1898 Old Head Crown

[Gary 7]

If you saw this coin for sale on , say ebay, what would your opinion be of it?

[Hussulo 6]

If you saw this coin for sale on , say ebay, what would your opinion be of it?

I think it could be a trick question.

I don't like the look of the coin. The surface doesn't look right, it looks like it might be a cast copy.

[German 0]

If you saw this coin for sale on , say ebay, what would your opinion be of it?

looks like a galvanocopy

[josie 8]

Have to know the record of the seller and its records of complaint, then I will decide after I have inquire to other members of this forum,

But Im not on to ebay,If I encountered that on one of the shop in here that I visit,I will

If I completed the small denominations first.

[coin watch 1]

Going by the photo I too would be suspicious of it and think it a copy. If I was a collector of this period I think that anything below EF is not collection worthy, unless of coarse it is a rarity, so I would not even bother with this one if it was on ebay.

[German 0]

Have to know the record of the seller and its records of complaint, then I will decide after I have inquire to other members of this forum,

But Im not on to ebay,If I encountered that on one of the shop in here that I visit,I will

If I completed the small denominations first.

I'm sorry josie, but have you really know the record of the seller and its records of complaint to not to buy a fake?

[Rob 3,152]

Possibly a badly gilt piece. Just like a sprayed Christmas decoration for example.

A valid question would have been "a good buy at any price?" and you know what the answer would be.

Edited January 30, 2007 by Rob

[German 0]

Going by the photo I too would be suspicious of it and think it a copy. If I was a collector of this period I think that anything below EF is not collection worthy, unless of coarse it is a rarity, so I would not even bother with this one if it was on ebay.

in my previous message I'd lika to say this: josie, even if the seller has a good rep, they still may not pay close enough attention to all of their merchandise and let a fake slip through.

[Gary 7]

looks like a galvanocopy

Hi german,

thats a new term for me, what is a galvanocopy?

and by the way I´ll let this run a little longer before explaining.....

[Chris Perkins 228]

My first thoughts were also that the surfaces looked grainy and I though 'fake from China' and answered no to all options.

[josie 8]

That what amateur learn like me outch.

If he sells me a fake, I will be carefull next time but damaged already done.

Do we have to inquire hear first before we buy specially amateur thats for me and other amateur like me.

And Im not good in grading and looking at fake thats hurt sometimes in the past.

[German 0]

thats a new term for me, what is a galvanocopy?

it's a very simple chemical technology to make copies of coins or medals - do you really need a description?

it's from 1850x years - simple and old technology - I don't think you have no idea about it. LOL?

BTW i have no idea how it's called in Enlish but in Rusian it sounds like Galvanocopy, Galvanoplastics and so on.

[josie 8]

I did bougth a 1897 medal I dont know if it is a fake.

thick brown but color silver inside.

[German 0]

about galvano:

[Sergy 0]

about galvano:

electrotype copy, I think.

[German 0]

about galvano:

electrotype copy, I think.

probaly.

it's CuSO4∙5H2O, + H₂SO₄ - electrolithe + cathode + anode +.......

need more details? but chinise not are able ta make this:

http://www.numizmat.net/forum/read.php?FID=2&TID=857

Sorry, dynamic pages in the tags are not allowed

[scottishmoney 29]

The surface of the reverse is most suspect in my opin.

[Emperor Oli 0]

I'd skip this.

[TomGoodheart 400]

I'd skip this.

Me too. It looks too much like the gold painted lead counterfeit £1 coin I have in my fakes collection.

Though if I collected fake Vickies I'd have a bid in the assumption that was what it was. Up to £10 for curiousity value.

Edited January 31, 2007 by TomGoodheart

[Emperor Oli 0]

I'd skip this.

Though if I collected fake Vickies I'd have a bid in the assumption that was what it was. Up to £10 for curiousity value.

Ditto. I recall Chris has a burgeoning collection of forgeries.

[Hussulo 6]

That what amateur learn like me outch.

If he sells me a fake, I will be carefull next time but damaged already done.

Do we have to inquire hear first before we buy specially amateur thats for me and other amateur like me.

And Im not good in grading and looking at fake thats hurt sometimes in the past.

Hi josie,

If in doubt post a picture or a link to the coin you are planning on buying or bidding on, and someone can give you some advise.

I too was stung a couple of times when I first started collecting and it almost put me off.

[Chris Perkins 228]

Ditto. I recall Chris has a burgeoning collection of forgeries.

Yes, but I try to stick to contemporary types and I'm not sure if that is...looks too new.

[josie 8]

Thanks hussolu

I do buy coins onfront mostly on coin shop and dealers here, if I am planning to buy coins online I will buy to the site of the member when predecimal is out of stock maybe in the future.

[Gary 7]

Ok, most people were suspicious and rightly so.

It is a fake. Maybe I should have worded the question different or just enquired under a guest entry as it seems the question alone made you suspicious.

Point I was trying to make is that it is easy to be fooled by a picture. This fake was bought by a collector in good faith who after recieving it got in contact with me because the coin was not quite right..... I now have it here and the details are as follows- Dia 38,14mm Weight 18,8g and the thickness measured on the rim is 2,47mm. Should be Dia 38,9mm, Weight 28,2g and thickness 2,8mm.

Alone the weight is a dead give away. Another is the colour, looks more like aluminium. Another oddity is who ever created this piece put a milled edge on it......... If you look at the scan of the obverse, you can actually see the milled edge, above the head. None of you spotted it.

The legend is blurred and the surface is grainy and the design lacks the sharpness of the real thing.

I have it from a reliable source that these things can be bought on the easten borders in bundles of 50 for a very little money. How long before they move on to other coins and whats more, get better at it?

I do not think this is the last fake to fool the unsuspecting collector.

My advice- Weight is a dead give away and very difficult to reproduce.

[Gary 7]

It seems the french are not spared either, Ebay Forgeries In fact all three coins offered by this seller are forgeries. A new one now being the 1937 Crown.