Peggy - If it is real it will be one of the great finds, I just feel that there are unanswered questions that raise a big Red Flag. If I was to purchase the strike it would have to be through Pay Pal so if it did turn out to be fake there would be buyer protection from Pay Pal.
One of our all time Great collectors who passed away could have perhaps shed some light on this matter and he had almost all if not all the known Proto Types.
I got a good laugh out of your math figures, even in the good days it wouldn't translate to 3 times the $5000 for another proto type.
In todays market there might be half a dozen people willing to purchase the strike but I would think for perhaps 1/5 of the $5000 figure and that might be a tuff amount to get for the strike.
To many complete or near complete collections have gone to melt and well know Errors or Very Limited issues can't bring near the old values, two that jump out are the Mr.B's 50th ann. Error and the Eldorado Wrong Logo/Building Error. These go unsold when offered at prices more inline with todays market.
If you are buying strikes to resell for a profit I will offer my Eldorado Error ( building with wrong logo)for $900 to you plus several other short issue or error strikes.
Email me direct if you have interest.
Walt