Why I don’t buy gold on eBay.

[Silverman2U]

So I saw this and just had to share. I love my PMs but this grates me. A great deal, to good to be true. But look closer at the coin. Whilst proofs are on another level, this doesn’t even look like a bullion coin and I suspect is likely to have been cast, and probably not from gold. 
 

Now silver is different again. I find you have less to loose financial, and a quick test with a rare earth magnet will set the fake apart. 
 

I have learn also to take reviews on eBay unfortunately with a pinch of salt having bought from a long standing “reputable” seller selling fake US eagles plated in silver. Got my money back through the guarantee scheme but what a hassle. 

Happy stacking!  

 

[Silverman2U]

Just now, Silverman2U said:

So I saw this and just had to share. I love my PMs but this grates me. A great deal, to good to be true. But look closer at the coin. Whilst proofs are on another level, this doesn’t even look like a bullion coin and I suspect is likely to have been cast, and probably not from gold. 
 

Now silver is different again. I find you have less to loose financial, and a quick test with a rare earth magnet will set the fake apart. 
 

I have learn also to take reviews on eBay unfortunately with a pinch of salt having bought from a long standing “reputable” seller selling fake US eagles plated in silver. Got my money back through the guarantee scheme but what a hassle. 

Happy stacking!  

 

 

[Zhorro]

12 minutes ago, Silverman2U said:

 

 

Superficially, it looks like a good attempt.  If you were not familiar with this coin, you could be taken in.  The price is implying it is genuine.

[AppleZippoandMetronome]

I think the moral of the story really aught to be...   this is why you should research what you are buying before hitting the bid or buy it now button vs don't use a specific service at all. I find the trade in fakes on ebay appalling and look forward to the day they are made to do something about it but I still use eBay. I've purchased a couple of the rarer C sovs off there in recent months from a reputable well known dealer with no issue and will do so again if that seller (or another I know I can trust) lists other coins I am after. If you don't rush into purchases and do your research first you should be fine.

[Midasfrog]

The coin looks genuine to me . Some of the bullion 1/4oz coins are poor in detail in curtain areas due to a "weak strike " 

Most of the detail looks good on this example 👍

No reports of any fake 1/4oz Queens Beasts on the market yet .

 

Edited November 10, 2021 by Midasfrog

[ArgentSmith]

Clearly the coin is legit, feel bad for the other seller you bought from TBH

[LawrenceChard]

2 hours ago, Silverman2U said:

So I saw this and just had to share. I love my PMs but this grates me. A great deal, to good to be true. But look closer at the coin. Whilst proofs are on another level, this doesn’t even look like a bullion coin and I suspect is likely to have been cast, and probably not from gold. 
 

Now silver is different again. I find you have less to loose financial, and a quick test with a rare earth magnet will set the fake apart. 
 

I have learn also to take reviews on eBay unfortunately with a pinch of salt having bought from a long standing “reputable” seller selling fake US eagles plated in silver. Got my money back through the guarantee scheme but what a hassle. 

Happy stacking!  

 

It's always good to see potential fake / fraud exposures.

When I do it, I always show the item number an seller ID.

I did look for these "coins" on AliExpress, but didn't find them.

I did see some familiar sovereign photos though!

[Happypanda88]

I had a look at the obverse of the coin as well. The effigy of the Queen looks okay. The coin looks legit to me.

Since there wasn't a link to the sale item, I thought I'll add it here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384448829602?hash=item5982ef98a2:g:Y~4AAOSwf1Rg2kgh

[ArgentSmith]

Imagine sand casting that 😆 😆

[Coverte]

1 hour ago, LawrenceChard said:

I did look for these "coins" on AliExpress, but didn't find them.

 

Try looking on Made in China - they're far less fussy than even Aliexpress..............

[LawrenceChard]

6 hours ago, Happypanda88 said:

I had a look at the obverse of the coin as well. The effigy of the Queen looks okay. The coin looks legit to me.

Since there wasn't a link to the sale item, I thought I'll add it here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384448829602?hash=item5982ef98a2:g:Y~4AAOSwf1Rg2kgh

Thanks for adding the link.

[dicker]

7 hours ago, LawrenceChard said:

 

I did see some familiar sovereign photos though!

I am not surprised that you see your photos all over the internet - they are superb.

I was recently sent some photos of coins from a museum and they look like they were taken on a polaroid then photocopied!!!!

[dicker]

I must say that is a curious looking quarter greyhound.  Just to do a quick compare...I have picked the crown as an example.

I think the ebay version looks somewhat odd - not just weak, though I will defer to experts on the forum.

Looking at other areas, at least one aspect of one of the letters looks odd to me - but could be a difference on the die.

What is however confusing is that the hatching is pretty good.

 

Does anyone have a quarter greyhound they could photograph and add to this thread?

Cheers

Dicker

 

PS. the photo is taken from the RM website.  I am sure they put their best possible coins on their site, so it would be good to see a bullion version from a 'punter'

 

 

Ebay

 

Royal Mint Photo

 

Zoom in a bit more....to the ebay version and it looks crude...

[LawrenceChard]

13 minutes ago, dicker said:

I must say that is a curious looking quarter greyhound.  Just to do a quick compare...I have picked the crown as an example.

I think the ebay version looks somewhat odd - not just weak, though I will defer to experts on the forum.

Looking at other areas, at least one aspect of one of the letters looks odd to me - but could be a difference on the die.

What is however confusing is that the hatching is pretty good.

 

Does anyone have a quarter greyhound they could photograph and add to this thread?

Cheers

Dicker

 

PS. the photo is taken from the RM website.  I am sure they put their best possible coins on their site, so it would be good to see a bullion version from a 'punter'

 

 

Ebay

 

Royal Mint Photo

 

Zoom in a bit more....to the ebay version and it looks crude...

It might just be a low / medium resolution photo, and the RM sometimes use artwork instead of photos.

[LawrenceChard]

38 minutes ago, dicker said:

I am not surprised that you see your photos all over the internet - they are superb.

I was recently sent some photos of coins from a museum and they look like they were taken on a polaroid then photocopied!!!!

Thanks.

Not all museums will have all the resources needed to take great photos.

[Booky586]

23 minutes ago, dicker said:

Does anyone have a quarter greyhound they could photograph and add to this thread?

Bog standard bullion version, usual Royal Mint quality 😃

[Happypanda88]

I am a little surprised the item hasn't sold yet. Besides, you could collect 300 Nectar points with this purchase !  😊

[danmc82]

9 hours ago, Happypanda88 said:

 Besides, you could collect 300 Nectar points with this purchase !  😊

The points wouldnt sway me. Not even £2.50 worth.

[LawrenceChard]

16 hours ago, dicker said:

Does anyone have a quarter greyhound they could photograph and add to this thread?

 

A one-legged greyhound wouldn't be able to run very fast, 😎

[paulmerton]

On 10/11/2021 at 08:30, Silverman2U said:

Now silver is different again. I find you have less to loose financial, and a quick test with a rare earth magnet will set the fake apart. 

I wouldn't trust a magnet to set a fake apart.

Consider if the core of the fake is made of brass, bronze or copper.... They're cheap, but not magnetic, and they even behave similarly to silver in the magnetic slide test (i.e. they will glide slowly down a slide of magnets rather than just sticking or freefalling). They also have a reasonably similar density to silver, so a fake coin made out of those can be made to weigh the expected amount whilst having visually imperceptible differences in dimensions.

[Midasfrog]

12 hours ago, Happypanda88 said:

I am a little surprised the item hasn't sold yet. Besides, you could collect 300 Nectar points with this purchase !  😊

Just checked the Ebay sold Queens beasts coins and its now been sold 👍