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Tough authentication question - what's wrong with this Seated Dime?

BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
Here's an Ebay auction for an 1872-CC dime, one of the keys in the series.

However, the pictures tell me this can't be an 1872-CC dime. Anyone want to guess what tells me that?

If nobody get's it, answer to be posted a bit later...

Comments

  • krankykranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭
    Position of the mintmark?

    New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

  • LeeGLeeG Posts: 12,162
    image Hard to tell from the Obverse but: Looks like it may be "Arrowheads" Type which started in 1873?
  • ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,668 ✭✭✭
    The "CC" mintmark slopes upward, not downward, on all 1871-74 CC dimes, and the second "C" is considerably higher than the first "C" in the mintmark. They were all struck with the same reverse die.

    This mintmark doesn't display those characteristics.

    In higher conditions, you could identify 1873 and 1874 CC coins by a die crack through the mintmark. As this occurred midway through the 1872 run, some come with and without, so you couldn't use that for a '72-CC where as you could with a '73-CC and '74-CC.

    [Edited to add: Still, I'd pay $20 for it as a filler! image ]
  • reeding should be wider
  • CoinosaurusCoinosaurus Posts: 9,645 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I bet dismeguy could add about three other reasons!
  • lathmachlathmach Posts: 4,720
    Someone is going to get cheated.

    Ray
  • ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,668 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Someone is going to get cheated. >>

    It won't be the current bidder. I watch a lot of Seated Dimes, and I know the current high bidder tries to pick a lot of low-hanging fruit. He's often the early high bidder on a lot of Seated dimes but the second bid usually takes him out at a low level. Occasionally he gets one, but I can guarantee that his max bid isn't very high.
  • BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
    The mint mark is one of the tip-offs. The other is this is a type II reverse, which was not produced until 1876. Look at the left end of the ribbon. The type I has a split end. The type II doesn't.
  • ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,668 ✭✭✭


    << <i>The mint mark is one of the tip-offs. The other is this is a type II reverse, which was not produced until 1876. Look at the left end of the ribbon. The type I has a split end. The type II doesn't. >>

    Yeah, I see that now.

    I stopped at the first obvious sign to me, which was the mintmark. That screamed "fake" right away, so I stopped searching for other clues.

    But yeah, I'm looking through my Greer and Fortin references, and I can clearly see this as well.

    At first I assumed added mintmark...but now that you mention the Type II reverse, I'm betting it's an altered date.
  • krankykranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭
    I like this type of thread. Good info!

    New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

  • BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
    Just to give credit where it's due, this coin was pointed out to me by Bill (ebay - wsmmbe). He's a sometimes lurker on this forum, but I know some of you know him. I see him regularly at some of our local shows and he's one of the most knowledgeable coin guys I know.
  • DismeguyDismeguy Posts: 496 ✭✭✭
    Nice detective work Barry! I saw this dime and immediately knew we had a counterfeit. Of course the mintmark slope is a dead give away. But the size and form of the design elements on the obverse just do not appear to be correct. Looks like a typical cast counterfeit. I own several contemporary counterfeits, they are great to have around to remain me of what is bogus from that period.

    Dismeguy

    Gerry Fortin's Rare American Coins Online Storefront and Liberty Seated Dime Varieties Web- Book www.SeatedDimeVarieties.com Buying and Selling all Seated Denominations....
  • coinguy1coinguy1 Posts: 13,484 ✭✭✭
    Has anyone here contacted the seller and/or Ebay about the coin?
  • BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
    I did.

    The seller sent a terse reply: "Thanks for letting me know."

    No response from Ebay - no surprise there.
  • coinguy1coinguy1 Posts: 13,484 ✭✭✭
    Thanks Barry. I'll see if I can elicit a terse reply too, then.image
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,800 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Cool thread!

    (I was going to guess that it is too small image )
  • LanLordLanLord Posts: 11,723 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great thread, this is where the "buy the book before you buy the coin" gets proven time and time again.
  • UncleJoeUncleJoe Posts: 2,551 ✭✭✭
    $380.00 image

    Joe.

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