Bad to the Bone "Pedigreed PCGS" 1893-S Counterfeit

how much did they pay?

Good grief.

@burfle23 said:
They are pulling out all of the stops. This one from a FB Group stating "I just bought this at a garage sale. Can anyone tell me if it’s real?". Really???

Obv barcode does not scan, and of course the rev QR scans to the cert on the PCGS CN site...

PCGS cert has images and a past auction reference:

Best, Jack.

Whoa now that would be a lucrative yard sale.
PCGS estimate $300k Hmmm, and the buyer asks if genuine?
Was this yard sale in Florida by chance?

@rte592 said:

@BigAl said:
At some point this is going to wreck the hobby.

Years ago I suggested holders be made with random “hairs” manufactured within the plastic of the holders, causing each holder to have a unique “fingerprint”, similar to a retinal scan. Pictures of each holder would be available on the website and an easy way to compare either the actual holder or a photo would be available.

The holders are just too easy to counterfeit.

At some point the buyer will get educated.
Much like a pyramid scam more people brought into the fold to lengthen the educational process.

And at some point the counterfeiting will get much more sophisticated. Time now to get in front of this

Blockchain to the rescue? From ChatGPT:

Blockchain and tokenization could help reduce the problem of counterfeits in the collectibles hobby — though they are not a silver bullet. Here's how these technologies could help, along with their limitations:

✅ How Blockchain & Tokenization Could Help

1. Provenance Tracking
• Blockchain can serve as a tamper-proof ledger that tracks the origin and ownership history of a collectible (digital or physical).
• Each collectible could be linked to a non-fungible token (NFT) that proves authenticity and chain of custody.

2. Authentication Certificates
• Items could come with a blockchain-verified certificate of authenticity issued by a reputable authority or the original manufacturer.
• Transfers of ownership would be recorded publicly, preventing forgeries from having legitimate-looking paperwork.

3. Reduced Fraud in Peer-to-Peer Sales
• Buyers can verify on-chain that a seller actually owns the collectible and that it has a legitimate history, helping to eliminate scams.

4. Digital-Physical Pairing
• For physical items (e.g., rare cards, coins, sneakers), you can pair them with an NFT using tamper-evident NFC chips or QR codes embedded in the item.
• Scanning the chip links to the blockchain record — if the chip is damaged or the NFT doesn't match, it raises red flags.

⚠️ Challenges and Limitations

1. Initial Verification Still Requires Trust
• A blockchain can only track what it's told — the first verification (e.g., minting the NFT or issuing the certificate) depends on a trusted third party.
• If that source is compromised or mistaken, the whole chain becomes unreliable.

2. Tagging Physical Goods Is Tricky
• Attaching a secure and tamper-proof ID (chip, hologram, etc.) to physical collectibles requires logistical infrastructure and costs.
• There's also risk of tag swapping or duplication.

3. Adoption Barrier
• Collectors may resist using blockchain tools due to complexity, costs, or technological unfamiliarity.
• A robust system needs wide adoption by collectors, marketplaces, and grading/authentication services.

4. Not Foolproof
• Counterfeiters could attempt to clone tags, fake linked metadata, or social engineer users into trusting fake on-chain assets.

🔚 Bottom Line
Yes, blockchain and tokenization can be powerful tools to deter counterfeiting and improve trust and transparency in collectible markets — especially when paired with physical tagging and reputable verification.
But the solution's effectiveness depends on:
• Widespread adoption
• Secure item-to-token linking
• Trusted initial authentication

The above Morgan is clearly not an Unc., so it's easy to spot as a fake.

@fathom said:
This is not surprising.

You have to buy expensive items from a reputable source

even reputable sources get it wrong. know your stuff!