Authentic finds ever killed?

[Cannonman17]

I've never had anything papered in my life. Now that I'm getting older I'm considering it not for myself but for those who I leave my collection to. So.. on my way to work I was thinking about the subject when I suddenly wondered, have any of you ever had a personal find "killed" by an authenticator? Just curious if it's ever happened and if it did whey they did it?

[Bobby]

I know of several that have been killed, Texas points. Just like some fakes pass some authentic get killed. Most of the time this happens on top quality points that look just to good to be true so the authenticators don't want to risk their reputation so the pass on the item therefore killing it. I know they might not actually kill the point on paper but if they pass on it then the point is dead from then on.

[slowpoke]

Yep' that's why alot of hunters that dig take insitu shots so they have proof of thier finds being good.some could argue that doesn't matter though.

[ozarkmike]

the age old question what makes an authenticator and what qualifications does one have to have to be one ? is there a test they have to pass to qualify and prove there worth??

[Bobby]

Originally Posted by ozarkmike

the age old question what makes an authenticator and what qualifications does one have to have to be one ? is there a test they have to pass to qualify and prove there worth??

There are a few things you need before you can be an authenticator.

1 you need a computer
2 you need a printer
3 you need a camera
4 you need a pen to sign your name
and last but not least
5 you need an address for the customers to send their hard earned money for your opinion (right or wrong).
In other words anyone can be an authenticator at least for a while. Although your COA's maybe nothing more than toilet paper down the road just look at all the money out there people are just willing to give to someone with an opinion.

Opinions are like a-holes, everyone has one and most of them stink. My wife keeps saying she has two, don't know what that's about.

[Cluton]

Bobby you forget #6: You need to be rude to people!
#7: You play politics, cater to specific
People!
#8: Be able to make a type "variant" a
new valid "type"!!
#9: Last but not least," It's probably a
Plainview, yep I'm sure of it!"

I feel like David Letterman reading his Top Ten!! Lol

[joshuaream]

The computer, printer and camera help, but I'm pretty sure I've seen authenticators get by without them...

I've seen it happen but I think it's gotten better since more people have handled regional stuff. It used to happen on Pacific NW material and Florida material when dealers didn't know the material (they would kill good pieces and paper bad.) I've also seen it really great finds, where the authenticator figured it was bad because it was such a rare relic with a common story.

I have a celt I dug that Davis wouldn't paper (he didn't kill it, just said he preferred not to give an opinion.) It's got a thick caliche patina was up in the plow zone and I scraped it the wrong way with a shovel and left long a metal mark on it.

I'm glad it I didn't sell it, a while later I was probing the area and found several more pieces of the cache in context a couple feet away. It's now one of my favorite caches. The bases are angled on all these pieces, I think the same person made them. Here are the three best pieces, the piece on the right in the second picture was rejected.

[bls2036]

My collection would only be considered field grade by most, but I consider it to be very awesome. I love finding Indian artifacts and displaying them. My wife and son arent interested in them or searching for them with me. My brothers son comes to stay with us for a week in the summers and loves to go hunting with me. He has found some broken points and an awesome stone adze. I will probably leave all to him when I go. I could care less about what someones opinion is to my artifacts. As far as papering personal finds I think it's a waste of time and money. If I found something spectacular that was worth tons of money would be the only way I would even consider it. Jmo, but if you found it you know.

[fishingandfirearms]

Originally Posted by joshuaream

The computer, printer and camera help, but I'm pretty sure I've seen authenticators get by without them...

I've seen it happen but I think it's gotten better since more people have handled regional stuff. It used to happen on Pacific NW material and Florida material when dealers didn't know the material (they would kill good pieces and paper bad.) I've also seen it really great finds, where the authenticator figured it was bad because it was such a rare relic with a common story.

I have a celt I dug that Davis wouldn't paper (he didn't kill it, just said he preferred not to give an opinion.) It's got a thick caliche patina was up in the plow zone and I scraped it the wrong way with a shovel and left long a metal mark on it.

I'm glad it I didn't sell it, a while later I was probing the area and found several more pieces of the cache in context a couple feet away. It's now one of my favorite caches. The bases are angled on all these pieces, I think the same person made them. Here are the three best pieces, the piece on the right in the second picture was rejected.

Attachment 66093

Attachment 66094

Just curious, if they don't give an opinion do they still charge you the fee?

[joshuaream]

Originally Posted by fishingandfirearms

Just curious, if they don't give an opinion do they still charge you the fee?

I should have made that clear, Tom was very friendly about it and returned my check uncashed so he ended up paying return shipping himself.