Lima Crown & Half Crown - Have I been foolish?

[jmpmam11]

Hello all,

So good to find such an informative and detailed forum on coins! I've been collecting for some time, but only recently got into it a little more seriously, so I'll try and post some of my recent purchases in due course. Yesterday I bought bought both a 1746 lima crown and half crown from ebay, and think I got a good deal. But looking again at the pictures of the coins, which are not great, I am starting to doubt that they are genuine. Is anyone able to have a look and provide their opinion, it would be really appreciated.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251220386347

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/rare-george-III-silver-crown-1746-/251220235044

Thanks,

James

[Peckris]

Hello all,

So good to find such an informative and detailed forum on coins! I've been collecting for some time, but only recently got into it a little more seriously, so I'll try and post some of my recent purchases in due course. Yesterday I bought bought both a 1746 lima crown and half crown from ebay, and think I got a good deal. But looking again at the pictures of the coins, which are not great, I am starting to doubt that they are genuine. Is anyone able to have a look and provide their opinion, it would be really appreciated.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251220386347

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/rare-george-III-silver-crown-1746-/251220235044

Thanks,

James

It's difficult to say. The pictures are suspiciously poor (as you say), but what I can see looks ok. I would wait until you see them in hand, and if you're not happy send them back on the grounds that you think they might not be genuine. The fakes coming out of China are expert and would fool most people.

On the other hand, you may have got a bargain simply because the pictures were so poor - the seller wouldn't be the first coinie to take awful pictures, and he isn't a major eBay presence. You could have got lucky. I can't see anything that's obviously wrong, but you would need to see them in hand.

They're not "rare", of course - that's just the normal eBay hype.

[Peter]

The halfcrown is common.The pictures awfull....I would have kept well clear.

[DaveG38]

The halfcrown is common.The pictures awfull....I would have kept well clear.

And from a seller with a feedback of only 5. Few serious sellers of coins start off with items of this value, so that's issue number 1. Personally, I think there's something not quite right about the crown - the bust looks a bit oversized to me, so that's number 2. As for the halfcrown, it's difficult to say, because of the poor photos. The other issue is the price of the crown. If genuine it should have gone for considerably more. The fact that it didn't suggests that many buyers were put of by the photos. You then have to ask why anybody would put such poor shots up and potentially lose several hundred pounds, all for the sake of a little more care with the photography. The obvious reason is to deceive, but as has been said, you need to examine it in hand to be sure - or put pics up on here for an opinion.

[jmpmam11]

Thanks for that, I must admit the size of the bust on the crown is what made me a little uneasy about bidding. The seller had aparently inherited the coins, which also included several other uncirculated 1840-45 crowns and half crowns, from his late father. Though of course this again could just be deception. They should arrive tomorrow so I will post better photos then.

[jmpmam11]

The two coins arrived this morning, and much as expected there is a problem. Rather than being sent one half crown and one crowns, I have been sent two half crowns. As far as i can tell both seem genuine (right size and weight) but could you have a look at the pics and just double check. Hopefully I won't have to much trouble trying to get my money back on the supposed crown.

http://imageshack.us/a/img441/1377/coin1obverse.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img690/4474/coin1reverse.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img6/2635/coin2obverse.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img203/6016/coin2reverse.jpg

[azda]

Same amount of bids for both Coins, does'nt Ring Alarm bells?

[azda]

The two coins arrived this morning, and much as expected there is a problem. Rather than being sent one half crown and one crowns, I have been sent two half crowns. As far as i can tell both seem genuine (right size and weight) but could you have a look at the pics and just double check. Hopefully I won't have to much trouble trying to get my money back on the supposed crown.

http://imageshack.us/a/img441/1377/coin1obverse.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img690/4474/coin1reverse.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img6/2635/coin2obverse.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img203/6016/coin2reverse.jpg

Keep the best one and Tell him he's sent 2 halfcrowns and you'll be wanting a refund on the crown.

[numismatist]

Blurred Photos fetch top prices judging by the few other coins hes sold

people pay out hundreds with little idea of condition, but hes had a few

good comments. Looks like thats the way forward, I must adjust my camera

to small and blur in future , and reap the rewards !!

[Colin88]

The good news is they look quite genuine...I would do what Azda has recommended.

[jmpmam11]

Thanks for that, the seller has accepted my return so now just the tricky decision of which one to send back. Coin 1 appears to have a ever so slightly higher grade, so I think I'll hang on to that one.

[Peckris]

Thanks for that, the seller has accepted my return so now just the tricky decision of which one to send back. Coin 1 appears to have a ever so slightly higher grade, so I think I'll hang on to that one.

I agree. Coin 1 looks better.

[jmpmam11]

Thanks for that, the seller has accepted my return so now just the tricky decision of which one to send back. Coin 1 appears to have a ever so slightly higher grade, so I think I'll hang on to that one.

I agree. Coin 1 looks better.

Out of interest, how would you grade coin 1, did I do ok for £180?

[Peckris]

Thanks for that, the seller has accepted my return so now just the tricky decision of which one to send back. Coin 1 appears to have a ever so slightly higher grade, so I think I'll hang on to that one.

I agree. Coin 1 looks better.

Out of interest, how would you grade coin 1, did I do ok for £180?

I personally would rate it VF+, especially the reverse. And yes, I think you did absolutely ok for £180. Those aren't rare, but all early milled has increased substantially the last 10-15 years, and it makes a good type coin.

[Paulus]

You may be interested in these members' opinions on the Lima Half Crowns I was considering very recently, wanting to upgrade my current VF to EF:

http://www.predecimal.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7610

[jmpmam11]

Thanks for that, the seller has accepted my return so now just the tricky decision of which one to send back. Coin 1 appears to have a ever so slightly higher grade, so I think I'll hang on to that one.

I agree. Coin 1 looks better.

Out of interest, how would you grade coin 1, did I do ok for £180?

I personally would rate it VF+, especially the reverse. And yes, I think you did absolutely ok for £180. Those aren't rare, but all early milled has increased substantially the last 10-15 years, and it makes a good type coin.

Thanks, this makes me feel quite a bit better about things. Very interesting looking at that link Pualus, particularly being quite new to this level of collecting, all about the eye detail it seems.

[Paulus]

Thanks for that, the seller has accepted my return so now just the tricky decision of which one to send back. Coin 1 appears to have a ever so slightly higher grade, so I think I'll hang on to that one.

I agree. Coin 1 looks better.

Out of interest, how would you grade coin 1, did I do ok for £180?

I personally would rate it VF+, especially the reverse. And yes, I think you did absolutely ok for £180. Those aren't rare, but all early milled has increased substantially the last 10-15 years, and it makes a good type coin.

Thanks, this makes me feel quite a bit better about things. Very interesting looking at that link Pualus, particularly being quite new to this level of collecting, all about the eye detail it seems.

In this case the eye detail and the eye appeal! I haven't upgraded yet, I will bide my time

[jmpmam11]

Slight change of topic, but this has made a lot more wary of buying from Ebay and needless to say I am going to be more careful from now on. I've also noticed that another coin I've bought recently is a little strange. It is a 1754 sixpence, it seems ok in terms of size and weight and was from a seller with a feedback score of over 350, but the colouring of the coin just looks slightly odd. It has a goldish shine to it, almost as if it has been gilded. Any ideas if it looks genuine, or is it another to have to try and get my money back on? Thanks again for all the help, really is much appreciated.

http://imageshack.us/a/img802/1355/reverset.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img690/3231/obverse2.jpg

[azda]

Slight change of topic, but this has made a lot more wary of buying from Ebay and needless to say I am going to be more careful from now on. I've also noticed that another coin I've bought recently is a little strange. It is a 1754 sixpence, it seems ok in terms of size and weight and was from a seller with a feedback score of over 350, but the colouring of the coin just looks slightly odd. It has a goldish shine to it, almost as if it has been gilded. Any ideas if it looks genuine, or is it another to have to try and get my money back on? Thanks again for all the help, really is much appreciated.

http://imageshack.us...55/reverset.jpg

http://imageshack.us...31/obverse2.jpg

It's been gilded, and is VF or thereabouts

[DaveG38]

Slight change of topic, but this has made a lot more wary of buying from Ebay and needless to say I am going to be more careful from now on. I've also noticed that another coin I've bought recently is a little strange. It is a 1754 sixpence, it seems ok in terms of size and weight and was from a seller with a feedback score of over 350, but the colouring of the coin just looks slightly odd. It has a goldish shine to it, almost as if it has been gilded. Any ideas if it looks genuine, or is it another to have to try and get my money back on? Thanks again for all the help, really is much appreciated.

http://imageshack.us...55/reverset.jpg

http://imageshack.us...31/obverse2.jpg

It's been gilded, and is VF or thereabouts

As Azda says, it's been gilded. It may also have been mounted at some point, as there are one or two odd effects around the rim, which might be mount marks.

[Peckris]

Slight change of topic, but this has made a lot more wary of buying from Ebay and needless to say I am going to be more careful from now on. I've also noticed that another coin I've bought recently is a little strange. It is a 1754 sixpence, it seems ok in terms of size and weight and was from a seller with a feedback score of over 350, but the colouring of the coin just looks slightly odd. It has a goldish shine to it, almost as if it has been gilded. Any ideas if it looks genuine, or is it another to have to try and get my money back on? Thanks again for all the help, really is much appreciated.

http://imageshack.us/a/img802/1355/reverset.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img690/3231/obverse2.jpg

I don't like that one at all. Try and get your money back - it looks gilded and there's a lot of wear on the obverse. It is a common date (1758 not 1754) so there will be much better examples out there.

It's also a fact - I'm not sure exactly why - that some sellers with 100% feedback, sell some of the worst examples of coins on the 'Bay. I can only put it down to a combination of buyer ignorance or inexperience and seller's policy of prompt refunding where buyer not satisfied.

Edited February 6, 2013 by Peckris