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Woman just came in my shop with altered "no edge lettering" Washington dollars

She had about a dozen, all purchased on ebay. Some looked OK, some had obviously had the edge lettering ground off.

I'm frankly amazed these are the first ones I've seen. It's easy to grind off the letters and at $200 per coin the scam artists should be jumping all over this.

Comments

  • I was wondering how long it would take. image to the boards
    Retired U.S. Army Paratrooper 1977- 1992 Served Proudly. 100% DAV
    All The Way - And Then Some
    I collect Modern Commemoratives
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  • segojasegoja Posts: 6,141 ✭✭✭✭
    I think thats why the certified ones are bringing the bigger bucks
    JMSCoins Website Link


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  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I feel sorry for the woman... but why was she buying on ebay and then coming to your shop? Seems she would be better off flipping them on the bay... of course, I do not know the details.. so, Cheers, RickO
  • She wasn't trying to sell them to me, she just thought a few of them looked altered. she was right.

    I think this is going to be a huge problem around here. My shop is in Dearborn, MI i.e. the heart of automobile manufacturing. There are plenty of highly skilled machinists, many of whom have been laid off due to the poor performance of the auto companies. It would be easy for them to make convincing "no edge lettering" dollars and sell them for $200 each on ebay to help replace their lost income.
  • wouldnt it be easier to fill the letters, rather than grind them off ??
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,455 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Is she going to report the ebay sellers?
  • It's pretty easy to grind down the edge to the level of the letters. When I first received one of the dollars I noticed the edge lettering was very shallow. I sat down at my bench and ground down the edge in a couple of minutes until the edge lettering was no longer noticeable. It did not reduce the diameter of the coin any noticeable amount, but the edge was rough. 30 seconds on the buffing wheel with some jeweler's rouge should smooth that roughness out.

    The lady was going to try to return the problem coins. She said she was going to return to my shop to buy some coins later, I will ask her how she made out with the ebay sellers and post it here.
  • STONESTONE Posts: 15,275
    Welcome to the boards clousie
  • percybpercyb Posts: 3,339 ✭✭✭✭
    Are they still worth a dollar?
    "Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world." PBShelley
  • GeminiGemini Posts: 3,085


    << <i>I think this is going to be a huge problem around here. My shop is in Dearborn, MI i.e. the heart of automobile manufacturing. There are plenty of highly skilled machinists, many of whom have been laid off due to the poor performance of the auto companies. It would be easy for them to make convincing "no edge lettering" dollars and sell them for $200 each on ebay to help replace their lost income. >>



    I hope you are saying this in jest as I think that these skilled machinists have more intelligence, character and pride than the low life scammers found on e-bay and would not resort to scamming their own fellow working man just to make a few bucks. image
    A thing of beauty is a joy for ever
  • There are bad apples in every bunch. I'm sure there are a few machinists out there who are also scammers.
  • BAJJERFANBAJJERFAN Posts: 31,615 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I assume she had return privileges. Do you have a link to the eBay auction?
    theknowitalltroll;
  • 7over87over8 Posts: 4,733 ✭✭✭
    as I said on another post

    weight test and diameter test tells the tale. 26.5 mm; 7.90-8.1 grams acceptable. Unless there is a jagged edge, some are smoother than others. The grading services use the diameter and weight test.

    the edges on these dollars sometimes appears shiny, and other times does not. one thing that is definitely noticable on both types is the copper band.

    where coins I have purchased show a "non-shiny edge", it actually is half shiny, half somewhat dull, where the copper band is noticable. almost divided in half (half duller than the other half which is the golden color).

    in order to serve the general audience here better, dont jump to conclusions because I know one guy who is selling genuine smooth dollars and is being accused by a buyer of selling fake ones.

    obviously, if it looks like some novice went to town on the edge, dont buy it. If you pay by CC thru PAYPAL, you can always initiate a chargeback.
  • RichieURichRichieURich Posts: 8,621 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image to the boards, Clouisejewelers! When they designed the coin, it was obvious that some crooks would grind off the edge lettering and try to scam people, as you have observed. Hope the woman can get her money back. Probably these errors shouldn't be bought without certification.

    An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.

  • garsmithgarsmith Posts: 5,894 ✭✭
    Raw coins and eBay image
  • ScarsdaleCoinScarsdaleCoin Posts: 5,434 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I mentioned this in a thread last week that I saw a machined one. However to fool any one they have to replate the rim. I am sure there are many being passed off. We had a bunch of real ones at ana in the new ngc holders and they sold like crazy.
    Jon Lerner - Scarsdale Coin - www.CoinHelp.com
  • IrishMikeIrishMike Posts: 7,737 ✭✭✭
    Part of the problem is the premium collectors put on these errors. If you wanna put a 200X premium its your business but caveat emptor. The dust hasn't even settled on them yet.

    I wonder how many purchased these out of speculation versus any numismatic interest in them.
  • 57loaded57loaded Posts: 4,967 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Part of the problem is the premium collectors put on these errors. If you wanna put a 200X premium its your business but caveat emptor. The dust hasn't even settled on them yet.

    I wonder how many purchased these out of speculation versus any numismatic interest in them. >>



    about 100%
  • TexastTexast Posts: 1,899 ✭✭✭✭
    I wish someone would post a good edge photo of one the fakes so I can add it to my website on the subject
    On BS&T Now: Nothing.
    Fighting the Fight for 11 Years with the big "C" - Never Ever Give Up!
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  • HalfsenseHalfsense Posts: 600 ✭✭✭
    PNG issued a consumer advisory about the fakes:

    Click here for PNG consumer protection advisory about altered Prez dollars

    -donn-
    "If it happens in numismatics, it's news to me....
  • How much weight did the coin lose by having edge lettering ground off? Anyone able to weigh a fake yet? Do we know if the real deal weighs the same as one with letter edge?
    image Scottish Fold Gold
  • 7over87over8 Posts: 4,733 ✭✭✭
    the PNG statement says coins that weigh less than 8.0g should be viewed with "skepticism"

    BULL ****

    The mint tolerances are + or - 0.3g, or anywhere from 7.8g to 8.4g

    Personally I have weighed and mic'd over 100 smoothies - all weighing between 7.90 to 8.0g, and diameters between 26.4 and 26.5mm

    Guess what?

    I also personally weighed and mic'd over 250 letter edged dollars - all weighed between 7.9 to 8.0g, and diameters between 26.3 to 25.5mm

    THE ONLY SURE WAY TO IDENTIFY THE MACHINED EDGE IS TO ID THE SANDING LINES RUNNING along THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE EDGE......
  • Saw this on ebay. It looks like a ground edge to me. Someone posted a link on these forums to a very good article showing pictures of the ground edge. Wish I could remember where it was.

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