Is there a fake coin in PCSG Photograde? or am I seeing an allusion?

Options

Look at the G04 coin verses the VG10 coin, both 1884 but the last feathers are not in the same location, now if they were both 1886 then, no problem

Comments

  • braddick
    braddick Posts: 25,183 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Here is the G04:

    Here is the VG10:

  • CoinHunter4
    CoinHunter4 Posts: 421 ✭✭✭✭
    edited March 8, 2025 11:20AM
    Options

    I'm no expert here, but both coins look genuine imho.

    Young Numismatist. Over 20 successful transactions including happy BST transactions with @CoinHoarder, @Namvet69, @Bruce7789, @TeacherCollector, @JWP, @CuKevin, @CoinsExplorer, @greencopper, @PapiNE and @privatecoin

    "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing" -Benjamin Franklin

  • braddick
    braddick Posts: 25,183 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I would equally challenge the position of the "1" is different between the two examples.

  • renomedphys
    renomedphys Posts: 4,013 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Well now THAT would be an interesting find!

  • braddick
    braddick Posts: 25,183 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Here are the reverses:

    G04:

    VG10:

  • renomedphys
    renomedphys Posts: 4,013 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @braddick said:
    I would equally challenge the position of the "1" is different between the two examples.

    True, but many different die pairs were used to strike 1884 cents. 122 of them according to Rick Snow’s attribution guide. And more-so, these are just coins in a grading set. Not the same coin subsequently worn down.

  • braddick
    braddick Posts: 25,183 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @renomedphys said:

    @braddick said:
    I would equally challenge the position of the "1" is different between the two examples.

    True, but many different die pairs were used to strike 1884 cents. 122 of them according to Rick Snow’s attribution guide. And more-so, these are just coins in a grading set. Not the same coin subsequently worn down.

    I had a litte time on my hands so I checked just about every listing on eBay for these 1884 cents. Out of a couple of hundred (yes, I eventually gave up) I didn't come across a single example that matched the G04 strike above.
    I know that isn't scientific, yet it is a bit telling I'd think.

  • jesbroken
    jesbroken Posts: 11,252 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I sent a query to Rick. Hopefully he will answer.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • Alpha2814
    Alpha2814 Posts: 382 ✭✭✭✭
    Options

    This is hardly my area but it looks like there was a design change in 1886 that matches the differences shown. Doesn't explain why this G4 has the later design, and I don't see anything obvious to suggest an altered date, or why someone would fake a common date in low grade. -- https://www.indianvarieties.com/indian-head-cent-design-hub-types/

  • World67
    World67 Posts: 13,098 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    This is actually quite a significant observation. Good job!

    The G4 looks genuine to me, but it's obviously from the 1886-1909 hub. I wonder if the date was altered? Seems like that would have been a waste of time. Maybe an IHC expert can chime in.

  • Shurke
    Shurke Posts: 782 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Fascinating thread. Thanks for bringing this to the board’s attention, @Ringgy.

  • davewesen
    davewesen Posts: 6,981 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 8, 2025 1:13PM
    Options

    @braddick said:
    Here are the reverses:

    G04:

    VG10:

    The reverses do not necessarily match with the obverses (don't have to be same coin).

    It is interesting that the 1884 points between the CA and not the IC.

    I wonder if it is a 'pattern' ?

  • lcutler
    lcutler Posts: 747 ✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Good catch on this, very interesting!

  • coinkat
    coinkat Posts: 24,542 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Seems there was a previously undetected die variety for 1884 that has finally been recognized.

    I am not much of an Indian collector to know how or even whether the needle moves in terms of seeking out this coin. Clearly there is a difference.

    Astute observation Ringgy… well done

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • Aegis3
    Aegis3 Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭
    Options

    The best explanation is simple: PCGS, like anyone else, can make mistakes. It's either a fake or an altered date, and not one that one would think a need to take a close look at.

    --

    Ed. S.

    (EJS)
  • TPring
    TPring Posts: 388 ✭✭✭
    edited March 9, 2025 1:26AM
    Options

    Good eye to catch that difference.

  • IkesT
    IkesT Posts: 4,595 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @Ringgy Well done spotting the fake! 👍

  • UncleJoe
    UncleJoe Posts: 2,552 ✭✭✭
    Options

    I’m not sure about the 8’s but the inside of the 4’s sure appear to have the same markers.

    Joe.

  • CaptHenway
    CaptHenway Posts: 34,164 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @Ringgy said:
    Look at the G04 coin verses the VG10 coin, both 1884 but the last feathers are not in the same location, now if they were both 1886 then, no problem

    Good catch!

    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • LJenkins11
    LJenkins11 Posts: 868 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Clear photoshop of the 8. Maybe the host has other hidden Easter eggs on the site? Great catch to @Ringgy for the initial find and @IkesT for catching the photoshopped 8.

  • World67
    World67 Posts: 13,098 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @LJenkins11 said:
    Clear photoshop of the 8. Maybe the host has other hidden Easter eggs on the site? Great catch to @Ringgy for the initial find and @IkesT for catching the photoshopped 8.

    +1

  • CaptHenway
    CaptHenway Posts: 34,164 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I wonder if perhaps, not having a lot of pictures of low end coins to work with, they had an 1894 that met the grade but it had a damaged 9. A little photoshop and viola!

    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    considering how this started, it can lead to erroneous observations and conclusions (also date wear will be off)

    the problem is pcgs doesn't seem to update coinfacts, so i doubt they'd update this. perhaps if they received an outpouring of requests they can be persuaded to change it.

    anyone have an old tv of a g04?

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • FlyingAl
    FlyingAl Posts: 4,468 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 9, 2025 11:07AM
    Options
  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    the dirt inside the 8's holes are the same

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • jesbroken
    jesbroken Posts: 11,252 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 9, 2025 8:44AM
    Options

    Great job @MsMorrisine. It is definitely been altered, regardless as to how. Here is photogrades actual comparison photos.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • World67
    World67 Posts: 13,098 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @MsMorrisine said:
    the dirt inside the 8's holes are the same

    Is it?

  • jesbroken
    jesbroken Posts: 11,252 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    What a waste of time @Ringgy as now you will have to get another alt and put this one back in the box.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    ok, but it is in other places

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • davewesen
    davewesen Posts: 6,981 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @FlyingAl said:
    As someone who has done a lot of photoshop, there is no possible way to do a job that good.

    It’s not photoshopped, and you can tell by the light patterns at the top of the 8s and the ding in the bottom right upper loop of the first 8.

    Reminder the same 8 punch was likely used for the date, which explains a lot of the similarities.

    FlyingAl could be wrong, those 8s look very similar with nicks and spots - but why?

  • MWallace
    MWallace Posts: 4,682 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Well if that doesn't beat all. A multi million dollar company has to use fake photos. Frankly, I would've expected better.

  • FlyingAl
    FlyingAl Posts: 4,468 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    After I pulled this into photoshop today, I noticed it could be photoshopped. You can't see it in the images above because the forum software evens out the pixels, but in photoshop you can see the pixel lines where the crop may have been done. My mistake for my earlier post, and I do tend to agree with Ikes. I'm not certain though given how poor resolution the images are.

  • yosclimber
    yosclimber Posts: 5,322 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 9, 2025 12:15PM
    Options

    So I guess we can conclude that slabbed G4 Indian Cents without significant damage are ultra rare,
    so it is easier to photoshop one with date damage from other photos in the grading set?

    Or maybe it's primarily an Easter Egg planted by the person who assembled these grading set photos.
    https://www.pcgs.com/photograde#/Indian/Grades

  • TomB
    TomB Posts: 23,185 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @yosclimber said:
    So I guess we can conclude that slabbed G4 Indian Cents without significant damage are ultra rare,
    so it is easier to photoshop one with date damage from other photos in the grading set?

    Or maybe it's primarily an Easter Egg planted by the person who assembled these grading set photos.
    https://www.pcgs.com/photograde#/Indian/Grades

    They likely had many more 1894 IHCs certified in low grades by folks who found the 1894 RPD. By using one of these images it is likely that the folks at PCGS just thought they could slide this in as a G4 1884 and didn't realize anyone would notice it.

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

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

    image
  • coinkat
    coinkat Posts: 24,542 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    The 1884 G 4 picture needs to be replaced. This is not a good look.

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • jesbroken
    jesbroken Posts: 11,252 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Whether it was replaced or never there, the photo on photograde is a true g04 IHC. I doubt that PCGS would knowingly do such a thing when tons of g04's are available. I feel the op's photo to be a fake that was created as a lark by someone very good with photo manipulation software. This is the current photo on photograde of a G04 IHC. JMO
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    could an 1877 be used for the g4?

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • You
    You Posts: 318 ✭✭✭
    Options

    @jesbroken said:
    Whether it was replaced or never there, the photo on photograde is a true g04 IHC. I doubt that PCGS would knowingly do such a thing when tons of g04's are available. I feel the op's photo to be a fake that was created as a lark by someone very good with photo manipulation software. This is the current photo on photograde of a G04 IHC. JMO
    Jim

    It’s the same photo…what do you mean?

  • Lakesammman
    Lakesammman Posts: 17,696 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    :+1: Amazing!

    Gone but not forgotten: IGWT, Speedy, Bear, BigE, HokieFore, John Burns, Russ, TahoeDale, Dahlonega, Astrorat, Stewart Blay, Oldhoopster, Ricko, Big Moose, Cardinal, CoinsAreFun.
  • jesbroken
    jesbroken Posts: 11,252 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    You are correct. My mistake. Now I apologize to the OP as I mistook the photograde example wrongly and thought it was different.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • tincup
    tincup Posts: 5,481 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Strange indeed.

    ----- kj
  • Ringgy
    Ringgy Posts: 62 ✭✭
    Options

    Photo shop or real, I thank you all for your comments :)

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file