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TruView or not TruView that is the question
gumby1234
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Ok so I am back in the coin hobby now after a long time. All my slabs are old 80's and early 90's. I just got my first new purchase in a slab and it has TruView. The Truview looks much different than the coin in hand. I was wondering if this is the exception or if others have coins that appear much differently than what the TruView image looks like. Here are my photos of the coin and the TruView.
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I would agree, the TV doesn't represent your coin in hand. Sometimes they are spot on, especially white or proof coins, other times the color can seem a bit off. The luster will always be muted due to the lighting setup they use.
Most of my coins that have a TrueView (TV) look quite similar to the TV. However, and this is a big however, the folks at PCGS have the advantage of shooting the coin raw instead of through plastic and the type of lighting (angle of incidence, temperature of light, intensity used) can make most any coin look profoundly different when the variables are changed.
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TruView or not TruView that is the question
.
the question these days, is pretty much moot now. i think everything besides economy is default TV. you don't have to use those images though.
i imagine if you are unsatisfied with a TV(s), you can put those coins in with an order for a ride-a-long to be re-imaged and make a note to try for a different look than the current TV.
@LanceNewmanOCC The coin looks spectacular in hand. The TV looks really nice also. It is more of a light golden yellow with some faint light blue tinges near the rim. The TV would have you believe that it is a dark orange color. Either way I love the coin. Beautifully struck especially for 1923 S.
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it is not unusual for a TV to look different than another set of photos.
TVs are often called glamour shots
When it comes to toning - I've found/seen the coin in hand just doesn't look like the TrueViews all that often.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Nearly all of my TVs are very accurate.
Hit or miss, sometimes the TV's look like the coin in hand sometimes not. I personally have never paid for a TV as I have found coin photographers that imo have better results.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Irrespective of the pic, that's an exceptional strike. S Mint Buffs from the 20s usually are weakly struck compared those from the Philadelphia Mint. The comparison is like New Orleans Morgans to Philadelphia minted Morgan Dollars.
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"Sou Mangueira......."
It's also a decent die state. Dies used far beyond their useful life are responsible for a high percentage of the very unattractive dates from the late teens through 1935. Here's an example of a coin from a very late die state-
Great for remembering your coins while they're safely in your SDB. Had some really good ones. Had too many that were way off. Anyone who thinks the TV on this coin is close to the coin's look under 75W soft light (grader's bulb) in the holder is drinking Kool-Aid. Both images are off.
You're likely a single buyer.
I'm a constant seller who sells to constant buyers.
YMMV
I agree that sometimes the TV images are useful and sometimes they are not. Attached are good examples using MPL cents. The image of the 1909 is absolutely nothing like the coin in hand while the 1916 is as perfect as one can get. I have also included my pic of the 1909 which is accurate.
I have seen TruViews that are virtually identical to the coin in hand, and others, such as the OP, that vary considerably. It is all in the photography/lighting. Most collectors do not want an ugly TruView.
Cheers, RickO
If I recall correctly, there are several images taken when TrueViews are imaged. @PCGSPhoto may be able to clarify. Lovely Buffalo Type regardless!
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@ricko but if the coin is ugly then so should it be for a TruView. Fortunately this coin is gorgeous. IMO it looks better than the TV
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@gumby1234... You have a valid point... However, over the years, the collector preference has been for beauty shots - and PCGS supplies what the customer wants. Cheers, RickO
@ricko wouldn't that be like false advertising? If a coin is ugly but has beautiful photos to represent it.
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99% of coins look terrible under a grading light though.
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
@gumby1234.... If used to sell the coin, it certainly could be misrepresentation... However, TruViews are supplied to the owner of the coin, not as a option for sale. If you look at many coin sales that provide pictures, either they are so poor, you cannot properly evaluate the coin, or they are beauty shots that make it look much better than reality. Of course, there are also accurate representations. Caveat Emptor. Cheers, RickO
You must think that world-class graders and grading services had been misgrading coins since they opened.
99% of coins looks terrible under a grading light?
A psychiatrist might have a different diagnosis than an opthamologist.
I love the True View pics. $5. That is one great price for photos second to none! Anyway, yes sometimes their pics look different to your actual coin. Like explained above. Their lighting and other characteristics appear that way. Also, you can always tell that the coin IS yours by some mark's on the coin.
Nice Buffalo
by the way! We know it's a Full Horn. What's the grade?
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--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.Agreed. With no shade to the poster. Reframed "Most collectors with ugly coins would prefer to stay in denial".
@joeykoins Its in a AU55 holder. Previous owner said it was in a 58 holder before. I really like the coin and I personally would not buy an AU or UNC without a full horn. I have seen them out there.
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Kinda makes me wonder if some dealers have a "buy" light and a different "sell" light for examining coins?
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I'm just saying, there's a remarkable difference between looking at a coin in natural light, or in ambient light at a shop or on a bourse, versus putting it under a grading light. Grading lights tend to really show all the flaws and issues with a coin, whereas ambient light is far, far more forgiving.
If I want to admire and appreciate a coin, I generally won't attempt to grade it (unless I'm buying it).
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
That used to be a secret.
While the TV team has the coins being raw to their advantage, I have the luxury of being able to take more time with photos. I'm also always me, not an unknown team member.
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Would not have guessed that was a 55. But the number of buffs I submit (and resubmit) that bounce between 55 and 62 is an eye opener.
If I want to admire and appreciate any coin, I insist the image portray the coin realistically. There surely is a difference between a measurably consistent light source that's an industry standard and "ambient light at a shop or bourse". There's a phenomenon that's a caution for bourse floors. "Long Beach Lights" means "Danger". Sunlight? Ye effin Gads. The numismatic graveyard is full of the gruesome eyeless corpses of those preferring the former over the 75W. That particular bulb is the all-time seller for incandescents. NOT an LED house? Check your socket to see what you've been using.
Have fun with your coins... YMMV
I use fluorescent to grade.
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
"And the one-armed undertaker, he blows his futile horn "
Bobby Zimmerman
My anecdotal based opinion is that there are a significant number of TVs that are red color emphasized. I own a few and prefer other photographers (even though they must take a photo is through the plastic) where their photos better reflect what the coin actually looks like in hand.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
I do pretty well given that I'm apparently handicapping myself, thanks for your concern.
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
How much are your annual purchases, sales, monthly average value of coins tied up in grading? What are the five coin series for which you have the highest number (and/or value) of submissions? Never submitted more than a million dollars in value in any grading year since the last century, So I may have different metrics than you for "doing pretty well".
But your hunger to improve yourself shines through clearly.
Have fun with your coins.
And bless your heart
@DelawareDoons -I just realized you're defending your grading "philosophy" on two different thread at the same time. I feel like I'm engaging with the long-lost @Realone.
And bless your heart
If I look at a coin with some color on it, it looks different if I view it under sunlight than it does under artificial light. Also looks different under fluorescent lights than it does under regular lightbulbs and different again under LED lights. Different under “warm” light which tend towards the red part of the spectrum than under “cool” lights that tend toward the blue end of the spectrum.
At my work we have to do color matching of gelatin to make capsules. We have the same problem in that the color looks different under different lighting. We also have problems with getting customers to be happy with the color of their capsules if we try to send them an image because the actual color doesn’t match their computer monitors image so we have to physically mail them gel color swatches when we are making a new product so they can actually see what the real capsules will look like.
You get the idea. I believe one of the TrueView ads says they present an image in the “best possible light” meaning whichever lighting setup makes the coin look the nicest to the photographer.
If you are checking a coin for hairlines it’s better to use LED or regular bulbs, they tend to be invisible under fluorescent lights. For color I like natural sunlight or Ott lights that simulate sunlight.
Mr_Spud
OttLite are what I use. They are fluorescents.
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."