Slab Heavily Cracked
normmalin
Posts: 58 ✭✭✭
Hi, I ordered a low-value ICG-slabbed piece on Ebay ($40 or so) and when it finally arrived, the slab was heavily cracked. The coin appears to be the same as ordered. The original listing did not have a cracked slab so I assume this occurred during transit. My question is how best to address this with the seller and ebay. It's not worth my time to demand a refund, but it is also true that I did not pay $40 for a heavily cracked slab.
Any suggestions? Your opinions are appreciated!
Thanks!
Norm
0
Comments
If your not happy then send it back. If you want the coin, your golden, jmo 🙂
Best wishes on the matter as well
I guess you've got your answer. If you can't be bothered to ask for a refund then I assume you can't bothered to return it, so I guess its yours to keep. Hopefully the ICG slab aspect wasn't important to you.
For what it’s worth, I know a forum member who left some coins in ICG holders. The stuff in the holders turned out not to be inert, and coins were damaged. You might consider finishing the crack out job. ICG certification doesn’t carry much weight any way.
I'd contact ICG and have them reslab it including a return shipping label and have the ebay seller reimburse you. If you like the coin that is. If the coin was properly packaged for shipping, sent ground advantage, usps may cover the damage claim as GA comes with $100 insurance.
Just crack it out. You'll like it more. Just my opinion.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
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The OP has already indicated that a simple return for refund is not worth their time, yet somehow this suggestion might work for them?
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Great thoughts from everyone - thanks! I think I'll crack it out -- I am happy with the coin.
Norm!
Now that is settled, please tell us what the coin is.
peacockcoins
This is very reasonable and much kinder than many eBay buyers would be. If the package/coin was well padded and it just happened that someone dropped a boulder on it, I'd advise just moving on. If, however, the package/coin was not well protected, I'd consider writing an email to the seller and saying you like the coin and aren't asking for anything in return, but you want to let him know it happened so it can be considered for future shipments. As a seller, I'd appreciate this, and to that end, long ago someone sent me a note along those lines when I put a currency note in a padded mailer without anything to stiffen the package (I thought the mailer was pretty stiff already). The note was fine, but they told me they'd had notes get damaged in transit before and suggested I throw in a piece of cardboard when I send out notes, which I've done ever since. I really appreciated the kind note, and I'm sure it's kept some pieces from getting damaged over the years.
I'm ashamed to say it is a Racketeer Nickel (there goes any street cred I may have developed!)
Thanks again to everyone who answered!
Hey, an original Racketeer Nickel is a very worthy collectable.
Somewhere I have a couple, one with a reeded edge.
Nothing to be ashamed of. I just purchased this one yesterday (enroute):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/365556250417
Please be aware though many of these "racketeer nickels" are modern recreations. A GD or VG 1883 no cents is gold plated and passed off as a genuine contemporary. The 'tell' is these coins are generally XF or better and if circulated some of the gold plating is slightly worn away.
I've seen ICG slab the modern created ones as "Racketeer Nickels" and I think ICG is being disingenuous in doing so.
Here is an example:
A genuine- of the time period- would look like this:
The really cool ones even have a reeded edge!
The lesson is, like everything else, be aware that if there is an interest someone will come along and cheat to create items to fill the demand.
peacockcoins
If ICG is slabbing fakes, wouldn't that be disastrous to their business in general? I know they aren't the gold standard of TPGs, but if the slab says Genuine, I assume it is genuine. My example does not have a reeded edge. :-)
Coins like the one @braddick posted are genuine coins, and if a racketeer nickel is an 1883 No Cents nickel that is gold plated, then technically, those coins ARE racketeer nickels. Of course, from a historical perspective, the value in a racketeer nickel is that it was made to be passed off as a $5 gold coin and, ideally, saw some circulation. A racketeer nickel made today is nothing more than a novelty with, I'd argue, no historical value.
Agree.
The irony is these were originally created to deceive the public back in 1883- lasting a few weeks or months- before the public (and the Mint) caught on.
Fast forward to today and once again these are being "created" to deceive the collector.
peacockcoins
RecursiveNumismatics
And apparently, if you try to use a hashtag, it makes the text really big instead of adding the hashtag...
These are genuine nickels, with a value of about .40c
.12c worth of gold plating.
Genuine coins with modern motives to increase the value.
I will edit this and add, ICG protects itself by place "Racketeer" in quotes.
Kind of like a "1793" Gallery Mint Chain cent...
peacockcoins
So the modern ones are "Racketeer Racketeer Nickels". 🤔
If a collector were to go to a large show and contact a knowledgeable dealer to sell an authentic XF/AU Racketeer Nickel VS attempting to sell a near slick/gold plated 1883 no cents nickel, the lesson learned would be quite valuable.
The first coin offered can go for a couple of hundred dollars, or more.
The second?
I'd doubt you would receive any kind of an offer.
peacockcoins
Like Kyle always says at the end of South Park -- I think we learned something today!
Great stuff - thanks!
Either send it back for refund or send in to slab with our hosts.
Having it slabbed by our hosts would cost more than the value of the coin - poor advice as an option.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Personally, I think ICG should have continued with this format:
peacockcoins
I have two genuine examples purchased in the 70's. If the edge is not reeded, you have a novelty. My coins have different reed counts - one fine like the image above and one much closer to a typical $5.
The image above is what a true "Racketeer" looks like. Note the dull color of the gold and reeded edge. The more gold still on the coin, the better AND I'd bet a million dollars that none of the genuine coins remaining are the bright gold color of these plated coins.
PS I'm pretty sure some crooks were lazy back then so a few coins without edge reeding may have possibly been made but they should also be considered to be novelties.
Need to watch your decimal points
40c worth of value as a nickel until it was damaged. Not 4/10ths of a cent.
The gold plating, assuming the typical 100-200 mgc is worth around 2c, but it would cost you that to extract it.
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
I’ve often wondered how common it was for these coins to be successfully passed as a $5 gold piece. Wouldn’t the light weight make it feel different in hand?
Thank you!
Yes, I do. I appreciate the correction.
peacockcoins
It's what I would do and ICG should have no problem reholdering it so that when the OP goes to sell it it will be authenticated. Two ground advantage labels, to and from Icg, around $8, a few bucks for Icg to reholder. If the OP wants a raw coin that's up to him. When I've had packages damaged usps has generally made good. All someone needs to do is file a claim.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85058130/1883-02-15/ed-1/?sp=1&q=1883+nickel&r=0.032,-0.014,0.922,0.775,0
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
That's a very interesting article. It states that gold coins were not in general circulation at the time.
The guy in the middle lost his sign but I can think of a few colorful words that fit nicely.
All the years I have been posting this pic, I never once considered the guy in the middle without a sign.
Excellent sleuthing. 😂
Gold circulated in the west, but there was a lack of silver coinage. Very little gold circulated in the East.
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
I would send it back for refund especially if damaged. I expect the item pictured.
You say the coin appears to be the same. Does the slab number in his picture match the coin you received? Any item I buy I make a note of the slab number. It darn well better be that slab number number when I receive it. An exception may be some slabbed MS69 or 70 bullion piece from a stock photo where the seller big gun dealer has hundreds in inventory. Even then the seller should mention it’s a stock photo imo.
Be sure you check your stuff.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
PCGS # 3841
Date, mintmark 1883
Denomination 5C
Variety No CENTS
Region The United States of America
Grade Genuine - XF Details (98 - Damage)
peacockcoins
Yep - everything matched.
I guess if it's 'not worth your time' to return, you're stuck with it.
Dave