1880-S Morgan, Fake Coin, Fake Holder
JackE
Posts: 6 ✭
I sell some low end stuff at a local flea market. A man came up to me earlier and asked me if I knew anything about coins. Incidentally, I often ask myself that very question after buying coins I consider expensive. Anyway, he handed me a a PCGS holder and coin and wanted to know what I thought. The coin was so far away from the MS67 that was on the holder that I knew it was a bad coin. I didn't say anything and waited for him to ask for an offer. Instead, he told me it was fake and that he could have sold it several times already. It is even the correct alloy of silver. The certification number was 0675275 and matched the label on the fake holder.
Is the certification number useful information to anyone? I debated myself if this was something I should post because everyone knows these things exist.
I was hesitant to tell him it was fake because that news makes people mad and you become the moron at the flea market that tried to beat them out of their coin.
Jack E.
Comments
Do you know that the coin is fake? I've seen real Morgans in fake holders that inflate the grade significantly.
Yes, the owner ordered it to see what it looked like. And, I think he likes messing with people.
The designer's initial was not defined at all. Weak and squishy to my eyes. Also, you could see a few very small (.005" Dia.) bubbles here and there on the surface. It did look ok in the hand.
I wish I had asked him if I could take a picture.
Jack E.
they really come in handy for higher priced/abundantly counterfeited coins.
here is a thread a couple of us put together tracking used certs on counterfeits. it looked much better on a former forum format.
good for cross-referencing, especially for someone not steeped in counterfeit detection.
.
Why do you think it was silver?
The owner said that he had it checked with one of those electronic gizmos that many coin dealers have. Apparently, they can check a coin even in a holder. I don't have first hand knowledge of that.