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Back from vegas..
GoldCoinLover
Posts: 1,244
Well I just got back from vegas a few minutes ago. After a long and hard decision of either to buy a $5 liberty, or $5 indian head gold coin, I decided to go for the indian head.
I wanted the indian head gold coin because of its unique incuse design. But before I even went to the store, i knew that the indian head is very heavily counterfeited. So counterfeited, that, before when I was reading a book on coins it said there were more counterfeits than geniune pieces. The date was 1908, grade was AU-55. Price? $228. The total came up to $240 (with taxes added). The seller was Robert D. Larsen, I looked on the sahara coin site again and did not see his name on the list. ( I guess they only list 3 people). On his card it says "Sr. Numismatist".
He guarenteed me the coin was geniune, but I still have my doubts. The coin looks great, and if its a counterfeit its an awful good one. The problem lies in that I bought the coin raw, I did not buy it certified. The certified gold coins were extremely expensive, most in the $1,000 range. I'm saving up currently to send it in to ANACS to get graded. I would send it in to PCGS or NGC (and I want to), but it cost more there, and it might get body bagged.
I also bought loanshark his coins including a rare one. I'm so worried...
Robert assured me that they are a 'reputable' store and would not sell me a counterfeit.
On the bright side, I bought a air tight for it in an american eagle holder, which it happens to fit perfectly. (But that won't matter anyway soon because I'm sending it in). Not related to coins, I bought a PlayStation I game called Wild 9, for a cheap 10 bucks. And I bought a ferret as well.
I wanted the indian head gold coin because of its unique incuse design. But before I even went to the store, i knew that the indian head is very heavily counterfeited. So counterfeited, that, before when I was reading a book on coins it said there were more counterfeits than geniune pieces. The date was 1908, grade was AU-55. Price? $228. The total came up to $240 (with taxes added). The seller was Robert D. Larsen, I looked on the sahara coin site again and did not see his name on the list. ( I guess they only list 3 people). On his card it says "Sr. Numismatist".
He guarenteed me the coin was geniune, but I still have my doubts. The coin looks great, and if its a counterfeit its an awful good one. The problem lies in that I bought the coin raw, I did not buy it certified. The certified gold coins were extremely expensive, most in the $1,000 range. I'm saving up currently to send it in to ANACS to get graded. I would send it in to PCGS or NGC (and I want to), but it cost more there, and it might get body bagged.
I also bought loanshark his coins including a rare one. I'm so worried...
Robert assured me that they are a 'reputable' store and would not sell me a counterfeit.
On the bright side, I bought a air tight for it in an american eagle holder, which it happens to fit perfectly. (But that won't matter anyway soon because I'm sending it in). Not related to coins, I bought a PlayStation I game called Wild 9, for a cheap 10 bucks. And I bought a ferret as well.
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What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. You broke the rule.
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Nice choice of the Indian Head. Those are great coins.
You probably could have picked up a PCGS or NGC AU-55 on eBay for about the same price, though and wouldn't have any doubts.
You are correct - there are a lot of those counterfieted, but I think yours will be OK - they are a reputable shop.
Here's mine:
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since 8/1/6
Us Mick's are Scottish, not Irish.
The Scot's don't like the Irish for some reason.
I was born March 18th at 10 minutes after midnight and was told my grandmother would have disowned me if I was born on an Irish holiday.
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I think he wants out
1. measure the diameter of the coin - many of the counterfeits are too small. (If you have an accurate scale, weighing the coin would be a good idea, too.) He also says the obverse design elements (stars and LIBERTY) tend to be too close to the edge. (You can probably use the pictures on the Heritage website to compare with your coin.)
2. examine the incuse lettering - counterfeit coins tend to have ragged and uneven lettering. He specifically mentions a fake 1909 coin with a broken U (in UNITED) - the bottom of the letter is broken.
3. examine the stars - counterfeit coins tend to have ragged stars.
He says that counterfeit Indian Head quarter and half eagles tend to have "blems" (very small raised bits of metal) in the design elements rather than the field.
You should also look at the edge reeding - it should be even and regular on a genuine coin.
Check out the Southern Gold Society
<< <i>According to Lonesome John (Dectecting Counterfeit Gold Coins), you should:
1. measure the diameter of the coin - many of the counterfeits are too small. (If you have an accurate scale, weighing the coin would be a good idea, too.) He also says the obverse design elements (stars and LIBERTY) tend to be too close to the edge. (You can probably use the pictures on the Heritage website to compare with your coin.)
2. examine the incuse lettering - counterfeit coins tend to have ragged and uneven lettering. He specifically mentions a fake 1909 coin with a broken U (in UNITED) - the bottom of the letter is broken.
3. examine the stars - counterfeit coins tend to have ragged stars.
He says that counterfeit Indian Head quarter and half eagles tend to have "blems" (very small raised bits of metal) in the design elements rather than the field.
You should also look at the edge reeding - it should be even and regular on a genuine coin. >>
I noticed one of the stars was very close to the edge. I could not find a indian head on the heritage website, could you direct me to a picture of one?
Link to coinfacts.com 1908 $5
they are cute lil buggers though.
Heritage is currently offering 25 Indian Head half eagles for sale.
The thing I like about the pictures on the Heritage site is their "zoom" feature, which allows very detailed closeups.
Check out the Southern Gold Society