Somebody is going to get burned buying an artificially frosted coin on Teletrade.

Russ · May 26, 2004 10:39AM

This Accented Hair (graded PR67CAM) is listed on Teletrade right now:

So far it's bid up to $300. This coin sold once before and was apparently returned. I wish it would have been returned to PCGS instead, so it'd be off the market.

Here's the auction.

Russ, NCNE

Myqqy · May 26, 2004 10:44AM

Yuck!! That coin looks like crap!!

Why would anybody bid $300 on a coin like that??

RGL · May 26, 2004 10:44AM

Sloppy job at that ... you really have to be a newbie to miss that one...

wildjag · May 26, 2004 10:46AM

Would dipping this coin help it?

Russ · May 26, 2004 10:46AM

<< Why would anybody bid $300 on a coin like that?? >>

I'd guess it's because they don't realize it's been artificially frosted and are bidding based on the value of a real PR67CAM. In reality, this is about a $40 coin - if it still grades PR67 after the frosting is removed.

Russ, NCNE

Russ · May 26, 2004 10:47AM

<< Would dipping this coin help it? >>

In most cases, yes, the fake frost can be dipped off.

Russ, NCNE

Unimental · May 26, 2004 10:51AM

If I were in the market for a high-grade AH Jack, I'd PM you Russ. No corny auctions for me... I'd rather get it from the source.

Placid · May 26, 2004 10:59AM

How do these get past the pcgs graders

goldrush00013 · May 26, 2004 11:00AM

How are the coins frosted?

RGL · May 26, 2004 11:04AM

How do these get past the graders? Five to 10 seconds a coin, that's why ...

Russ · May 26, 2004 11:04AM

<< How do these get past the pcgs graders >>

The hazzards of five second grading. They don't look this crappy when first frosted, though, so it wouldn't have been this obvious when it hit the grading room. I'd also note that they get past Teletrade and also Heritage, even after they turn like this.

<< How are the coins frosted? >>

Not sure, but I've heard that one method is bleach.

Russ, NCNE

DHeath · May 26, 2004 11:15AM

That's not a coin collectors coin. It's a business person's coin. If it could be purchased for less than the holder's market value, it makes money as a grade guaranty coin. If it turned on the submitter, perhaps a shill is buying it to take advantage of the guaranty. It doesn't look like the magnesium paint kind, or the Nick-a-date kind. It looks more like a sloppy ammonia or bleach job as Russ suggested.

K6AZ · May 26, 2004 11:17AM

Are you sure this is only the second time around for this coin? Seems to me that I have seen it at least two times before.

Boom · May 26, 2004 11:33AM

NOW, you tell me!

wildjag · May 26, 2004 11:34AM

Are you the high bidder Boom??

Russ · May 26, 2004 11:34AM

Eric,

Checking my tracking, I just found one other time when this example was listed, so this is at least it's third time through.

Russ, NCNE

K6AZ · May 26, 2004 11:39AM

That's what I thought. Someone needs to get this piece of garbage and send it to PCGS to take it off the market.

Russ · May 27, 2004 5:31AM

Ended up closing at $360, which is above current market. So, if somebody was picking it off for grade guarantee purposes, they're going to be disappointed. It'll be interesting to see if it gets listed again. If it does, I'm going to call Teletrade and give them a heads up.

Russ, NCNE

Boom · May 27, 2004 3:09PM

NO, widjag-just joshing you. I have a few PR69 DCAM,s-that all. I wouldn't fall for that after

seeing the real McCoy in Russ' icon everyday. I'm not that interested in them anyway!

I DO like the Black / Mirror fields though!

Look at Russ' icon compared to that......."thing". I

can't believe that it got past the graders or that anyone would buy that ugly thing!

TheDon · May 27, 2004 3:35PM

We all know the popular phrase "One man's garbage..." I' m not suprised at the price paid. It's not the first, and definitely won't be the last of it's kind.

GoldCoinLover · May 27, 2004 6:03PM

<< This Accented Hair (graded PR67CAM) is listed on Teletrade right now:

So far it's bid up to $300. This coin sold once before and was apparently returned. I wish it would have been returned to PCGS instead, so it'd be off the market.

Here's the auction.

Russ, NCNE >>

Besides the white color in the fields, I think the coin was artifically toned well. I didn't mention anything strange about the frost until someone mentioned it.

pontiacinf · May 27, 2004 8:20PM

I believe an acid base compound such as nick a date could produce the frosting one sees here, If i recall a docs statement correctly

nwcs · May 27, 2004 8:54PM

I've also heard that asthma medication can produce frosting. And aluminum dust.

DHeath · May 27, 2004 9:55PM

The mint used to use a 5% nitric acid/95% alcohol solution to etch the die. In a Sept 1, 2003 Coinworld article, Ron Harrigal (the Mint's assistant director of design, research and development) said the mint was experimenting with lasers, and that the result was very difficult to differentiate from conventional grit-blasting. Co2 laser equipment is currently used to etch designs onto glass. Most are controlled in software and require simply putting the item to be etched into the "laser printer" and loading the graphic (mask) into the computer. I expect anyone truly dedicated to black arts could pretty easily create chaos in the hobby. The laser equipment is available on the web for less than $10k. Soon enough, I expect the services will have to meet the challenge. JMO

Somebody is going to get burned buying an artificially frosted coin on Teletrade.

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