Interesting Q&A on Ebay listing for 1915-S Barber Half: Chinese Counterfeit?
Connecticoin
Posts: 13,113 ✭✭✭✭✭
What looks to be a XF 1915-S Barber Half on Ebay has an interesting Q&A exhchange in the listing:
<< <i>Q: This coin has ALL of the characteristics of an Asian Counterfeit. These things have been flooding this Country in an alarming rate over the past several years. I pulled the digital image off the computer and put it on a high resolution digital comparator and all of the contact marks are casting marks, not original contact marks. John H. Arnold, Director of Numismatics Jun-22-08
A: John, The coin came to be from my grandfathers collection. He died in 1952. I believe this was before asian counterfeit was a problem. I was unable to locate eitehr a website or actual business listing for your company. Thanks, John >>
Now I had never heard of mid-grade Barber Half Dollars being counterfeited in Asia. Is there any truth to this, or is the questioner full of it?
Also, the coins sold for quite a bit for what looks to be a XF coin -- is that what these go for, or did the buyer pay too much?
<< <i>Q: This coin has ALL of the characteristics of an Asian Counterfeit. These things have been flooding this Country in an alarming rate over the past several years. I pulled the digital image off the computer and put it on a high resolution digital comparator and all of the contact marks are casting marks, not original contact marks. John H. Arnold, Director of Numismatics Jun-22-08
A: John, The coin came to be from my grandfathers collection. He died in 1952. I believe this was before asian counterfeit was a problem. I was unable to locate eitehr a website or actual business listing for your company. Thanks, John >>
Now I had never heard of mid-grade Barber Half Dollars being counterfeited in Asia. Is there any truth to this, or is the questioner full of it?
Also, the coins sold for quite a bit for what looks to be a XF coin -- is that what these go for, or did the buyer pay too much?
0
Comments
I don't grade this series. Any Barber Quarter guys want to opinion the grade?
<< <i>What looks to be a XF 1915-S Barber Quarter on Ebay has an interesting Q&A exhchange in the listing:
<< <i>Q: This coin has ALL of the characteristics of an Asian Counterfeit. These things have been flooding this Country in an alarming rate over the past several years. I pulled the digital image off the computer and put it on a high resolution digital comparator and all of the contact marks are casting marks, not original contact marks. John H. Arnold, Director of Numismatics Jun-22-08
A: John, The coin came to be from my grandfathers collection. He died in 1952. I believe this was before asian counterfeit was a problem. I was unable to locate eitehr a website or actual business listing for your company. Thanks, John >>
Now I had never heard of mid-grade Barber Half Dollars being counterfeited in Asia. Is there any truth to this, or is the questioner full of it?
Also, the coins sold for quite a bit for what looks to be a XF coin -- is that what these go for, or did the buyer pay too much? >>
Not sure what Mr. Arnold is the Director of Numismatics of.
Also, there's only so much you can blow up a digipic without encountering distortions and pixelation. I'd be curious to see what he meant by "casting marks."
As for the price, if it's authentic, forget the sheet for original-looking XF Barber halves. Or better yet, look for a dealer who lives and dies by the sheet and buy all of them you can for Greysheet ask.
TD
Coin looks genuine to me and I have to agree with Capt Henway - it is a shame about the rim bruises.
I have not heard of John Arnold either.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
<< <i>Looks genuine to me. Shame about the many rim dings.
TD >>
Yeah, the coin would probably bodybag for the dings.
Does anyone know who this "John H. Arnold" is?
The facial features, specifically the lips, are too full in appearance, In addition, the nose is too blunt in shape for a Barber quarter.
Again, something strange about this coin. Could just be the angle of the image, but there are subtle, somewhat unusual characteristics here.
<< <i>The Liberty portrait looks odd to me.
The facial features, specifically the lips, are too full in appearance, In addition, the nose is too blunt in shape for a Barber quarter....[ edit: Its a Half Dollar / not a Quarter - MFH ]...
Again, something strange about this coin. Could just be the angle of the image, but there are subtle, somewhat unusual characteristics here. >>
I also thought it was off for a Quarter - then made a second look - its a Half Dollar - and seems genuine to me but the obverse damage at the rims makes it a hole-filler. Other than that its a decent coin, IMHO.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
<< <i>
<< <i>The Liberty portrait looks odd to me.
The facial features, specifically the lips, are too full in appearance, In addition, the nose is too blunt in shape for a Barber quarter....[ edit: Its a Half Dollar / not a Quarter - MFH ]...
Again, something strange about this coin. Could just be the angle of the image, but there are subtle, somewhat unusual characteristics here. >>
I also thought it was off for a Quarter - then made a second look - its a Half Dollar - and seems genuine to me but the obverse damage at the rims makes it a hole-filler. Other than that its a decent coin, IMHO. >>
Funny, I initially thought it was a half dollar too, but was confused by the "Barber Quarter" link.
So yes, I agree with your authenticity assessment.
<< <i>The Liberty portrait looks odd to me.
The facial features, specifically the lips, are too full in appearance, In addition, the nose is too blunt in shape for a Barber quarter.
Again, something strange about this coin. Could just be the angle of the image, but there are subtle, somewhat unusual characteristics here. >>
It is Murphy's Law at it's finest that when suspicions are made of a coin's authenticity that scores of folks will find subliminal flaws that don't exist.
<< <i>
<< <i>The Liberty portrait looks odd to me.
The facial features, specifically the lips, are too full in appearance, In addition, the nose is too blunt in shape for a Barber quarter.
Again, something strange about this coin. Could just be the angle of the image, but there are subtle, somewhat unusual characteristics here. >>
It is Murphy's Law at it's finest that when suspicions are made of a coin's authenticity that scores of folks will find subliminal flaws that don't exist. >>
My response was based on the initial "barber quarter" link.
If that were, in fact, a barber quarter, I would not need prior suspicions to make my observation.
The subtleties between the Quarter and the Half Dollar's obverses - and the incorrect name in the link to the auction calling it a Quarter - when it was actually a Half Dollar - were enough to throw off anyone based on the question as to whether or not it was another Chinese fake.
I find no fault with the coin - except for the rim damage - and we're all in agreement with that.
So...lets move on...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
<< <i>The subtleties between the Quarter and the Half Dollar's obverses - and the incorrect name in the link to the auction calling it a Quarter - when it was actually a Half Dollar - were enough to throw off anyone based on the question as to whether or not it was another Chinese fake.
I find no fault with the coin - except for the rim damage - and we're all in agreement with that.
So...lets move on... >>
Well said.
Veryfine, I hope you did not construe my reply as anything negative towards you. If so, then my apologies.
<< <i>Excellent point MFH.
Veryfine, I hope you did not construe my reply as anything negative towards you. If so, then my apologies. >>
Thanks gonzer, and no need to apologize.
I was about to get a little defensive, until MFH calmed things down nicely with his skillful diplomacy.
Anyway, I do agree with you that Murphy's Law often applies to these kinds of commentaries. However, in this case, I didn't fall into that trap.
<< <i>It's a Barber Half. I goofed on the OP -- now corrected. >>
Just say "D'OH!"
unstamped replica I've seen can be identified by the rims.
Many have what looks like a railroad rim that runs right up
to the denticles.
I've talked to the guy who is responsible for most of the
unmarked copies from China of Barber coins. He is willing
to send them unstamped if you just ask. I report to eBay
each time I see one of these coins on the 'bay. Latest
seller went by <hehe>.
<Now I had never heard of mid-grade Barber Half Dollars
being counterfeited in Asia. Is there any truth to this,
or is the questioner full of it?> YES, many of the copies
sold as unc. do not have full details and can easily be taken as
XF or AU "coins". Go to eBay and do a seller search for
jinghuashei. Find one of his replicas and blow the scan up
large and look at the rims.