Swift price hike for Bengal Presidency Pie

[bagerap]

I spotted this on another forum. With a few seconds to go, the winning bid was £46.00:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200719380617?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp4712.m570.l1313%26_nkw%3D200719380617%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1#ht_1015wt_1257

[Abhay]

Finally sold for GBP 856.76.

Abhay

[PeaceBD]

Is this coin really that rare? Did someone just get caught up in the bidding frenzy?

[Oesho]

The piece is (provided to be genuine) an extremely rare pattern trisul pice of Benares mint.
The only illustration I know of is the one in Pridmore (#308A). This is the same illustration as used on the website http://baldwin.co.uk/coins-of-india/. Go to >Bengal Presidency>Benares Mint>AE Pattern Pice 1813.
As the pattern is extremely rare, presumably only one set of dies must has been used. The coin sold on eBay, however, is not die-identical with the illustration of Pridmore, so that its authenticity can be seriously questioned.

[akona20]

Oesho provides great information for the Safety in Collecting series. In fact this is a real life learning experience for the next section WHAT am I collecting and buying.
If you don't know your product and you don't know your seller you WILL get caught unless you have the big money in this case, to take a risk and research what you have bought. For new collectors being caught is nothing new for collectors at any level of experience, it was not invented when Ebay came along, potential fakes have been around since coins were invented.

[Oesho]

Just for the record I have up-loaded the image of eBay as they will ultimately disappear from the eBay site.
Compare them with the image provided on this site: http://baldwin.co.uk/coins-of-india/ and you will clearly see the differences.
eBay specimen is 23mm diameter and weighs 6.47 grams, were as the specimen in Pridmore (#308A) has a diameter of 27 mm. and weighs 12.95 grams.

[andyg]

direct link to the page on the baldwin site,

http://baldwin.co.uk/coins-of-india/OtherMints/BenaresMilledPicePattern1813.htm

[PeaceBD]

Oesho, you bring up some very good points. Thanks for explaining the detail. These people must be very courageous to pay that kind of money for a very rare pattern like that without personally inspecting it.

[akona20]

Again in the series on collecting, smart collectors will look at a standard risk analysis when spending money on such purchases. Rewards can be large but often the downsides are a complete loss of purchase money. Am I informed enough to take the risk or do I now post the item and ask for authentication at a later date (after I have parted with the money).