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Are certification numbers reused by PCGS?

ksuscottksuscott Posts: 289 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

I've found an example of the same certification number being used for two different coins. The cert# used in 2008 is the same as a coin that is currently up for auction, but it's clearly a different coin and holder even though the type, date, and grade are the same. Does PCGS re-use cert numbers?

Comments

  • dbldie55dbldie55 Posts: 7,742 ✭✭✭✭✭

    No

    Collector and Researcher of Liberty Head Nickels. ANA LM-6053
  • ksuscottksuscott Posts: 289 ✭✭✭

    Do you think this is a counterfeit slab?



  • CoinJunkieCoinJunkie Posts: 8,772 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes, that top label/slab is clearly bogus. The font is way off.

    My Roosevelt Dime Registry Set
  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,956 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 13, 2020 9:12PM

    Yes.

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

  • ksuscottksuscott Posts: 289 ✭✭✭

    I was suspicious when the cert number didn't come up and the label looked a little off. What's the best course of action here? The coin is currently on the market. The seller may not be aware that it's a counterfeit and not sure if they'd believe me.

  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,956 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 13, 2020 9:29PM

    @ksuscott said:
    I was suspicious when the cert number didn't come up and the label looked a little off. What's the best course of action here? The coin is currently on the market. The seller may not be aware that it's a counterfeit and not sure if they'd believe me.

    If it's on eBay you can contact the seller or there's a little "Report Item" link about half way down on the right. Do you have a link to were it's being offered?

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

  • TommyTypeTommyType Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Someone check my work, (and phone), here.

    I scanned the first coin bar code on my screen, and it keeps coming up invalid. (Maybe due to a blurry picture).
    I scanned the second one...and it comes up as a 2008-W American Buffalo $50 gold coin. (Repeated several times).

    Are they BOTH fake??

    Easily distracted Type Collector
  • CoinJunkieCoinJunkie Posts: 8,772 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 13, 2020 10:10PM

    We're sorry, that certification number was not found.

    https://pcgs.com/cert/10248964

    My Roosevelt Dime Registry Set
  • lkeigwinlkeigwin Posts: 16,894 ✭✭✭✭✭

    A forum friend alerted me to this earlier today.

    At first I said, counterfeit. Then I hesitated because the bar code was good. And finally I wondered if the slab was compromised and the coin switched.

    But now it seems clear the slab is fake. The fonts are off, as others said. The clearest indicator, to me, is the shape of the 5 in 50C. Look carefully at the lower half.
    Lance.

    Coin Photography Services / Everyman Registry set / BHNC #213
  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,410 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @lkeigwin said:
    A forum friend alerted me to this earlier today.

    At first I said, counterfeit. Then I hesitated because the bar code was good. And finally I wondered if the slab was compromised and the coin switched.

    But now it seems clear the slab is fake. The fonts are off, as others said. The clearest indicator, to me, is the shape of the 5 in 50C. Look carefully at the lower half.
    Lance.

    All the characters except for the serial number on a PCGS slab are bold... the bogus label has normal strength for the date and denomination, apart from the font being incorrect.

    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • Sandman70gtSandman70gt Posts: 1,024 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 13, 2020 11:43PM

    In the op's first picture:
    The color of the label is also wrong

    Bst transactions with: dimeman, oih82w8, mercurydimeguy, dunerlaw, Lakesammman, 2ltdjorn, MattTheRiley, dpvilla, drddm, CommemKing, Relaxn, Yorkshireman, Cucamongacoin, jtlee321, greencopper, coin22lover, coinfolio, lindedad, spummybum, Leeroybrown, flackthat, BryceM, Surfinxhi, VanHalen, astrorat, robkool, Wingsrule, PennyGuy, al410, Ilikecolor, Southcounty, Namvet69, Commemdude, oreville, Leebone, Rob41281, clarkbar04, cactusjack55, Collectorcoins, sniocsu, coin finder

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Good detective work....Has the auction been pulled?? Cheers, RickO

  • ifthevamzarockinifthevamzarockin Posts: 8,908 ✭✭✭✭✭

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/1818-Capped-Bust-half-dollar-PCGS-AU58-Rainbow-Toned/174247993834?hash=item2891fd61ea:g:M6AAAOSw5bdekiWX

  • isaiah58isaiah58 Posts: 385 ✭✭✭

    Very interesting, on all of the other slabbed coins they are selling, they have positioned their LED lighting to obsucre the PCGS label. Some appear to have all bold font, some have regular font on the first line and bold in the middle.

    I was going to ask if the coin was possibly sent back in to be reslabbed seeing the two slabs are different. Is that possible and then would the new slab and font be correct? Has anyone zoomed in to check for key dings and marks that the toning can not hide?

  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,342 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It begs the question of what's in the fake slab. Genuine QC coin being sold as AU?

    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • lkeigwinlkeigwin Posts: 16,894 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @isaiah58 said:
    Very interesting, on all of the other slabbed coins they are selling, they have positioned their LED lighting to obsucre the PCGS label. Some appear to have all bold font, some have regular font on the first line and bold in the middle.

    I was going to ask if the coin was possibly sent back in to be reslabbed seeing the two slabs are different. Is that possible and then would the new slab and font be correct? Has anyone zoomed in to check for key dings and marks that the toning can not hide?

    Different die marriages.
    Lance.

    Coin Photography Services / Everyman Registry set / BHNC #213
  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 15,008 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I contacted the seller and sent him a link to this thread. He sent a very nice reply and has ended the listing.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • lkeigwinlkeigwin Posts: 16,894 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Good for him.

    Now the question is, what will become of it?
    Lance.

    Coin Photography Services / Everyman Registry set / BHNC #213
  • CoinJunkieCoinJunkie Posts: 8,772 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @lkeigwin said:
    Now the question is, what will become of it?

    Alibaba? >:)

    My Roosevelt Dime Registry Set
  • savitalesavitale Posts: 1,409 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Perhaps the cert # was invalidated when the fake slab was reported some time ago? I guess at some point the authentic slab will have to be reholdered.

    LIBERTY SEATED DIMES WITH MAJOR VARIETIES CIRCULATION STRIKES (1837-1891) digital album

  • jt88jt88 Posts: 3,222 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 14, 2020 7:56PM

    @CoinJunkie said:

    @lkeigwin said:
    Now the question is, what will become of it?

    Alibaba? >:)

    Yes. That guy always sell fake coin. I think is albania?

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,850 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If they are, it would be the most foolish thing PCGS has ever done. One serial number, one slab. Anything else would be the recipe for major disaster.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • BStrauss3BStrauss3 Posts: 3,722 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I believe there IS a small run where cert#s were mistakenly reused, it was discussed here a couple weeks back. IIRC they were 5xxxxx range.

    -----Burton
    ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")

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