Have you ever seen the TV or newspaper ad about buying “Limited Time Only” or “Only 3 easy payments of $xxx” coins or currency?

Well, I hate to break it to you but, those are SCAMS.

 

Here is an example from an unnamed TV network that sells various items. They are selling a 1923 Peace Dollar. The coin is in an ICG holder with a grade of MS65. It also comes in a small display box. They are offering the following payment plans: One-time $234.95, two payments of $117.48, three payments of $78.32, or four payments of $58.74. Now that may seem reasonable to you if you don’t have anything to compare it too. It is a certified coin that is almost 100 years old, and it also is made of silver.

 

Here is something to compare the price to.

According to the coin dealer pricing guide, it is worth $124. If you add an extra 10% for selling it, the new price would be about $137. Sure, you can add $10 for the display case. That puts your total at $147, excluding shipping. Which in the end, is a price of $88 above the coin dealer guide.

 

Here is a SECOND example from a different unnamed online store.

 

There are also selling a 1923 Peace Dollar, but this time uncertified. They categorized it into their grading system, and priced accordingly: “Very Good” $105, “Fine #2” $96.50, “Fine” $107, “Very Fine #2” $98.50, “Very Fine” $109, “Extra Fine #2” $100, “Extra Fine” $111, “About Uncirculated #2” $103, “About Uncirculated” $114, “Choice About Uncirculated” $117, “Uncirculated” $122, and “Choice Uncirculated” $150.

 

The coin dealer price guide’s prices are: “Very Good 8: $28.25”, “Very Good 10: $28.25”, “Fine 12: $28.25”, “Fine 15: $28.25”, “Very Fine 20: $28.25”, “Very Fine 25: $28.25”, “Very Fine 30: $28.25”, “Very Fine 35: $28.25”, “Extra Fine 40: $30”, “Extra Fine 45: $31”, “Almost Uncirculated 50: $32”, “Almost Uncirculated 53: $32”, “Almost Uncirculated 55: $32”, “Almost Uncirculated 58: $33”, “Mint State 60-64: $35-$60”, “Mint State 65: $124”, “Mint State 66: $380”, and “Mint State 67: $3400”

 

Now if you compare their “Extra Fine: $111” to the price guide’s “Extra Fine 45: $31”, there is a price difference of $80. That is a. How about comparing unnamed store’s “Uncirculated” $122 to the Guide’s “Almost Uncirculated 58: $33”. The price difference here is $89.

 

This is a THIRD unnamed online store.

They are selling colorized state quarters. The prices range from $5.75 to $10.25.

We sell them at Four Times Face value, which means One Quarter would be $1. That equals a over a 500% mark up.

 

FOURTH website, if three examples isn’t enough!

They are selling “America Eagle Replica Precious Metal Coin Set” for $98. There are things to certain things to look out for. The description has more information on what they are replicating than the actual tokens themselves. They also don’t even state what the core of the token is, and only state what they are layered with.

Since the main composition is not mentioned, we can assume that they are made of a common non-expensive metal. Which would put the value of each token about $5.

If we assume the total worth is $15, then that is a $83 upcharge.

 

Watch out for the words layered, plated, gilded, colored, satin, polished, and many more. If they look like a coin, legally they must put the word “Copy” on them, otherwise it would be considered counterfeit.

 

The face value means the value at which the government issues it at. There is the intrinsic value which means the value is in the composition, such as a 1960 Quarter. And there is the Numismatic value (Collectors). This is usually the highest value associated with coins.

 

Example of 1960 Washington Quarter

 

Face Value: $0.25

Intrinsic Value: ~$4.50 worth of silver

Numismatic Value: $700 in MS67 condition

 

Please spread the word, especially to the elderly. These companies also advertise in senior targeted magazines and newspapers. We don’t want them spending their life savings on a scam.