1982 "error" coin 1 1

[Coin & Bullion Collector]

Hello, found this person on Ebay trying to sell this for $20,000

I've found these before, so what makes them look like this? improper mix of alloys? It almost reminds me of a waffled coin. what do you all think? 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/285941970775?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=qa6xokq1tus&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=lajv3irusoy&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I'm just curious why they look like this. 

[Greenstang]

It is called a Woodie due to the appearance.   
You’re correct, it is caused by improper mixing of the alloys. 
Probably worth a dollar or so.

[Sandon]

   What you linked is just a fraudulent eBay listing. Note that the coin is not certified by a third-party grading service, as a coin of such value almost always would be nowadays, and the seller does not explain what type of "error" the coin is or show any records of actual sales of this or similar pieces. Listings at such prices seem to rarely, if ever, result in sales. Although there are legitimate coin dealers, including prominent ones, who offer coins on eBay, there are also many dishonest and ignorant sellers. I have never bought a coin on eBay or any similar site. If you do buy coins through such sites, buy coins that are certified by NGC, PCGS, ANACS, or CAC Grading or buy from dealers who you have verified are members of the Professional Numismatists Guild (pngdealers.org) or at least the American Numismatic Association (money.org).

   Streaky surfaces on a copper alloy coin could be the result of an improper alloy mixture, but they could also result from exposure to chemicals in the environment to which the coin was exposed. Even if it could be established that the circulated (95% copper?) 1982 large date cent in the eBay listing was caused by an improper alloy mixture, it would be worth at most a small premium such as a dollar or two. (They have no relationship to "waffled" coins, which were bent and crushed by machinery and intended to be melted down.)

   Improper alloy mixtures that caused a "woodgrain" appearance were fairly common on certain issues of cents (Indian and Lincoln), especially from about 1908 to 1930. See https://www.error-ref.com/?s=improper+alloy+mixture. Though sometimes referred to as "woodies" and sought by a few collectors, they don't have much of a following, and some collectors actually avoid them. My 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln cent, shown below, has such an appearance, but its value is based on its being a 1909-S V.D.B. cent, not due to its "woodgrain" toning.

Edited September 12 by Sandon

[Coin & Bullion Collector]

Thanks. Awesome coin btw

[Henri Charriere]

A Woodie...  Uncertified.  Seller does not accept returns... and the head scratcher:  53 people are watching this.  Only ONE available, but ONE person has this in his cart.  Huh?

Nobody is going to shell out 20 thou for this, but it doesn't hurt to set expectations high.  That's where "Or Best Offer" comes in: let the buyers work this out among themselves.

The seller, "qdvd" provides a description written in poor English, and his location, which is not exactly encouraging, is in a prison town in sunny California.

Will this coin sell?  It's hard to say. And this is why I advocate buyers be accompanied by chaperones :  to protect them, from themselves.   🤔 

[powermad5000]

Note the seller has ZERO previous sales accrued but is selling a purported error coin for $20,000 as a first sale.            My first sale on eBay was a Pearl Sensitone Brass snare drum with the accompanying original receipt from the initial purchase as brand new. Even back then I was providing the buyer with documentation.

The second thing I note about this listing is the fact that if it were actually an improper alloy mix there would be many more of these cents found over the 40 or so years they have been in existence and I have yet to have seen in my time not a single ONE of them from this date.

The coin looks to me to have been carefully wiped with either paint or some chemical to make it resemble an error coin. I could put money down on a bet that if this particular piece were submitted to NGC that it would return as a details grade for altered surface.

Just so you know what one looks like, here is a waffled coin that I have in my collection.

 

Edited September 13 by powermad5000

[Greenstang]

Regardless of what it is, it has been removed by eBay

[Henri Charriere]

On 9/13/2024 at 2:40 AM, powermad5000 said:

.... Just so you know what one looks like, here is a waffled coin that I have in my collection.

Any relation to "kustered" coins?

[Coin & Bullion Collector]

I honesty think most watchers are waiting to see if the same error they have will sell for that much