CPM Forum

Foreign => US Currency => Topic started by: Oldbucks on February 23, 2008, 03:26:15 pm

Title: Counterfeit Graded as Authentic
Post by: Oldbucks on February 23, 2008, 03:26:15 pm
Last week at the weekly Heritage auction, I purchased a Fractional Currency 2nd Issue $.50 Fr. 1317. I was happy to buy it, receive it, admire it.....and scan it...

As I was scanning the note, something didnt look right about George Washington. It looked as if he had a face make over. I took a closer look at the fonts, mumbled a few explatives and was convinced,  it was a counterfeit.

What makes this interesting is that the note was certified by PMG as Choice AU58 EPQ. A nice grade in my opinion, that I was thinking saved me hundreds. The note is so well centered, but you take a look at what I saw


Portraits of George Washington. Notice the shape of the face. That was the first indication.

real

{attach:4877}

 fake

{attach:4878}


The next sequence of scans are from the upper right side of the Obverse.

real

 {attach:4879}

fake

 {attach:4880}

Look at:

the "States" ,
then on the left side, the scroll work,
then the beading around the "50".

The engraved lines in general are not sharp as they should be. Second the engraved fonts do not have the same balance of white and black areas.
Other parts of the note showed similar differences. ie the Locomotive, cargo and mule.

I did not even try to do an analysis on the reverse

Since this PMG Graded.....this is a perfect case of "buy the note and not the holder" It stumped, PMG, Heritage and at first me, but then In my due diligence, I found it. And have been receiving some nice offers for it. Sorry I am keeping it!

Jeff


Here are pictures of the note.....hey its got an EPQ designation too!

{attach:4881}

Real Fr.1317

{attach:4882}

Counterfeit Fr. 1317
{attach:4883}
Title: Re: Counterfeit Graded as Authentic
Post by: friedsquid on February 29, 2008, 07:53:17 am
Quote
it was a counterfeit.
What makes this interesting is that the note was certified by PMG as Choice AU58 EPQ. A nice grade in my opinion

Maybe the two "FAKE $100's" should be sent to PMG for grading.  Who knows what they may be worth  ???
Title: Re: Counterfeit Graded as Authentic
Post by: BWJM on February 29, 2008, 11:09:36 am
Maybe the two "FAKE $100's" should be sent to PMG for grading.  Who knows what they may be worth  ???
No, definitely not. They should be turned into the police. You said that yourself, Squid.
Title: Re: Counterfeit Graded as Authentic
Post by: friedsquid on February 29, 2008, 12:41:34 pm
Quote
No, definitely not. They should be turned into the police. You said that yourself, Squid.


Yes I did say that.  But only you didn't realize it was a joke ;D

[edit]Removed caps. --BWJM[/edit]