This can't have a happy ending....

dwood · January 29, 2003 8:31AM

This guy is being as honest as he can, but I wonder what comes of this coin after the auction:

Counterfeit SVDB

geb209 · January 29, 2003 8:33AM

I'll tell you what: Buyer resells the coin as an original making a cool $500 in the process.

epruyne · January 29, 2003 8:38AM

Can someone explain to me how selling a counterfeit coin it even legal...

Russ · January 29, 2003 8:41AM

I wonder about that myself. There are quite a few counterfeit coins listed as such on eBay. Maybe it's because they state that it is?

Russ, NCNE

Draco · January 29, 2003 8:59AM

One sure way to find out would be to give the secret service a call and ask

baccaruda · January 29, 2003 9:12AM

i don't understand that either. so it's legal for me to deal in counterfeit money as long as i state that it's counterfeit?

LanLord · January 29, 2003 9:29AM

I don't think it's technically counterfeit. It's altered, it's probably a real US cent therefore no one can say it's counterfeit.

Russ · January 29, 2003 9:33AM

But what about the counterfeit Trade Dollars that are really counterfeits (not an altered existing coin)? I see these listed quite frequently noted as fakes. Is it because they weren't used here in the US?

Russ, NCNE

ARCO · January 29, 2003 9:42AM

The coin isnt counterfeit. It is altered! It is a real US Mint made cent, and it is legal tender. It has been altered to decieve collectors. My guess is that perhaps the bidders want it to mark it up and pass it on to another unsuspecting buyer.

Tyler

FatMan · January 29, 2003 9:58AM

Russ

The counterfeit Trade Dollars you mention are not really counterfeit. In fact they are just replicas. They are produced as scam devices but the Secret Service would have no interest in them. Congress repealed the Trade Dollar as Legal Tender in 1876. I don't think you can counterfeit something that is not considered as Legal Tender.

presleyh · January 29, 2003 10:49AM

It goes back to the fact that no government agency has time to investigate such matters. I filed a complaint with the FBI this week concerning corporate fraud and the agent told me that unless it is over $100,000 that the FBI can't expend agent time to investigate. My complaint was in the $25,000 range and he said it would probably not fit their "criteria for prosecution". You can imagine what they would do with a fake dollar coin.

danglen · January 29, 2003 10:56AM

This is the same seller that sold scumthumper the 1856 Flying Eagle Cent Pushkin was talking about in his thread. Even uses the same corny story "Dad's collection, 1950's, blah, blah, blah....Shades of Deb and Mrs Haversham. Maybe this is the long lost son....

ClausUrch · January 29, 2003 10:59AM

"Scumthumper to the rescue...
Scumthumper to the rescue..."

BSqr · January 29, 2003 11:42AM

how many auctions for counterfeit iitem does this seller have runnin?

clw54 · January 29, 2003 11:53AM

If that many people are bidding on that thing, some are wanting to pass it on as real.

Conder101 · January 30, 2003 10:13PM

<< <i>The counterfeit Trade Dollars you mention are not really counterfeit. In fact they are just replicas. >>

No, if they are not marked as such they would be considered to be counterfeits

<< <i> Congress repealed the Trade Dollar as Legal Tender in 1876. I don't think you can counterfeit something that is not considered as Legal Tender. >>

Legal tender status was restored in 1965. And you can be charged with counterfeiting for creating fake coins even if they aren't legal tender. Being charged with fraud would probably be more likely. All depends on which set of authorities wants you.

dwood · January 30, 2003 10:20PM

I see scumthumper won this auction. Can someone fill me in on the history, purpose, and "abilities" of scumthumper? I came late

hughesm1 · January 30, 2003 11:52PM

Hmmm...let's try this analogy: Cows-tail moving around (when covered in dung) becomes a "scumthumper."

mrfred · January 31, 2003 3:32AM

Scenario: relative new collector -- here called 'Customer' -- is traveling in the Middle East in A Major City. A former student and Arabic speaker takes him thru old nick-nack and tourist shops on dusty back streets. Customer sees trays of coins, and in one tray at a particular shop are two that look WAY out of place: 1848 Italy-Lombardy 5 Lire. Talks (thru student/friend/interpreter) w/ the owner and negotiates a price of about US$9.50 per coin. Collector does not (at all) know that series, but instinct tells him that a price like that -- if the coin is real -- is a steal. Sure enough, on return to the USA and consulation w/ the Krause Std Catalog, if the two coins are real they are worth at least $200 each, possibly more depending on grade, of which Customer is decidedly not a judge. Worried, Customer sends both to the ANA Authentication Bureau -- fortunately just before it was closed down. Both come back as cast counterfeits, and sure enough, customer studies them much more closely and it is clear that they are identical -- same diagnostics. Same casting, no doubt. Customer keeps them in his collection. Is Customer violating a law? Note for the record and prying eyes heh heh: Customer is not identified in this post.......

relayer · January 31, 2003 3:47AM

The Federal Hobby Protection Act requires that the coin be stamped with the word "COPY" on the coin to be sold legally.

US Title Code 15; Chapter 48; Sec. 2101

mr1931S · January 31, 2003 3:49AM

>>>This is the same seller that sold scumthumper the 1856 Flying Eagle Cent Pushkin was talking about in his thread. Even uses the same corny story "Dad's collection, 1950's, blah, blah, blah....

Is the seller the one with the suitcases full of "Dad's unsearched wheats" who doesn't claim to be a coin collector himself but had bought some rolls of steelies from another ebay seller a few weeks before his auction for "Dad's unsearched wheats"?

$158 for an altered date SVDB,huh? Maybe scumthumper is an agent of the FBI...

mrfred · January 31, 2003 3:50AM

Hm. Is Customer OK unless HE sells it? -- remember, he bought it outside of the USA.

ScarsdaleCoin · January 31, 2003 3:52AM

it is illegal to sell this coin, too bad ebay did not halt the auction...you know that someone is going to get very badly burned on this one!

MacCoin · January 31, 2003 3:55AM

there are a lot of counterfeit collector out there that won't buy anything but counterfeit coins. I surprised we don't have any on the board. but I don't think pcgs will grade a counterfeit so why would they be here.

Russ · January 31, 2003 4:09AM

<< <i>you know that someone is going to get very badly burned on this one! >>

Considering who the high bidder was, that's probably not likely.

Russ, NCNE

MosesBlack · January 31, 2003 6:02AM

Ebay "rules" prohibit selling counterfeit coins whether you state it as such or not. But Ebay will not enforce rules that cost them money (such as this auction)

RotatedRainbows · January 31, 2003 6:23AM

Its safe to say some poor sap will shell out big bucks for it and scumthumper will laugh all the way to the bank.

Oh wait I forgot with a name like scumthumper I am sure he won't even pay for the lot.

Conder101 · February 1, 2003 6:49AM

Has Customer broken a law? By simply owning a counterfeit, No. By bringing them into the country, Maybe depending on when they were brought in. If they were imported befor ethe Hobby Protection Act was passed in 1973 then no laws have been broken. If they were brought in afterwards then Yes their importation was illegal.

Bulldog · February 1, 2003 11:44AM

Guess we should not buy an Lincolns from "SCUMTHUMPER" (winning bidder) with 0 feedback. Where are the coin Police when you need them?

Bulldog

This can't have a happy ending....

Comments

Leave a Comment