This beautiful proof coin, in the NGC slab, is a restrike from the refurbished original dies for the legendary Confederate cent. The Smithsonian produced this coin in silver and gold as well. The original dies by Robert Lovett were cancelled and struck by Robert Bashlow on the centennial of the start of the Civil War in 1961. The Smithsonian restrikes were issued for the 150th anniversary; they also are on a much thinner planchet than the Bashlow restrikes.The slabbed Smithsonian Confederate cent pictured is the exact coin you will receive. We never use stock photos. The NGC provides the purchaser with what they know is genuine/from the Lovett design. There are several versions of the cent in the marketplace, but they were struck from privately created dies and these range from quite attractive to quite amateurish. If you simply want a fantasy piece, not something of higher quality, you can purchase what might just be considered play money; you can find them for less than $10. It's only my opinion, but I certainly wouldn't want such a facsimile in my collection. NGC and the Smithsonian--as well as Bashlow from almost 65 years ago--offer the never issued coin in high quality from Lovett's original dies--essentially a pattern restrike. And as such, it would be a great coin in most anyone;s collection. The $9.95 version is more like the packet of plastic toy coins you might urchase for your kids. And at ten bucks, they seem an overpriced toy coin.While NGC chose not to grade the Smithsonian coin, the slab notes the coin is a "copper gem proof;" you can see that it is indeed a gem...and a proof.