WHOA! Check THIS out! Am I seeing double??????

[James_OldeTowne]

I'm going to post links to two eBay auctions, one of mine that closed 12/8/2004, and somebody else's that has not closed yet. No other commentary, but I'd like to know your reaction!

 

MY LISTING (closed 12/8/2004)

 

RESURRECTION??

 

PS: This was brought to my attention by the original consignor.

 

James

[Merc]

This dealer/ebay seller has been doing this for a long time. He buys only problem but rare date coins on ebay. Then he either tones them quickly or uses different lighting to make them look better and resells them a few weeks later. Check the guy's feedback history. Then he makes his auctions "all sales final" so he doesn't get the problem coins returned

[James_OldeTowne]

Merc, thanks for the info. I was not aware of that.

 

It looks like this same seller is being discussed on the PCGS forum for the same activity, this time involving an 1877 Indian head cent.

[James_OldeTowne]

UPDATE

 

The coin with the doctored photos sold for $300 more than when I sold it with honest photos! Check out the links above!

[Merc]

Yep, he made money on it again. I was looking at a 1922 Plain Lincoln. The first seller showed the NGC bodybag. It had been lightly cleaned but wasn't too bad. This dealer bought it for around $500. Then it was sold again as a problem free coin for $1500. That seems to be the way to make money. Forget trying to be an honest dealer. I've seen lots of dishonest things so it seems to be the norm in the coin business. It is just like used cars!

[Hoot]

Pretty interesting. I'm not sure why a person would buy a raw key date coin on eBay. Few sellers, like yourself James, have the gumption to claim up-front what's wrong with the coin and provide an estimation of net grade. And in some ways, I think it's just as reasonable to simply claim it's a problematic coin, "xxx" is the problem, and here's the details grade... That's essentially what NCS does.

 

Anyway, the guy is slippery and mildly claims it's a problem coin, but does not state that outright. His photos are substandard and cloak the problems that the coin has. I'd never buy form him just for that. There are several big sellers on eBay with 100% positive feedback that sell raw coins the same way, except with a return option. Either the people who buy from them don't care about the problems, or they are too ignorant to tell the difference.

 

I've always been amused that raw coins have so much more wiggle room in price than slabbed coins. A trivial example is with Jefferson nickels. I see raw Jeffs in some of the key or semi-key dates sell all the time for MS66 or better money. The coins are often obviously impaired. But if you sell one slabbed, say in an MS64 (which is often the top-end for the raw pieces), then you'll be lucky to get your grading fees back. I just don't understand the inane mentality.

 

Hoot