PSA is Grading FAKE 1983 Topps '52 Mantle Reprints — Buyers Beware!

superdan49 · 01-12-2023, 11:00 PM

Good evening,

The 1983 Topps '52 reprint set contains one of the most desirable licensed reprints of Mickey Mantle's iconic 1952 Topps #311 card. Featuring card fronts with a slightly glossy finish and limited to an estimated 10,000 copies, they are rarely found in high grade due to centering problems and issues with stray print marks.

Lately, however, I noticed a number of higher grade examples show up on eBay in PSA slabs. Many of these originate with seller hearvoices, who has in the past been accused of selling forgeries (see, for instance, HERE and HERE).

This thread will demonstrate that the two high grade examples currently on eBay, a PSA 9 being sold by the aforementioned hearvoices, and a PSA 10 being sold by nathan2750, are counterfeit cards.

Below are counterfeit examples that I uncovered, all in PSA holders. It is unclear where these counterfeit reprints originated, but they are assuredly not authentic examples of the Mick's 1983 Topps '52 Reprint:

PSA Cert #65475498 (currently on eBay)

PSA Cert #69547866 (currently on eBay)

PSA Cert #31779024

PSA Cert #40581001

PSA Cert #65475497

PSA Cert #65475499

And now for some authentic examples. First, there is a PSA 7 graded example on eBay that is being sold with the complete set. It is authentic.

And finally, here is a comparison of an authentic card back with a counterfeit card back, along with three easy steps to spot a fake. The quickest tell is that counterfeits have the number 311 in the lower left corner whereas authentic cards feature it in the upper right:

There are currently 14 PSA 10 examples of this card in the Pop Report. I question whether any of them are authentic. Based on this report, PSA has some decertifying to do.

mfw13 · 01-12-2023, 11:07 PM

So people are now counterfeiting and grading reprints?????

superdan49 · 01-12-2023, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfw13

So people are now counterfeiting and grading reprints?????

Indeed.

Archangel1775 · 01-12-2023, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfw13

So people are now counterfeiting and grading reprints?????

Jeez, that's nuts.

Erick · 01-12-2023, 11:29 PM

Thank you for this. You help a lot of people by doing this hard work.

MOONBASE1 · 01-12-2023, 11:35 PM

It never ends.

MoreToppsPlease · 01-12-2023, 11:35 PM

Incredible.

The counterfeits will drag down the interest and value of legitimate copies.

auburn35 · 01-12-2023, 11:51 PM

Great catch.
Just sent the thread to PSA management.
Unlike the thousands upon thousands of altered cards that continue to go uncorrected, PSA seems to be fairly quick at deactivating, some counterfeits.

No longer grading them.... we'll see.

awz50 · 01-12-2023, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfw13

So people are now counterfeiting and grading reprints?????

Strange strange world

MoreToppsPlease · 01-13-2023, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfw13

So people are now counterfeiting and grading reprints?????

Doesn’t bode well for non-reprints, does it now…

ninjacookies · 01-13-2023, 01:11 AM

True inception moment for the discerning clecter of copies that refuses to settle for a copy of a copy.

Back orientation literally flipped. Stringent PSA grading process be damned.

I'm going to start printing and pawning Edward Vela sketch reprints. Try and stop me.

trauty · 01-13-2023, 01:40 AM

The fakes also have very thick black border outline and the cap is almost touching the border.

DragonWagon · 01-13-2023, 07:58 AM

All Added to the Altered Card Database https://www.tiffanycards.com/altered-card-database

Here is the cert run for the hearvoices fakes.

Adding these fakes as well

cert# 65475496

cert# 65475500 no pic of back

DragonWagon · 01-13-2023, 08:10 AM

Here is the cert run of the Fake cert# 31779024

DragonWagon · 01-13-2023, 09:05 AM

Cert run for the Fake 40581001

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

NYRE2PECT · 01-13-2023, 09:49 AM

This is insane.

I guess we have seen trimmers cut cards for $10, so why would be surprised that somebody would bust out their epson to try to cash in on $300+.

Nice catch, Dan, sad to see it, but good to have out there nonetheless.

Vintage CC · 01-13-2023, 09:50 AM

Incredible work Dan. People will defraud anything and everything with PSA. Unreal that PSA can't spot a 180 degree different orientation on the back.

PunsRTonsOfFun · 01-13-2023, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vintage CC

Incredible work Dan. People will defraud anything and everything with PSA. Unreal that PSA can't spot a 180 degree different orientation on the back.

The first card ever graded by PSA was altered and they didn't catch it. We should all be ashamed we allowed them to become the industry standard.

Rooftop · 01-13-2023, 02:41 PM

incompetent company that starts with the people at the top

mfw13 · 01-13-2023, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooftop

incompetent company that starts with the people at the top

And all the fanboys who support them by submitting their cards to them for grading......

vthobby · 01-13-2023, 03:24 PM

Technically, it's labeled by PSA as a "Reprint" on their holder. Reprint of a Reprint of a Reprint......

No one is winning this one in a court of law much less court of opinion.

Really? Too much time on your hands? lol

3124508 on COMC · 01-13-2023, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vthobby

Technically, it's labeled by PSA as a "Reprint" on their holder. Reprint of a Reprint of a Reprint......

No one is winning this one in a court of law much less court of opinion.

Really? Too much time on your hands? lol

You might be right that nobody is winning, but you’re certainly losing.

pete2345 · 01-13-2023, 04:40 PM

PSA is trash.

towerymt · 01-13-2023, 05:00 PM

69547866 the exception to the flipped back? Latest cert number, so maybe an updated version

no10pin · 01-13-2023, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vthobby

Technically, it's labeled by PSA as a "Reprint" on their holder. Reprint of a Reprint of a Reprint......

No one is winning this one in a court of law much less court of opinion.

Really? Too much time on your hands? lol

Legitimate PSA 9s from the 1983 set sell for $400-500. How is this different than counterfeiting any other $400 card? No big deal, right?

01-12-2023, 11:00 PM	#1
superdan49 BODA Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 4,238	PSA is Grading FAKE 1983 Topps '52 Mantle Reprints — Buyers Beware! Good evening, The 1983 Topps '52 reprint set contains one of the most desirable licensed reprints of Mickey Mantle's iconic 1952 Topps #311 card. Featuring card fronts with a slightly glossy finish and limited to an estimated 10,000 copies, they are rarely found in high grade due to centering problems and issues with stray print marks. Lately, however, I noticed a number of higher grade examples show up on eBay in PSA slabs. Many of these originate with seller hearvoices, who has in the past been accused of selling forgeries (see, for instance, HERE and HERE). This thread will demonstrate that the two high grade examples currently on eBay, a PSA 9 being sold by the aforementioned hearvoices, and a PSA 10 being sold by nathan2750, are counterfeit cards. Below are counterfeit examples that I uncovered, all in PSA holders. It is unclear where these counterfeit reprints originated, but they are assuredly not authentic examples of the Mick's 1983 Topps '52 Reprint: PSA Cert #65475498 (currently on eBay) PSA Cert #69547866 (currently on eBay) PSA Cert #31779024 PSA Cert #40581001 PSA Cert #65475497 PSA Cert #65475499 And now for some authentic examples. First, there is a PSA 7 graded example on eBay that is being sold with the complete set. It is authentic. And finally, here is a comparison of an authentic card back with a counterfeit card back, along with three easy steps to spot a fake. The quickest tell is that counterfeits have the number 311 in the lower left corner whereas authentic cards feature it in the upper right: There are currently 14 PSA 10 examples of this card in the Pop Report. I question whether any of them are authentic. Based on this report, PSA has some decertifying to do. __________________ Cardboard Detective Emeritus superdan49@protonmail.com — Anonymous Tip-line Last edited by superdan49; 01-12-2023 at 11:53 PM. Reason: fixed URL

01-12-2023, 11:35 PM	#7
MoreToppsPlease Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 8,616	Incredible. The counterfeits will drag down the interest and value of legitimate copies. __________________ IRS Tax Tip 2022-57 A hobby is any activity that a person pursues because they enjoy it and with no intention of making a profit. People operate a business with the intention of making a profit.

01-12-2023, 11:51 PM	#8
auburn35 Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 3,936	Great catch. Just sent the thread to PSA management. Unlike the thousands upon thousands of altered cards that continue to go uncorrected, PSA seems to be fairly quick at deactivating, some counterfeits. No longer grading them.... we'll see. __________________ Ashley Lelie Rookie Collector, always looking for more.

01-13-2023, 01:11 AM	#11
ninjacookies Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: All the girls see the (boi)/ Look at his flips / Look at his kards / All they say is (oh boi). Posts: 54,432	True inception moment for the discerning clecter of copies that refuses to settle for a copy of a copy. Back orientation literally flipped. Stringent PSA grading process be damned. I'm going to start printing and pawning Edward Vela sketch reprints. Try and stop me. __________________ #5 world ranked Ledell Eackles superclection as recognized by Tuff Stuff junior managing editor, Barry McCaulkinner. Somethin' like a cross between Teddy Aguhob and Kaboom Mystery Packs. I got that Givenchy denim flow.

01-13-2023, 09:49 AM	#16
NYRE2PECT Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: San Antonio Posts: 5,884	This is insane. I guess we have seen trimmers cut cards for $10, so why would be surprised that somebody would bust out their epson to try to cash in on $300+. Nice catch, Dan, sad to see it, but good to have out there nonetheless. __________________ Primarily retired from collecting...but, I do love California Angels baseball.

01-12-2023, 11:07 PM	#2
mfw13 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 15,709	So people are now counterfeiting and grading reprints?????

01-12-2023, 11:29 PM	#5
Erick Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Loma Linda, California Posts: 135 Eroro_6276	Thank you for this. You help a lot of people by doing this hard work.

01-12-2023, 11:35 PM	#6
MOONBASE1 Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: East Coast Posts: 1,119	It never ends.

01-13-2023, 01:40 AM	#12
trauty Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Nebraska Posts: 38 trauty	The fakes also have very thick black border outline and the cap is almost touching the border.

01-13-2023, 07:58 AM	#13
DragonWagon Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 831	All Added to the Altered Card Database https://www.tiffanycards.com/altered-card-database Here is the cert run for the hearvoices fakes. Adding these fakes as well cert# 65475496 cert# 65475500 no pic of back

01-13-2023, 08:10 AM	#14
DragonWagon Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 831	Here is the cert run of the Fake cert# 31779024

01-13-2023, 09:05 AM	#15
DragonWagon Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 831	Cert run for the Fake 40581001 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01-13-2023, 09:50 AM	#17
Vintage CC Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 17	Incredible work Dan. People will defraud anything and everything with PSA. Unreal that PSA can't spot a 180 degree different orientation on the back.

01-13-2023, 02:41 PM	#19
Rooftop Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 3,118	incompetent company that starts with the people at the top

01-13-2023, 03:24 PM	#21
vthobby Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Virginia Tech Posts: 850	lol Technically, it's labeled by PSA as a "Reprint" on their holder. Reprint of a Reprint of a Reprint...... No one is winning this one in a court of law much less court of opinion. Really? Too much time on your hands? lol

01-13-2023, 04:40 PM	#23
pete2345 Banned Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Birthplace of Michael Jordan home of biggie smalls! Posts: 4,125	PSA is trash.

01-13-2023, 05:00 PM	#24
towerymt Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: VA Posts: 7,472	69547866 the exception to the flipped back? Latest cert number, so maybe an updated version