1999-D LINCOLN CENT fake

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

I am not to sure which is worse, Ebay for not enforcing their own rules or the sellers who delight in breaking them. The example below is the major reason why I have stopped buying and selling on that site; there are just to many uneducated buyers purchasing high price junk that in a few short years will be forgotten and worthless.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230008460514&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=013
DOUBLE STRUCK LINCOLN CENT ERROR. NEAT -1999 DOUBLE DIE

The above coin is a fake, made with what is called a soft die that was produced OUTSIDE the U.S. Mints. The biggest give away or red flag is this; what happens on the obverse must happen on the reverse when double striking happens. In this case, it does not happen. Another red flag is that the first strike will be all but obliterated by the second strike, leaving all but a ghost image of the first strike; again this did not happen on this coin.

Of course, the coin in question is not encapsulated, which to me, would question its authenticity. I did not notify the seller or any of the bidders for the last auction that I did that on (a 1946-S Lincoln cent with inverted mintmark -NOT) met with negative results.

I know that there have been other posts on this subject, in this forum and also others, however, if you must buy expensive coins (or other merchandise) from Ebay, follow these simple rules.

1. Establish the authenticity of the item.

2. Check for an iron clad return policy that carries on stipulations on the return of merchandise.

3. Pay for the purchase through a company that guarentees a money back policy if not satisfied (PayPal does this to some extent).

4. Pay for the purchase using a credit card. Mostly all credit card services will protect you against fraudulent sellers.

5. Know who you are purchasing from. Feedbacks can avert you from a bad bid.

You all have a good one.

WAVYSTEPS2003 aka BJ Neff

pennyhound · Veteran Member

eagames · Expert Member

I saw this one too.

BJs answers make sense to me, I thought it looked faked because the reverse was not double struck with the same rotation as the front but I was puzzled over how it was made.

I watched that fake go for over $500!!!!

I saw a different more blatant fraud on Ebay and I was going to report it to Ebay but after trying to report it I could see their site is not set up to allow you to report when you see a fraud. It gives you choices like "you were sent a fake" or whatever but there was no place I could find to report that you see a fraud being done to some other buyer. It reminds me "buyer beware"!