Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
1. 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent
The 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent is one of the most popular United States coins. This popularity had led it to become the most commonly altered and counterfeited collectible coin in the world, according to submissions to NGC. For a counterfeiter, the addition of a simple, small design element (an “S” mintmark or “V.D.B.” initials) can make a very cheap coin appear to be worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. The frequency with which these forgeries are seen makes it essential to thoroughly inspect any 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent...
You might be surprised to learn that the most commonly counterfeited US coin, according to NGC submissions, is the 1909-S VDV Lincoln Cent. After that, the top 50 list is dominated by Indian gold coins.
NGC provides lists of the most commonly counterfeited US coins, World coins, and Chinese coins in the article linked below.
Here is that link.
NGC Counterfeit Detection | Identify Counterfeit Coins | NGC
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I've done it and many others have too. You have a metal detector find and don't know how much it might be worth, so you look it up on eBay.
There are several reasons that might not be a great way to find the value of your items. Here is a little of what an article in Numismatic News says about using eBay to price coins.
In updating the pricing for the Numismaster.com database, it became clear that sometimes certain sources can’t be counted on for accurate information. At least one data point is eBay.That sales platform has allowed hundreds of millions of dollars of world coins to be presented to a global audience over the last 25 years and is an important source for pricing items that aren’t regularly featured in major auction houses.
In pricing the 1895 silver peso of Puerto Rico, it quickly becomes clear that some eBay results could skew the pricing if we weren’t vigilant.
The site is littered with sales of this key coin for about $40 each, from sellers around the world. All these sellers have relatively low or even no feedback at the time of the sale. Meanwhile, an American-based seller’s sale of an example encapsulated and graded About Uncirculated-50 by Numismatic Guaranty Co., for $815, does help us in confirming the pricing...
The odds are extremely high that those examples are counterfeits, given that the coin’s value makes it a target for fakes, the sellers have low feedback, and they are not in pockets of the world where such numismatic activity is expected...
Here is the link for the rest of that article.
Starck Reality: Using eBay Sales Results When Pricing Coins - Numismatic News
Besides numerous counterfeits, there are other things to watch for on eBay if you are interested in getting a realistic price. Many sellers seem to put wildly high prices on items just hoping that some uninformed person will pay way too much. Many times, along with a wildly high asking price, you'll also see that the seller is willing to take offers.
On eBay you'll often see a very wide range of prices for seemingly similar items. Some of those prices can be way too high while others might be extremely good bargains offered by uninformed or desperate sellers.
Below is a example that just popped up. I didn't pick it out for being extreme or anything. It was almost the first thing I saw, and it happened to provide a good example, and it was an item like one I recently posted.
As you can see, they are two Drambuie bottles that look very similar, yet for one the asking price is about seven times higher than the other.
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A routine geothermal drilling project at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science has led to a striking paleontological surprise. Scientists unexpectedly discovered a 67.5-million-year-old dinosaur fossil buried 763 feet beneath the museum’s own parking lot—making it the deepest and oldest fossil ever unearthed in the Denver area.
Here is the link for more about that.
A Denver Museum Tried to Go Green… and Unearthed a 67-Million-Year-Old Secret
Drilling is one way to find out what is underground.
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Yesterday the Fed decreased interest rates by a small amount, so I'd expect bond values to increase, and gold prices drop in the short term. Gold prices remain not too far off record levels even after the drop.
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| Source: nhc.noaa.gov. |
A new tropical storm has formed in the Atlantic - Gabrielle. The models show it most likely staying out to sea.
There is another area coming off of Africa that could possibly form too.
For the upcoming week, no big change in the surf is expected.
High tides will still be big today - a bit over three feet.
Good hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net