Mukti Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 I just received this in the mail but the ""Certificate of Authenticity" was simply a business card stating fossilized "shark" tooth millions of years old. When I purchased the tooth it was specified Carcharocles Megalodon. Can anybody help me put my mind at ease? The tooth itself is about 4.5 inches. Thank you 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Welcome to the Forum. Looks like a real megalodon, pretty worn and beat. No one would reproduce one in this kind of rough shape. Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesuslover340 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Never give "certificates of authenticity" for fossils much mind. They have no validity; anyone can print them. If anything, they're just a means for businesses to settle customers' minds on specimens. I have yet to see one actually authenticated by a "professional" paleontologist (they are not really in the business of authenticating fossil specimens for the purposes of selling them and it would take up too much of their time to do so)... But yes-your tooth does seem to be genuine. Megalodon teeth are a dime a dozen, and unless you are after the highest quality, you're unlikely to find a fabricated one because they're just too common to warrant the effort of fabricating a non-pristine specimen. "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."-Romans 14:19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mukti Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 Is worn and beat a good thing? I was really looking for something as close to the real thing as possible. I'm not a true collector.....yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mukti Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 Thank you Jesuslover340. It is the same thing with the semi-precious stone tiger's eye. They are mined in so many countries that it would be more expensive to fake it than get the real thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bone guy Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 That's a nice tooth! I love the color of the enamel. Great find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesuslover340 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 7 minutes ago, Mukti said: Is worn and beat a good thing? I was really looking for something as close to the real thing as possible. I'm not a true collector.....yet It's actually a fairly complete specimen! It just ate in its lifetime So if you want to be really technical, yours is closer to the "real" thing than those that are pristine and haven't had much feeding action "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."-Romans 14:19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mukti Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 Yay!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mukti Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 10 minutes ago, Jesuslover340 said: It's actually a fairly complete specimen! It just ate in its lifetime So if you want to be really technical, yours is closer to the "real" thing than those that are pristine and haven't had much feeding action I have another random question since this is my first "fossil". When handling the tooth or showing others should I or whomever is handling the tooth wear gloves and such to prevent oil from the skin and fingerprints from coming into contact with the tooth or does it not really matter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 22 minutes ago, Mukti said: I have another random question since this is my first "fossil". When handling the tooth or showing others should I or whomever is handling the tooth wear gloves and such to prevent oil from the skin and fingerprints from coming into contact with the tooth or does it not really matter? That wonderful, impressive tooth can take anything you can dish out - short of slamming it to a concrete surface. So, if you have any ham-handed friends, caution them not to drop it. Seriously, no special treatment is needed. Wipe it down occasionally with a damp paper towel. It will be fine. Enjoy. 2 Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herb Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 looks real to me also, nice color "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"_ Carl Sagen No trees were killed in this posting......however, many innocent electrons were diverted from where they originally intended to go. " I think, therefore I collect fossils." _ Me "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."__S. Holmes "can't we all just get along?" Jack Nicholson from Mars Attacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mukti Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 4 minutes ago, snolly50 said: That wonderful, impressive tooth can take anything you can dish out - short of slamming it to a concrete surface. So, if you have any ham-handed friends, caution them not to drop it. Seriously, no special treatment is needed. Wipe it down occasionally with a damp paper towel. It will be fine. Enjoy. Awesome, although I do plan on keeping handling to a minimum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mukti Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 1 minute ago, Herb said: looks real to me also, nice color Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesuslover340 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 24 minutes ago, snolly50 said: That wonderful, impressive tooth can take anything you can dish out - short of slamming it to a concrete surface. So, if you have any ham-handed friends, caution them not to drop it. Seriously, no special treatment is needed. Wipe it down occasionally with a damp paper towel. It will be fine. Enjoy. Yep. Meg teeth on the whole are pretty sturdy. I wouldn't worry about handling it too much-as Snolly said, just try not to put it in circumstances where it could be dropped on a hard surface. "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."-Romans 14:19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilselachian Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Handle at will - you will not damage tooth in doing so. Just don't drop it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Agree with all of the above. Nice genuine tooth, pretty sturdy, don't hit it with a hammer and welcome to the wonderful world of fossil collecting! Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gizmo Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Looks like a meg ledge tooth from off the North Carolina coast. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mukti Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 25 minutes ago, Gizmo said: Looks like a meg ledge tooth from off the North Carolina coast. According to the seller, that is exactly what it is. I'm impressed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mukti Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 51 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said: Agree with all of the above. Nice genuine tooth, pretty sturdy, don't hit it with a hammer and welcome to the wonderful world of fossil collecting! Thank you! I collect guitar picks as well. I'm curious if those collections and fossil collecting could be combined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 22 minutes ago, Mukti said: Thank you! I collect guitar picks as well. I'm curious if those collections and fossil collecting could be combined. Hmmm I collect cheese Could we combine the three? Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesuslover340 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 4 hours ago, Mukti said: Thank you! I collect guitar picks as well. I'm curious if those collections and fossil collecting could be combined. You can get dinosaur bone/polished fossil coral/polished turitella guitar picks "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."-Romans 14:19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seaforth Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 I too agree with all of the above! Wonderful piece! Personally I prefer the fossils with "battle damage" as opposed to the so called 'mint specimen" A fossils that really shows the hardships of wear & tear and the sands of time is WAYYY more appealing than the ones that look like the're from yesterday. But thats just me being s silly goofy Dutchman :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mukti Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 2 hours ago, Seaforth said: I too agree with all of the above! Wonderful piece! Personally I prefer the fossils with "battle damage" as opposed to the so called 'mint specimen" A fossils that really shows the hardships of wear & tear and the sands of time is WAYYY more appealing than the ones that look like the're from yesterday. But thats just me being s silly goofy Dutchman :-) I personally like your silly goofy Dutchman way of thinking. I absolutely agree with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mukti Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 7 hours ago, Jesuslover340 said: You can get dinosaur bone/polished fossil coral/polished turitella guitar picks I'm all over that! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mukti Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 12 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said: Agree with all of the above. Nice genuine tooth, pretty sturdy, don't hit it with a hammer and welcome to the wonderful world of fossil collecting! A cheesy Megalodon guitar pick...could get messy but hey it's worth a shot! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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