Your thoughts on this 1944 L error

[DuboistownDan]

My brother just came over and showed me this 1944 wheat with no mint mark and what looks like the L error. The L seems to be missing completely. What do you think? Picture is fuzzy. He got it in change at Walmart.

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44 whewhhhhhh.... That's me..... Get some cold cuts, get some cold cuts

 

[diggin4clad]

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You're missing the fact that there are currently a lot of these extremely common coins being put up for sale on EBay for ridiculous prices. No one with even an ounce of coin knowledge would get taken by these items. Lincolns without the L which is caused by a filled die are basically worthless unless you can find a collector who's willing to give you half a buck for one.

 

[diggin4clad]

It's a scam supported by a lot of people besides eBay. My brother could turn around and sell this penny worth 5 cents to some unsuspecting soul with ease for several hundred. He said even the guy at the local pawn shop was taken in.

That's because the guy at the pawn shop has virtually no knowledge of coins or their values.

 

[AirmetTango]

You're missing the fact that there are currently a lot of these extremely common coins being put up for sale on EBay for ridiculous prices. No one with even an ounce of coin knowledge would get taken by these items.

Exactly….you can find countless scam coin listings on eBay at any given time that attempt to sucker people by portraying extremely common coins as rare or error coins:

eBay listing: Rare Indian Head / Buffalo U.S. 5 cents nickel (No Date)

Buy it now for only $2500!! Who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to own one of those “rare” no date Buffalo nickels

eBay Listing: 1939 jefferson nickel no mint mark Error 5 Cent Coin Very Rare

Wow!! An ordinary, nicked up and worn Jefferson nickel minted in Philadelphia can be yours for only $275 if you Buy It Now!! The description is absolutely ludicrous: “The composition of the coin is unknown, adding to the mystique and allure of this rare find. The strike type is business and the grade is ungraded, making it an ideal piece for those who appreciate the beauty of raw, unaltered coins. The coin was minted in Philadelphia and is certified as uncertified. Don't miss the chance to add this very rare 1939 Jefferson nickel to your collection today.”

Since eBay added the option to have AI write the item description for you, many of the descriptions have gotten to be a joke at best, and criminally false at worst. You better know what you’re doing not only if you’re buying coins on eBay, but also even if you’re just attempting to use it as a value estimate.

Here’s one more of many:

eBay Listing: 1946 Jefferson Nickel NO MINT MARK RARE Post-War Coin

Buy it now for only $1500!! You get the idea…there are con men everywhere.

 

[Cherry Picker]

That's because the guy at the pawn shop has virtually no knowledge of coins or their values.

And that is my point. I could sell this to our local pawn shop for $30-$40 easily because he doesn't know. It just makes it easy to pull a CON on a lot of people. I just can't see how they can get away with it. Basically, it takes the value away from every item you Google unless you know the difference.

 

[maxxkatt]

Unfortunately the ebay ad means nothing unless it sold for that price? They will put big numbers on anything at all..... PCGS does not even recognize the variety....

and some drug dealers will take items like coins and beanie babies and list them for a huge price and actually sell them to a buddy to laundry drug money. Don't know this for sure, but I ask a guy on a beanie baby forum why common beanie babies sold at such a high price like $10,000. Often there will be only one bidder, the other half of the money laundry scheme. Seems like there would be easier ways to laundry drug money. That does not really make sense. But I think the bank reports high dollar cash deposits to the DEA or some other such gov organization like the IRS.