes up as "That Cert is not available for display."

The seller's photo are very good, both in whole slab and also cropped. I've also bought from the seller before without problems. But the coin looks real nice!!

I then go to CAC and type in the cert# and voila, the cert comes up as CAC approved. What the ???? The eBay auction doesn't have a CAC sticker on the slab, the seller doesn't mention CAC anywhere in the auction, and the cert# is not available for display on PCGS?

I texted the seller to make him aware of the situation and expressed my interest in the coin, I wonder what is going on here (I have some suspicions that I'll withhold until later).

Based on these facts (and the only facts that I have), what do you think is going on? I'll post later once I (hopefully) sort this out to see who guesses the right problem...


Comments

  • bigjpstbigjpst Posts: 3,164 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have had PCGS cert#s come as not available before. When you contact PCGS they will ask for slab photos front and back and correct the issue. It is possible that the photos are pre CAC and the seller just hasn't gotten around to updating the listing.
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have no idea what is going on, but it would be enough for me to walk away.... I sense that you will not, so let us know what you find...Cheers, RickO
  • AUandAGAUandAG Posts: 24,883 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I have no idea what is going on, but it would be enough for me to walk away.... I sense that you will not, so let us know what you find...Cheers, RickO >>




    Might add that I do find it extremely unlikely that he would leave out CAC in the auction if the
    coin/slab actually was CAC'd
    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com
  • AMRCAMRC Posts: 4,280 ✭✭✭✭✭
    All seemed pretty normal until you added the CAC part. So here is what may have happened.

    Coin had a CAC sticker when the cert number was valid.

    Coin was regraded (sent in for an upgrade) and was reholdered, but for some reason it was re-issued it previous (now invalid number). Coin was never sent in for a new bean.

    MLAeBayNumismatics: "The greatest hobby in the world!"
  • TomBTomB Posts: 21,978 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The PCGS cert number likely begins with 50 as there was a glitch in the PCGS database and that cert range was affected. Coins with 50 as the beginning sometimes do not show up in the database. The coin was then sent to CAC where it earned a green sticker, but the sticker was removed so that potential buyers might think a rattler would go gold.
    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • BigMooseBigMoose Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭
    What TomB said.
    TomT-1794

    Check out some of my 1794 Large Cents on www.coingallery.org
  • BGBG Posts: 1,762 ✭✭✭✭✭
    In addition to what's been stated above, I've had to add a zero to the front of early cert #'s for them to come up
  • mercurydimeguymercurydimeguy Posts: 4,625 ✭✭✭✭
    Ok, this played out without any drama...

    I have a friend at PCGS (thank you!!!!) who looked it up for me to see if it was a legit coin with a mix up or something. The coin is legit, apparently some of the super old cert#'s didn't carry over to the new system, but the coin is legit. It's in an old rattler holder.

    I let the dealer know (again, I've bought from him before) that the coin is good and I just bought the coin. On top of that, he gave me a better deal than was advertised, really cool of him!

    And I have ZERO idea why the coin doesn't have a sticker on it...he said he bought a large lot of coins and this was in the lot. I bet someone got it stickered a long time ago and someone peeled off the sticker thinking it was just a green sticker or something, but the coin is indeed a CAC approved coin. When I receive the coin I'll just send it into CAC for re-stickering.

    Strange day...with 24+ inches of snow outside my house.

    PS. Will post a picture when I received it image
  • TomBTomB Posts: 21,978 ✭✭✭✭✭
    So, it turned out just like I wrote.image
    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • valente151valente151 Posts: 1,068 ✭✭✭
    One possibility speaking from experience. It may have been sent in for reconsideration, and the sticker taken off before hand, as some believe the fact it is a green sticker and not a gold will negatively influence the graders. (I have done this on reconsiderations before) When my coins have gone through for reconsideration, the cert number goes as unavailable. I have had one coin come back and never had the very number switch back to viewable on the very lookup, until I contacted PCGS a month or so later.
  • mercurydimeguymercurydimeguy Posts: 4,625 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>So, it turned out just like I wrote.image >>


    Spot on!!

    Except for the motivation part...not sure about that.

    The coin with a CAC green sticker would have sold for about $250 more than it was listed at (about the going rate premium for a CAC sticker on this coin), so I think the dealer really bought it without the sticker (for whatever reason, the sticker wasn't on it). To be honest I don't even know why I went to check CAC website...it's just the coin looked so nice for the grade (from the photos), my curiosity drove me to go look/see on the CAC website. I was dumbfounded when the cert# actually came up as approved.
  • LindeDadLindeDad Posts: 18,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Guess out of the dark it was a Saint?
  • Timbuk3Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Interesting turn of events. Glad it
    worked out for you. Why don't you
    post pics after its reCACed !!! image
    Timbuk3
  • mercurydimeguymercurydimeguy Posts: 4,625 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Interesting turn of events. Glad it
    worked out for you. Why don't you
    post pics after its reCACed !!! image >>



    image

  • blu62vetteblu62vette Posts: 11,941 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I sold a 78-CC $1 PCGS 63 rattler at FUN and just after selling it the buyer came back and said it was a bad cert number. I offered him his money back or whatever he was comfortable with. He took it to a few dealers that said it was fine and to send a slab image to PCGS to get it fixed. Have not heard back from him so I assume it worked out. I am sure these things happen from time to time.

    As far as the CAC on the OP coin, some would feel a green sticker instead of gold on a rattler is worthy of being peeled off if auctioned.

    http://www.bluccphotos.com" target="new">BluCC Photos Shows for onsite imaging: Nov Baltimore, FUN, Long Beach http://www.facebook.com/bluccphotos" target="new">BluCC on Facebook
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Very nice old Saint.... congratulations.. Cheers, RickO

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