How many of these can this guy have??

[RI AL]

In the doctor's waiting room this morning, I found an ad in my Coin World, February 2, p. 12 that caught my attention. The dealer (don't know if we're permitted to mention names) is offering "defect free" 1795-1798 small eagle bust dollars. They are available in VF, Bold XF, XF/AU and Borderline AU. There is no mention of them being certified.

 

So I got to thinking, how many of these coins can there be out there, uncertified, that this dealer is able to offer them raw (the ad says nothing about only 1 of each grade...or anything like that so I am assuming there are several...or more...in each grade).

 

Having read the ongoing saga of the Chinese fakes in the same issue of Coin World, I just got to thinking what chances are that the coins in the ad might be fakes? I'm not looking to buy, I have my fairly respectable ANACS F-12, but something is telling me to stay away...FAR away.

 

I generally avoid these full page/double page ad people in Coin World (was burned only once on a "BU Standing Liberty Quarter"...which came back as "cleaned"..(this goes WAY back) but what are your thoughts on this particular bust dollar offering?

 

RI AL

[EZ_E]

Berry, berry skeptical....

[BillJones]

Years ago there was outfit called Riverside coins. They advertized some early coins that were in grades that went beyond the condition census numbers that the specialist collector clubs maintain. The answer of course was that all of their stuff was over graded. They finally were convicted of mail fraud and put out of business.

 

One old collector summed it up for me when he said, “Chances are if you order the VF, EF or AU, you’ll the same coin.” The difference is that you will be buried deeper if you pay for the higher grade. That could be the situation here, if the ad you are reading is from a bad dealer.

 

And one other thing. Most Bust dollar dates are not that rare. With the exception of the 1794, Bust dollars are not the hardest coins to find among the early U.S. coins. They bring strong prices in part because they are large and popular. The half dimes, dimes and quarters are all rarer.

 

[michael]

bulla bulla with regards to the seller in love world

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

large eagle bust dollars are available and common right up to choice au

 

small eagle bust dollars are rare IF

 

IF IF IF IF the coin is a super nice vf+ and higher grades

no adjustment marks,

full rims/dentils both sides

has great eye appeal---one of the key points

and is ORIGINAL ie. uncleaned with a thick skin ---this is another one of the key points

 

 

[James_OldeTowne]

Sometimes, such ads are also designed to lead you on. They figure that once you're on the phone, they'll get you to buy something.

[WoodenJefferson]

~They are available in VF, Bold XF, XF/AU and Borderline AU.~

 

Just these descriptions alone raise flags. Anytime an advertiser of coins uses adjectives such as Bold, Borderline, XF/AU (either they are XF or they are AU, they can’t be both) or even "defect free", to describe their offerings, you’d best be wary of about what you’d actually receive from them.

 

Some even put pictures of coins and then have a small print disclaimer, “Coin shown for reference purposes only, not the actual coin you might receive”

 

With vague advertisements like this one, there should be a loud bell going off in your head, like ringing in the ears.

 

Turn the page, go on to something interesting or historical.

 

[RI AL]

Yup...my thoughts exactly...but wouldn't it be fun to be a fly on the wall and watch the dealer unpacking all those nifty little packages from China and saying, "hmmmm...this looks like an XF/AU...and it only cost me $25!. And if they don't sell from my Coin World ad, there's always E-Bay...suckers are a dime a dozen there".

 

 

[thebeav]

These kind of people sell 'problem' coins......

Stuff that has been repaired, etc.....

Don't you think it's unusual that they don't sell a single certified coin ?

Especially in this day and age......

 

Paul

[TJ'S Coins]

As implied by many others, don't expect to cherry pick a nice coin from this offer. Do expect an over graded possible problem coin. Best advice is to avoid.

[RI AL]

No problem there. I'll avoid purchasing one of these "problem free"early dollars.

 

First, some of you so wisely told me to avoid the big 2 page spread dealers in Coin World (made 1 mistake...that's all I need),

 

second, I don't have several thousand to mail away and get ---- back.

[Conder101]

Very simple those "problem free" coins when received will be found to be cleaned such that the services will not slab them as problem free. This same dealer sells cleaned AU Morgans in BU rolls.

[TJ'S Coins]

Very simple those "problem free" coins when received will be found to be cleaned such that the services will not slab them as problem free. This same dealer sells cleaned AU Morgans in BU rolls.

 

Sadly this is so true