IF you find this article helpful, please take a moment to vote yes at the bottom, I would like to find out what the viewers are looking for so I can expand on specific areas! Thanks in advance
Every wonder how one of the rarest coins in the 20th century in mintage can be found SOOOOO easily on EBay in below AG grades by the bucket full... I can tell you exactly how, they are NOT REAL.
The 1916 D Mercury dime is one of the most counterfeited coins in existence, the reason why is because since it's existence, it has been rare, and sought after. This is turn has given counterfeiters years and years to perfect their methods to fool you, and the internet is their playground. You see though, educated buyer can EASILY spot fakes within seconds on about 30% of the fakes because the counterfeiters didn't do their homework initailly.
You see, most of the counterfeiters pulled the D mintmarks patterns off the 1917D merc, but low and behold, the D that is on the 1916 D is actually from the 1914 D Barber dime, and the pattern is MUCH different. The D had rounded slightly arched tips to the aft of the top and bottom of the D, where as the fake are more straight and pointed. Also, in most of the fakes with added mintmarks, the position of the D itself is off, and ever-so-slightly tipped.
Well, counterfeiters are VERY deligent, and they didnt want all their work for nothing, so what did they do? They took the fakes that were now so easily noticed, and wore down the coin to make it appear severly circulated, and much more harder to identify. The coins still pulled a very high premium for their investment, and getting caught was ALMOST impossible in the short term.
Another form of faking a 1916 D Merc was to actaully cut the face off of a 1916 p, and machine it to the back of a 1917 D. Very easily spotted it you are holding the coin with 10x loop, but impossible to see via the internet thru a picture. These coins actually beat the novice coin collectors the worse for years, because most collectors focused on the mint-mark, and of course it was a real one. The more advanced fakes went as far as to shave the tips of the D to make it appear more geniune to the eye.
Electro die cast was another method used in the early 80's to fool collectors, and actually did very well as long as the counterfeiter worn the coin down to below AG, because in that condition, the etch marks can blend and seem like normal wear or nicks. Dealers caught these almost instantly, but 100's of poor consumers didnt until it was too late.
Other methods would include pouring fake metals and molding a real 16d, then reproducing them at will. The metal weight was off, and the strike appeared VERY weak, but ONCE AGAIN, a little wear on the coin and the weak strike becomes acceptable again, and collectors gobble them up!
The key to a fake 1916 d is simple, it has to be worn, which is why you see SO many of them on EBay.. VERY worn, and mostly with no gaurantee that they are real. The funniest ones that I see on Ebay are the sellers that represent a 1916 D in a auction, and when you see the picture, all you see on the rev is a faint hint of the top of a mintmark that cant even be dechipered with the eye, but the seller swears its a 16d.
Don't be fooled by these fly by night sellers, selling you junk and claiming it to be a 1916 d Merc. Here are a few tactics you will see in a scam auction, so be aware.
1. "We dont gaurantee this coin as real, it is OUR opinion, review coin and judge yourself"
2. Seller will not accept PayPal, and has a shipping address to a P.O. BOX
3. Seller has No feedback, OR, and review this PLEASE, has NO feedback history of selling coins. They might have 2000 feedback selling toasters, but that doesnt mean they know anything about coins
4. Has a AS IS clause, or charges some ridiculous 20% restocking fee.
5. Seller has a feedback history of NOT working with buyers, or backing their product
6. And LAST but not least, never buy a key date coin from EBay without requesting a seperate picture than the one on EBAY, Some fake sellers use others pictures for a quick auction and heist, then it is over...
Protect yourself by ALWAYS using PayPal, alot of sellers dont use PayPal because of the fees, but if you contact them and agree to pay all the paypal fees, they will normally do it, especially on keydate coins. Contact the seller and ask specifics, and request additional pictures, a scam artist will usually be full of excuses why they cant send more pics, so stay away. Set yourself a standard with sellers before buying, demand no less than a 98% feedback rating, and numerous previous sells of actual coins, this is one of the keys. Don't be afraid to send a message or to to previous customers of the seller, EBayers are mostly nice about helping out, so give it a shot in advance. And finally, as sson as you get the coin, NEVER assume you have the eye to KNOW, take the coin to a non-bias professional for their opinion. WHen you are viewing a new coin that is now yours, you are less likely to be critical of key points, it is a very common error in young collectors because they don;t want people thinking they are stupid. Trust me, some of the best in the industry have been taken by SUPER Black Cabinet coins.
Protect yourself from fraud and embarrasment, only buy certified key date coins on Ebay. The few extra bucks you spend today will save tons in the future. Don't hesitate to ask for advice either, if you see a auction you like, contact a powerseller or even me, and pass on the Auction ID. At least a trained can help you make a little more educated purchase. But the best in the buisness are the best for a reason, that dont buy raw coins off ebay when dealing with key dates!
Hope this helps guys
Till then....................
I had a great ebayer SPORTSGRAB4U add another way also, these are his words, and wany him having the credit. Thank you to all the viewers of my articles like this that take the time to add to and help others.
SPORTSGRAB4U Writes: "Read your ad on the 1916-D Mercury Dime -good job. I would like to point out to you that there are two other methods in which they fake them, but space and time does not permit me to go into details, however, one of these methods are imbossing; in which a small hole is drilled on the side of the coin by the date area and an small embossing tool is used with a letter of the mint mark they are trying to add, and then pressed into the under surface , creating a mint mark (in this case a 'D'), without a seam, and then filling the hole with liquid silver or lead, and blending the edge. If you are familiar with this method please post with the rest of your article. If not, let others know. Thank you for your time. A Watchdog !"
Till then>>>>>
)