Help: PSA certification number doesn't match card

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by GregMitch34

I seem to be full of queries today, sorry....

I've just won a fairly pricey t206 card from an auction house but in checking out the cert number at the PSA site (a little late in the process) I found that it didn't quite line up. The card in the auction was a t206 Piedmont PSA 3 while the cert listing calls it t206 Sovereign PSA 3. This is a fairly early PSA flip style when the back was not IDed on the front.

Is it not that unusual to get a back wrong in their cert listing (especially for old flips) and not to be that worried about--or is this a massive red flag waving? I should note that it went for something of a bargain price so it's possible some others were scared off, or not.

Should I not go through with paying the invoice due to the cert discrepancy? Thanks.

Which is more likely, that PSA screwed up or that there's an issue with the auction house?

Personally, I would pay the invoice. However, I would only bid with auction houses that stand behind what they're selling. If there was something wrong with the item (tampered holder or fake card/slab, for example) when I received it, there would definitely be a return/refund...and I'd know that was an option before bidding.

[GregMitch34]

Here's the card. Besides the cert issue, it may be a bit short. And one wonders why this would only get a 3.

[GregMitch34]

Because of one reply above I have to ask: Is it that common for the PSA certification list to get a back (or anything else) wrong in its records? Or more of a red flag?

[Peter_Spaeth]

The before and after certs don't even identify the backs. I bet if you looked at other surrounding certs you would find the same thing. I think it's just some idiosyncratic database error. But again, CHECK WITH PSA.

[GregMitch34]

What would PSA know at this point if I talked to them? Rightly or wrongly it went into their system as a "Sovereign" back, long ago, not Piedmont. A human error--or some funny business later by someone? It was not sent to them for the new authentication so they have no new info in recent years.

The fact that the card also looks a little short makes me wonder even more. Or could all be quite innocent...But again, what could PSA tell me now?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by GregMitch34

What would PSA know at this point if I talked to them? Rightly or wrongly it went into their system as a "Sovereign" back, long ago, not Piedmont. A human error--or some funny business later by someone? It was not sent to them for the new authentication so they have no new info in recent years.

The fact that the card also looks a little short makes me wonder even more. Or could all be quite innocent...But again, what could PSA tell me now?

I would ask them how it is that in an era when they were not recording backs, why their database reports one, and just see what they say. What's to lose? Nobody here is going to have an answer for you.

[doug.goodman]

Too bad you didn't ask these questions (and "wonder even more") before you bid on (and won) the item.