Fake Jubilee & Anniversary Medals

[Lapa]

Marsino,

It is good old method: price below market value, but you must make a decision pretty much straight away... :(
If in doubt, pass on it, these are not exactly rare by any mean, so another one will come around sooner or later.

Marc

PS: Excellent fakes of this medal exist; re-read Drill's words of wisdom about current fakes and photo evaluation (in the Fake "Defense of" Medals thread).

[marsino]

No, the seller is serious, is a coin shop in Florence, :thumbsup
I asked two weeks, to be able to study,
I paid, but if I do not like I can get back the money.
I'm tempted to keep it, so I'm interested in your opinions again.
Sorry for the long post, but it is important.

[CtahhR]

It looks now as though it is up to your own feelings on the item rather than anything objective. If you personally feel the item is real and your money is well spent even with others telling you to walk away, then keep the medal and your money is spent. It could be a situation that people here were telling you it was real but you personally feel it is fake and want your money back. If you are happy with your deal that is your own personal thing. No matter how much any of us "feel" that we have a real or fake item the facts are the truth. The best type of collector is the happy collector though. I know a "collector" that collects copies and fakes just for his grandchildren to play with. He knows they are fakes and that the children (thinking they are real) can abuse and lose them and there's not a big deal, however when it comes time to inherit there could be some tears before bedtime!

[EricFG]

Again, for something that costs so much I'd send it to a reliable authenticator, like Paul McDaniel or Nota Bene, for verification. It's up to you; for a fifth or even a tenth of the cost of this medal you can sleep well at night. Or not.
Good luck in whatever you do. :)

[marsino]

CtahhR,
So for you it is not,
I'm not going to sensations, but these medals do not have the ability to understand.
but thanks to this discussion I'm learning a lot, but I can not do it alone.
The problem is that some experts in other forums, I have said it is OK, and some not, and perhaps high ... and I have created confusion.
Although it is difficult, I need your opinion clear.
I trust you. ;)

[marsino]

Originally Posted by EricFG

Again, for something that costs so much I'd send it to a reliable authenticator, like Paul McDaniel or Nota Bene, for verification. It's up to you; for a fifth or even a tenth of the cost of this medal you can sleep well at night. Or not.
Good luck in whatever you do. :)

Thanks Eric, :)
If I decide to keep it I will take her to the States in the summer,
and of course I will tell you how it went.

[CtahhR]

From what I have heard here alone I personally would not buy this item. That does not mean that this item is a copy/fake BUT I couldn't live with the nagging feeling at the back of my mind that I may have wasted my money. With the heavily faked items you really need to buy from a very reputable dealer. I have bought medals from coin dealers before but I wouldn't buy a medal such as this from one knowing the risks involved. To me it is as risky as buying eggs from an antique shop. Like I said before though at the end of the day it is your own choice. If you return it to the shop maybe they can have it authenticated and then if it is the real deal you can get it. Maybe?

[marsino]

Originally Posted by CtahhR

From what I have heard here alone I personally would not buy this item. That does not mean that this item is a copy/fake BUT I couldn't live with the nagging feeling at the back of my mind that I may have wasted my money. With the heavily faked items you really need to buy from a very reputable dealer. I have bought medals from coin dealers before but I wouldn't buy a medal such as this from one knowing the risks involved. To me it is as risky as buying eggs from an antique shop. Like I said before though at the end of the day it is your own choice. If you return it to the shop maybe they can have it authenticated and then if it is the real deal you can get it. Maybe?

Clear!
These are the answers that I like, that's why this forum is my favorite, and users are the best.

[EricFG]

Originally Posted by CtahhR

With the heavily faked items you really need to buy from a very reputable dealer. I have bought medals from coin dealers before but I wouldn't buy a medal such as this from one knowing the risks involved.

I disagree. I bought my Nevsky and my T2 ORB from not from a coin dealer but from a general militaria dealer who did NOT specialize in Soviet stuff and I got them for an astoundingly great price. I also got a fake Partisan2 and a good Sevastopol for $10 each (this was 10 years ago when a Sevastolpol was worth maybe $50 or 75). BTW, I also got a fake 20 years RKKA for the same $10. My point is one can find great deals outside of the trusted dealers and while the odds are very very long stranger things have happened. In any event, if I were Mister marsino I would pack this up tonight and mail it to McDaniel/Nota Bene (or their European equivilent) and get it authenticated. ASAP.
But I will agree that 99 times out of 100 one's best bet is buy from a reputable dealer. If, like in this case where we're not 99% sure it's a safe deal, it's a good bet that one should walk away.

Then again only the brave deserve the fair. :)

If you return it to the shop maybe they can have it authenticated and then if it is the real deal you can get it. Maybe?

And at the same great price? I think not. The dealer would add the authentication costs and then price it at peak internet prices.

[CtahhR]

It's definitely not impossible to stumble over a bargain (and run away before they notice you're stealing the item as I've said before) but that is a rare occasion indeed. Speaking of coin dealers and medals, Twenty years ago I went to Spink and it was closed, so I went to Sotherby's and an employee gave me a large bag (about 1 to 2kgs) of coins and the such he saw as "unsellable" and within the bag was a 17th century sailor's medal (which I have since misplaced in a drawer) and the Austro-Hungarian medal I put in the Russian Empire section. Some gold and silver in the bag too and plenty of JUNK. Still, can't complain!


Has this coin dealer had this medal rejected by other potential buyers before?