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(Update) Ever have a coin show up and it’s exceptionally better than the photos?

FlackthatFlackthat Posts: 412 ✭✭✭✭
edited November 28, 2020 9:34AM in U.S. Coin Forum

I was looking for a coin to buy as I had a few eBay Bucks left to spend the other day and to be honest, I don’t know why I bought this coin from these photos.


Well here is what showed up, it has fantastic colorful toning! It’s a real beauty in hand. Not expensive but a cool find in my book. It’s at CAC currently.

Feel free to post any similar experiences.

Comments

  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Most of the time the coin is better than the photo.

  • HydrantHydrant Posts: 7,773 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes.

  • mannie graymannie gray Posts: 7,259 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes.
    And although I consider myself good at interpreting color from poor photos, kudos to the OP for snagging that one.
    I wouldn't have seen that coming.
    Maybe a bit of color on the reverse...but the obverse....

  • Dave99BDave99B Posts: 8,645 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That's amazing! You rolled the bones and it worked. ;)

    Dave

    Always looking for original, better date VF20-VF35 Barber quarters and halves, and a quality beer.
  • pcgscacgoldpcgscacgold Posts: 2,945 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 20, 2020 1:15PM

    I would also have to say almost every time.

    Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
    $5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
    CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572

  • jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 10,357 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Especially on ebay.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • JBKJBK Posts: 16,138 ✭✭✭✭✭

    You were brave and it paid off.

  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,163 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Looks like the OP coin was won courtesy of a lazy seller with a flatbed scanner.

    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • TurtleCatTurtleCat Posts: 4,628 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not very often. Maybe I end up self selecting coins that are presented well? I’ve taken a risk now and then but nothing blew me away when I got it.

  • CameonutCameonut Posts: 7,343 ✭✭✭✭✭

    All the time. I don't save the seller photos so I don't have much to share.

    “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson

    My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!

  • kazkaz Posts: 9,236 ✭✭✭✭✭

    You lucked out! Great looking merc.

  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,702 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Many many years ago, long before people took pictures of coins I bought a 1913-D buffalo from Jack Beymer priced as a F. The coin showed up as a nice high end and very attractive VF. Most of what I was buying back in the '50's was overgraded so I thought it was an XF at the time. Most of the F's I bought were high end G's.

    I'm rarely pleasantly surprised and tend to make offers only when I see them in hand or they are mere "widgets".

    Tempus fugit.
  • koynekwestkoynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭

    A number of times. Looks like you hit the color jackpot on that one, Flackthat. What a pretty coin!

  • jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 10,357 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Here is an 1890 Liberty Seated Dime I purchased off Ebay 12 years ago for my birthday. The coin was so sharply struck that I bought it anyway for $35. I was utilizing NGC a lot at that time and I sent it to them for conserving because I had a suspicion it was a proof. Sure enough it came back as a PF61 . I then sold it to HJBerk for several hundred dollars(actually traded for coins and cash).
    Jim




    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 20, 2020 7:08PM

    Just now opened up a package

    The certified coin is about 100 times better than the photos :)

  • bennybravobennybravo Posts: 1,950 ✭✭✭

    Awesome man!!!! Great score!!!

    https://www.ebay.com/mys/active

  • jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 10,357 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wow, Ron, now that was a fantastic pick. Did you send it in as a business strike or did you assume it was a proof upon submission?
    The latter most likely.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • koynekwestkoynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes, Jim-the latter. I wasn't 100% sure but thought it had a good shot.

  • JBKJBK Posts: 16,138 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I wanted to bid on a silver Israeli medal once and although the pics looked decent I was skeptical since these medals tended to pick up some tarnish, which is a problem since the medals are patinated/antiqued.

    I communicated with the seller in advance, questioning every shadow in the pictures. I asked a few too many questions, I guess, since he politely suggested I might not want to buy it. I bought it anyway and it was in spectacular condition. :p

  • ElmerFusterpuckElmerFusterpuck Posts: 4,766 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Right after Stack's took over for Teletrade years ago, quite a few of their toned coin photos came out flat with no luster. You could pick up the color ok, but every one of them look blah. I was very happy with the below coin, you can really see the colors and luster pop in my photo vs. their photo. Stack's has gotten much better now, they've come a long way.

    10-4,
    Erik
    My registry sets

    My Instagram pictures
  • ShaunBC5ShaunBC5 Posts: 1,767 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I don’t have a better picture, but I got this guy on GC and it looks pretty good here, but I’m-hand it’s my best toned coin and the pinks and purples are awesome. Especially on the reverse. I liked it in their photos and I love it in person.

  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 23, 2020 8:57AM

    My photo first and then the seller's photo.

    Photography arbitrage is a great way to make money on coins ....

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,401 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Many of my coins turn out better than the photos, especially toners and proofs.

    Private Mint News | 2010 Lincoln Reverse Finalists
  • rec78rec78 Posts: 5,784 ✭✭✭✭✭

    All the time, especially when the photo is a scan. Scans are so dinosaur.

    image
  • ernie11ernie11 Posts: 1,975 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This year I ordered a MS-64 Seated Lib dime from a dialer. His photo was angled so as to enhance the toned look of the coin. But when I got it in hand, it was not nearly as toned-looking as the photo. But since I'm not a toner lover, I liked the coin even more because of that. A win-win situation.

  • SkyManSkyMan Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Don't have the eBay picture, but this one showed a little color in the eBay picture, but that was about it. The color looked dark brown. Finding halfway decent toned 1950-D's is very difficult, so I took a shot.


    Toned Franklins

    U.S. Type Set
  • UnknownUnknown
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