When selling coins online - Pictures

Coinscratch

I've heard ya'll guys say before that pics are everything when selling coins, right. And so, obviously blurry and/or dark pictures can be a tell-tale sign of some problem coins or it could just be a really bad photographer too.

My first question here is: Are these types of pics market acceptable? And those will be the latter pics and labeled diffused as per what I think they are, shaded, indirect light what have you.

While the first Pics are basically taken under two lamps, directly.

Direct lighting before and after the bath.

Diffused

PeakRarities

I think these photos, especially the closeups, are excellent. I would certainly be able to make a buying decision based on those.

Project Numismatics

The closeups are great - but consider playing with the angle of the lighting with the wider shots - there is a bit of glare. Moving the lights around should take care of it.

That said, I don’t think you’d have any trouble selling these coins with these photos.

Cladiator

If I were inclined to bid on these the photos would not hold me back in the least. Nice job.

TheGoonies1985

Photos are everything to me before choosing to buy or not to buy a coin. I am not taking any chances. Sellers has bad images I will simply pass and or ask for better images and usually I get none. I prefer places like Heritage auctions that understands people like me that have OCD and must see a coin up and close in full detail.

I think you images look great and would be able to make a proper judgement if the coins are for me or not.

tincup

Pics should work well if planning to sell the coins.

logger7

Much better than mine. I would have total confidence with what I was getting.

Mr_Spud

They look great.

Coinscratch

Okay! Well, I suppose that sums it up (over 250 years of experience in the first 6 posts say yay
I would certainly bid higher on the second round of pics I just wasn't sure if those were market acceptable, they almost looks juiced as compared to a quick, direct light cell pic.

Thank you guys!
Next step is to clean up, shoot, and market all of these curious (widgets) purchases I've made over the past few years.
I'd be beside myself at break even which never crossed my mind before with this proof set.

Coinscratch

@Mr_Spud said:
They look great.

You beat me, now 7 posters and 300 years of experience

FlyingAl

Those are very good pictures, and I don’t see an issue buying off of them.

Granted, I will accept a much lower level of photography than many here.

Coinscratch

@FlyingAl said:
Those are very good pictures, and I don’t see an issue buying off of them.

Granted, I will accept a much lower level of photography than many here.

Thanks Al. Proofs seem to be a much easier subject to shoot because of the reflectivity and shadowing effects but...
That Franklin appears to have very deep mirrors though the frost isn't the thickest. Where do you think it would fall?
I'm thinking 67 cam for an A coin or just 68?

FlyingAl

@Coinscratch said:

@FlyingAl said:
Those are very good pictures, and I don’t see an issue buying off of them.

Granted, I will accept a much lower level of photography than many here.

Thanks Al. Proofs seem to be a much easier subject to shoot because of the reflectivity and shadowing effects but...
That Franklin appears to have very deep mirrors though the frost isn't the thickest. Where do you think it would fall?
I'm thinking 67 cam for an A coin or just 68?

There’s no way to tell from images unfortunately. A 68 generally has no or very few very light hairlines. You can look in hand for these by swirling the coin under a lamp and they generally pop out at you.

Coinscratch

@FlyingAl said:

@Coinscratch said:

@FlyingAl said:
Those are very good pictures, and I don’t see an issue buying off of them.

Granted, I will accept a much lower level of photography than many here.

Thanks Al. Proofs seem to be a much easier subject to shoot because of the reflectivity and shadowing effects but...
That Franklin appears to have very deep mirrors though the frost isn't the thickest. Where do you think it would fall?
I'm thinking 67 cam for an A coin or just 68?

There’s no way to tell from images unfortunately. A 68 generally has no or very few very light hairlines. You can look in hand for these by swirling the coin under a lamp and they generally pop out at you.

I was just getting ready to edit to say: I know we can't get ahead of ourselves especially with a proof not in hand. But to keep it in perspective this is an online auction so where do you draw the line right here and now, you have 10 secs.

Coinscratch

SOLD

ChrisH821

Very nice pictures for sure.

FlyingAl

@Coinscratch said:

@FlyingAl said:

@Coinscratch said:

@FlyingAl said:
Those are very good pictures, and I don’t see an issue buying off of them.

Granted, I will accept a much lower level of photography than many here.

Thanks Al. Proofs seem to be a much easier subject to shoot because of the reflectivity and shadowing effects but...
That Franklin appears to have very deep mirrors though the frost isn't the thickest. Where do you think it would fall?
I'm thinking 67 cam for an A coin or just 68?

There’s no way to tell from images unfortunately. A 68 generally has no or very few very light hairlines. You can look in hand for these by swirling the coin under a lamp and they generally pop out at you.

I was just getting ready to edit to say: I know we can't get ahead of ourselves especially with a proof not in hand. But to keep it in perspective this is an online auction so where do you draw the line right here and now, you have 10 secs.

I’m a bidder at 66CAM. That’s where my experience tells me the grade range would be, and anything over would be a nice surprise.

ricko

Most of the pictures have more glare than I like when evaluating a coin from pictures. The first really great picture is of the Franklin Half obverse.... I would buy that coin. Cheers, RickO

TwoSides2aCoin

Good photos. You're welcome to shoot mine.

Coinscratch

SOLD> @FlyingAl said:

@Coinscratch said:

@FlyingAl said:

@Coinscratch said:

@FlyingAl said:
Those are very good pictures, and I don’t see an issue buying off of them.

Granted, I will accept a much lower level of photography than many here.

Thanks Al. Proofs seem to be a much easier subject to shoot because of the reflectivity and shadowing effects but...
That Franklin appears to have very deep mirrors though the frost isn't the thickest. Where do you think it would fall?
I'm thinking 67 cam for an A coin or just 68?

There’s no way to tell from images unfortunately. A 68 generally has no or very few very light hairlines. You can look in hand for these by swirling the coin under a lamp and they generally pop out at you.

I was just getting ready to edit to say: I know we can't get ahead of ourselves especially with a proof not in hand. But to keep it in perspective this is an online auction so where do you draw the line right here and now, you have 10 secs.

I’m a bidder at 66CAM. That’s where my experience tells me the grade range would be, and anything over would be a nice surprise.

I like that approach and that evaluation.

steve_richardson

Those are nice photos!

I’d like to learn to take better coin photos myself, so I’m curious… what camera and lens did you use for those photos?

JJM

Look acceptable for online auction

Coinscratch

@steve_richardson said:
Those are nice photos!

I’d like to learn to take better coin photos myself, so I’m curious… what camera and lens did you use for those photos?

Thanks Steve - all of the pics with the towel background are from my iPhone
And the others were shot with a canon rebel with a Macro lens.

But I think the biggest difference is the lighting set up which I’ll post pics of later after work. It is very basic and involves two white science fair trifolds and two lamps. The first trifold makes up three walls and the second one for the top/cover. Then the lamps are pointed upward towards the top and away from the coin. The optimum aperture can fluctuate depending on the presence of the top panel which obviously produces more light when present.

lilolme

Not sure if it is worth trouble but after taking initial picture, then could remove the screws and the 'top' cover plate. Leave coins in round holder holes but take detail pictures without the 'top' cover in place. The glare thing.

BryceM

If you're selling something relatively inexpensive, or incredibly common, great photos are nice, but not strictly necessary. If you're selling a common coin with a huge toning premium, superb photos are essential. In this case, the quality of the photos is excellent for what you are selling.

Coinscratch

@steve_richardson said:
Those are nice photos!

I’d like to learn to take better coin photos myself, so I’m curious… what camera and lens did you use for those photos?

So this is the set up while in hunting mode.

Then shooting with angled lights which brings out the bad in proofs but the good in business strikes.

Then with the lights pointed away which, I think is best for proofs. It can even make business strikes look PL.

Joe_360

You may be able to start a new business (forget kid photos) Coinscratch coin photos LLC!!!

I wish that online auction houses took such quality photos!!!

ARCO

Photos are fantastic. IMO, the goal of great coin photography is to bring the coin to life, showing its best qualities and to most accurately show the coin how it would appear to the buyer in natural light to the naked eye.

Remember, you want to sell the coin, not have the coin(s) returned because the photography oversold how they really appear.

Coinscratch

@ARCO said:
Photos are fantastic. IMO, the goal of great coin photography is to bring the coin to life, showing its best qualities and to most accurately show the coin how it would appear to the buyer in natural light to the naked eye.

Remember, you want to sell the coin, not have the coin(s) returned because the photography oversold how they really appear.

Great point! So I just listed it and with some realistic pics and not the homemade TVs. After cruising the others I like mine the best
https://www.ebay.com/itm/374697597364

Coinscratch

I almost hate to even post here now as if I'm self-promoting but I couldn't resist in saying something. I'm starting to think that the Franklin is just more photogenic than I am photographic. Less than 2 days in and already at breakeven I'm beginning to question my skills and the decision to sell.

steve_richardson

@Coinscratch said:

So this is the set up while in hunting mode.

What a nice setup! Thanks for sharing the pics. That’s a really helpful illustration of how the angle of the lights affects the image, too.

Coinscratch

I believe that Franklin would go 67 cam and at 158.00 I feel good about it.
Not to mention the Washington and Lincoln are hammered.