suspicious platinum coin on ebay

botanist · April 4, 2010 3:12AM

Ebay item number: 150430313114 and several others closing today in one day auctions from the same seller appear to be copy coins lacking the mirrored background fields of genuine platinum proof coins, and without good close-up photos. The seller has placed them on a scale in an attempt to prove they weigh the correct 31+ grams per troy ounce of platinum, but that would be useful information only if we knew the scale had been properly zeroed. Furthermore, the coins have been improperly handled and unprotected, even as shown, with a photo on the floor. And the seller's feedback is weak, nothing recent except for a strange negative. Not as nice an Easter surprise as finding a colored egg. Caveat emptor.
Link: http://cgi.ebay.com/1-oz-Platinum-Liberty-Eagle-9995-pure_W0QQitemZ150430313114QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCoins_Bullion?hash=item2306

erickso1 · April 4, 2010 3:19AM

link.

botanist · April 4, 2010 3:22AM

After posting the above warning notice about this seller's coins, I then immediately attempted to report it to ebay, but there is no ebay thread allowing it to be reported as a counterfeit coin, unless I had already purchased it myself, so I went ahead and filed the report under counterfeit autographs.

---- Now appropriately reported to ebay as a suspected copy coin thanks to instructions from a helpful forum member.

TexasNationals · April 4, 2010 4:45AM

I don't get it, it is an impared proof, he is not claiming a grade, it is real and it is just bullion, so what is your deal?

AUandAG · April 4, 2010 5:04AM

I asked him if he still had the mint box, etc.
and his reply: I took them out of the plastic to show the weight, I had purchased
them from bullion direct some time ago

- goodfella1945

botanist · April 4, 2010 5:16AM

<< <i>I don't get it, it is an impared proof, he is not claiming a grade, it is real and it is just bullion, so what is your deal? >>

On the basis of circumstantial evidence, I suspect the seller is offering replicas made without any platinum content as if they were genuine. Anyone who tries to pull off stuff like that tends to discredit the entire field of numismatics. It's up to us to call out apparent fakers for the benefit of all, and not merely for the sake of potential individual victims. That's my "deal." But if you're so confident they're genuine, feel free to go for it, maybe you can get bullion platinum for a bargain price, good luck.

ponderit · April 4, 2010 5:18AM

<< <i>I don't get it, it is an impared proof, he is not claiming a grade, it is real and it is just bullion, so what is your deal? >>

That's what I was wondering. It looks fine to me; just like the 5 I have. The seller isn't claiming it to be a proof, but the OP is stating that the seller's making that claim... Are we all getting to be a bit too quick to judge Ebay sellers? Let's hang him and then have the trial???
Edited for spelliing

ctf_error_coins · April 4, 2010 5:21AM

Many times, the ebay police are wrong in their assumptions.

It has happened to me.

BigRick · April 4, 2010 5:30AM

Looks OK to me.

mikeyg · April 4, 2010 6:54AM

Im not an expert but I would think twice about sending $900.00 to someone with a 95.2% rating.I am in ebay resolution with a seller with a 100% rating who took my paypal money didnt send the coin and now is no longer registered with ebay.

mbogoman · April 4, 2010 7:40AM

Looks good to me, too, but I still wouldn't be sending him any money. It is clearly a proof. Only the proofs had the "Vistas of Liberty" reverse designs. The bullion plats have the soaring eagle.

123cents · April 4, 2010 7:42AM

The no return policy would turn me off to this coin even if I was just buying it for bullion.

airplanenut · April 4, 2010 7:47AM

I've seen manhandled proof gold eagles. They still contain bullion, and that's what they sell for. Absolutely nothing here would indicate foul play.

2manycoins2fewfunds · April 4, 2010 9:36AM

#1..Never, ever, ever buy from someone with a feedback below 99%.
Almost all of the horror stories you read here start by violating this rule.
Greed over rules common sense.

#2 Repeat #1

TexasNationals · April 4, 2010 9:59AM

Never buy from someone with under 99% feedback, that is stupid as it just goes to show, per this thread there are unreasonable or un-educated buyers out there. So if some one has 68 feedbacks and one idiot left him a neg due tot the fact he didn't get the coin when he won saturday night and it was not on his door step on sunday, with a shipping refund and a hand written apology?

That is flat out stupid. I hear more horror stories of people with 99%+ feedback. I see nothing wrong with this auction.

segoja · April 4, 2010 10:15AM

So help me understnad this.

Impaired proof Platinum eagle sells well below melt and we have a problem???

Buy it with a credit card and your 100% protected.

Why blast this guy because he has 1 neg???

I just don't get it....please explain

ponderit · April 4, 2010 10:14PM

It looks like the "Blast the Ebay Seller Bandwagon" has a flat tire! Good....

suspicious platinum coin on ebay

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