eBay vs. Coin Shows for Selling an 1881-CC Morgan: Fees, Dealer Offers, and Authenticity

When I decide where to sell an 1881-CC Morgan dollar, I look well beyond the headline offer. The venue can change my net profit, the collectors who discover its collectibility, and my exposure to counterfeits and payment trouble. eBay reaches collectors around the world; a traditional coin show concentrates knowledgeable buyers on one bourse floor. A recent forum case involving a counterfeit 1881-CC Morgan in a fake NGC holder shows why the choice between eBay and coin shows is about more than finding the highest gross offer.

1. The 1881-CC Morgan That Turned a Sale Into an Authenticity Lesson

In my work as an online coin dealer, I never separate the coin from its holder, certification, description, and provenance. Each piece of evidence must support the others. The forum case at the center of this discussion involved what collectors informally call a “double fake”: a counterfeit coin inside a counterfeit grading holder.

What happened in the reported eBay transaction

1. A seller advertised a purported 1881-CC Morgan dollar in an NGC holder.
2. The original poster examined the listing, identified several problems, contacted the seller, and reported the holder to Numismatic Guaranty Corporation.
3. NGC updated the certification record with a notation indicating a possible counterfeit holder. The seller ended the first listing.
4. The same seller later relisted the piece under eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee. According to the account, the seller claimed to have purchased the coin directly from the United States Mint.
5. The buyer ordered on September 2, received the coin, and submitted the transaction for review.
6. By September 10, eBay had credited the purchase price, apparently arranged for the return, and removed the listing for a policy violation.

The buyer received a welcome result. Even so, I would not treat the refund as proof of exactly what eBay detected. The account does not establish whether the decision came from examining the coin, the fake holder, NGC’s updated record, the seller’s conduct, or a combination of those factors. The seller’s claim of buying directly from the Mint may sound like strong provenance, but an unsupported claim is not documented provenance.

What the case proves—and what it does not

This episode shows that eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee can offer meaningful protection even when a counterfeit coin is disguised with a respected grading label. It does not mean the program is infallible, that every submitted coin receives the same scrutiny, or that sellers can skip their own authentication. I still treat the guarantee as a safety net, not as a substitute for careful inspection.

For orientation, a genuine 1881-CC Morgan dollar is a 90% silver coin weighing approximately 26.73 grams and measuring about 38.1 millimeters in diameter. Its documented mintage is 412,500 pieces. I use those figures as screening references, never as a verdict. A sophisticated counterfeit can reproduce weight, diameter, reeding, mint mark, and surface details. I also weigh strike, luster, patina, and eye appeal, but none proves authenticity by itself. Labels such as rare variety or mint condition, and claims of exceptional eye appeal, add numismatic value only when the coin and its documentation support them.

The reported label also contained a typographical anomaly: NGC’s registered-trademark symbol was missing or malformed. To me, that is a warning rather than proof of fraud. I examine label printing, insert construction, holder dimensions, certification formats, and the grading service’s online record. One odd feature calls for closer inspection; several independent inconsistencies mean I stop the sale and seek specialist review.

2. eBay Fees vs. Coin-Show Offers: Price the Net Proceeds, Not the Hammer

eBay offers a reach that no single coin show can match. A show lets me discuss a coin face-to-face with knowledgeable dealers and collectors, but neither venue should be judged by the gross offer alone. Before choosing between an eBay sale and a dealer offer at a show, I calculate the money I will actually keep and the risk I will carry.

Calculate an all-in selling price

My selling worksheet begins with a simple formula:

Net proceeds = sale price plus shipping collected, minus selling and payment-processing fees, promoted-listing charges, applicable program costs, packing, insurance, shipping subsidies, return expenses, taxes remitted, and any coin-show commission or agreed dealer discount.

Shipping and sales tax collected from the buyer are generally pass-through amounts rather than profit. They still affect the total charged to the customer, so I reconcile every charge before comparing one offer with another.

• Selling or final-value fee: The eBay rate depends on the current category schedule, total transaction amount, and seller status. I use eBay’s current fee calculator rather than an old forum post. A coin-show dealer’s offer may already reflect commission or a wholesale discount, so I ask how that figure is calculated.
• Payment processing: Some structures bundle processing into the category rate, while others may show it separately. I confirm the treatment of the exact transaction rather than estimating from memory.
• Promoted listings: Advertising can introduce a coin to more collectors, but additional visibility is not automatically profitable. I compare the results with ordinary listing traffic before spending more.
• Packing and insurance: Proper holders, capsules, cardboard, seals, and tamper-evident packaging are especially important for graded coins and expensive counterfeits.
• Shipping: Even a single heavy coin may require fully insured, signature-confirmed service. International sales add customs paperwork, tracking, and logistical complexity.
• Return exposure: I do not treat a completed sale as final income when the return rate is ten percent. I reserve part of the proceeds for returns, adjustments, and payment disputes, then compare that risk with the dealer terms offered at a show.

Related Resources

You might also find these related articles helpful:

• eBay’s 1881-CC “Morgan” Double Fake: PVC, Oxidation, Bronze Disease, and Safe Acetone Treatment – Improper storage is the enemy of numismatics. Let’s identify the signs of environmental damage specific to this metal ty…
• Smart Buying Guide: How to Buy THIS is what a REAL 1856 Flying Eagle proof cent looks like Without Getting Ripped Off – Introduction: Why the 1856 Flying Eagle Cent Is a Minefield for Buyers If you are looking to add this to your collection…
• The 1881-CC Morgan Counterfeit Inside eBay’s Guarantee: Reading the Metal and the Fake NGC Slab – A coin’s alloy governs how it strikes, wears, tones, and ages. Weight, diameter, and even the design can be copied with …