The lot can be viewed on La Galerie Numismatique website:
http://www.coins-la-galerie-numismatique.c...1&catno=254

Or through eBay live:
http://cgi1.liveauctions.ebay.com/ws/eBayI...9415#la-image-1

What do you think ?

For comparison purposes, here is the "La Galerie Numismatique" coin, followed by pictures of a 1729 rouble currently being offered on ebay by a seller in China (ebay item #120209184086)

It does look very similar to the infamous Chinese fake, which flooded the market. I would say that Auction house got fooled by this fake. I used to have it and it's very well done.

Perhaps both are fake, but they are definitely done from different dies. There are enough differences if you look closely. Can anyone post a picture of the genuine item?

Even chinese fakes are a bit different sometimes

I have looked at these carefully and tend to disagree that they are not the same.

It is true that there are differences in some of the letters but the Chinese fakes are
made from molds, not dies, and such molds would crumble and distort over time.

I am therefore of the opinion that both of the pieces are bad and from China.

RWJ

There are surface imperfections (depressions and blems) which are common to both pieces in the fields.

Both have an (almost?) identical "flan flaw" above the crown at 9 o'clock, nearly at the edge.

BTW, if you look at the ebay auction, you'll find that the Chinglish in the description has improved markedly.

How about this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...A:IT&ih=013

In early November I downloaded several photographs of coins being offered by this same
seller, all of which I had doubts about. One of the coins was this same 1729 rouble offered
at present. (The photograph is the same.) I do not know, however, if it sold in November.

RWJ

I don't like it and think it looks funny in terms of its style.

Some buyers have alleged that they were sold fakes by this seller.

The following coins sold by this seller are all very doubtful and the low prices they
brought indicate that others had the same view:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=230193126300

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=230193127096

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=230193124930

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=230189388009

Two of the feedbacks openly accused the seller of offering fakes. The first of the above items
(1740 poltina) was published in the RNS Journal as a fake.

RWJ

In my opinion, coins 1, 3 and 4 are not genuine and I am astonished that they even achieved the low selling prices they did. I cannot see pictures of coin #2 in the link provided, so that one is unknown to me, but the low price is probably a reliable indicator.

Ebay Seller "Wolrd-History-is Reflected in-Coins" was previously known as "Sales-lora", who has had many Russian fakes in the past 2 years. He or She just changed ebay names.

Thanks, I had forgotten the original name. I had some correspondence with sales-lora and
she claimed that her late husband had been an expert in Russian coins and that she was
selling off his collection.

RWJ

The hammer price was $750, which – in my opinion – is about $745 more than it is worth.

RWJ

Did anyone try to contact the Galerie Numismatique about this coin ?
I have reported them about this coin by email and received read confirmation email,
however there was no formal reply.

It appears the auction went ahead anyway, despite your warning, and the coin sold to a floor bidder.

Galerie Numismatique just made my list of people to avoid.

I remember this seller under the prior name and I actually made her an offer for several higher end pieces (1 & 2 rouble gold pieces), from this late husband's collection. I guess I was lucky that she wanted more than I was willing to spend....or waste in this case.

So far this auction house was pain in the ass, I purchased Gold 1778 Poltina from them, but now I think it's been bended. They also sent me an invoice with applied NY sales tax and extremely high shipping fee. I still don't have any problem with paying the total, but they won't answer my emails if this coin is bended or not.

What do you guys think, is it bended or not - http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/ws/eBayIS...em=150195819622

I can't tell if it was bent from the picture. I see what looks like some possible waviness in the fields of the coin, but I don't see any distortion of the portrait or reverse devices.

These coins are very thin and it wouldn't take much force to bend one.