There are a large number of Phil's shots starting to appear on GC.
I did notice a few things - the Trade above and the 1898 Morgan posted at MyCollect are wonderful, and Phil's normal quality.
I am still trying to figure out a lot of what is going on with the photo changes at GC. I think there are a lot of kinks to work out, so the first batch of shots may not be representative of what will be the final product.
@PhilLynott said:
Congrats on the new opportunity! I imagine the workload will be a lot more manageable and less monotonous than the insane volume PCGS must photograph. Probably can even stop for a minute and enjoy one or two of the coins you shoot!
lol - the workload at GC is not exactly a breeze.
Are you sure. He’s had time to make a whole five posts here👍🏻
@WiscKau said:
Hi,
I'm a lowly collector really interested around the rules for Phil's images, i.e., all coins imaged, only coins above a $1,000, $10,000?
Will collectors be able to afford this service?
Thanks
GC does not charge for the new GreatPhoto images we're adding to listings. And while we're obviously adding more of the GreatPhoto images to high value coins - we're also adding many lower value and toned coins of all values. Looks like more than 500 already uploaded to our site, and I'm sure more than this next week.
I am quite amazed at how the photos are appearing, with Phil shooting through the plastic.
@WiscKau said:
Hi,
I'm a lowly collector really interested around the rules for Phil's images, i.e., all coins imaged, only coins above a $1,000, $10,000?
Will collectors be able to afford this service?
Thanks
GC does not charge for the new GreatPhoto images we're adding to listings. And while we're obviously adding more of the GreatPhoto images to high value coins - we're also adding many lower value and toned coins of all values. Looks like more than 500 already uploaded to our site, and I'm sure more than this next week.
I am quite amazed at how the photos are appearing, with Phil shooting through the plastic.
@PhilLynott said:
Congrats on the new opportunity! I imagine the workload will be a lot more manageable and less monotonous than the insane volume PCGS must photograph. Probably can even stop for a minute and enjoy one or two of the coins you shoot!
lol - the workload at GC is not exactly a breeze.
Relatively speaking Ian!!!
But I do appreciate the volume you guys do as well you guys have been killing it for some time now.
@WiscKau said:
Is there a way to identify which coins have the new images?
We will be adding icons to the search/browse pages. And I think we might do a gallery page of these images by auction.
Ian
couple questions
1- are these the same size as PCGS true views or NGC photovision so they can be easily uploaded into our registry sets if there is not a true view or photovision?
2- it seems you are running a couple thousand lots a week - I am curious how many people are on your photography and related computer picture processing/uploading team?
Ok, I just saw one of the GreatPhoto pic on a coin I'm looking at. And it happenes to have a True View.
These two photos couuldn't be more different.
Which one is accurate?
Looking forward to seeing the improvements. The current slab shots are hit or miss....sometimes I can zoom to the detail needed and other I can zoom in not quite enough.
@alaura22 said:
Ok, I just saw one of the GreatPhoto pic on a coin I'm looking at. And it happenes to have a True View.
These two photos couuldn't be more different.
Which one is accurate?
@alaura22 said:
Ok, I just saw one of the GreatPhoto pic on a coin I'm looking at. And it happenes to have a True View.
These two photos couuldn't be more different.
Which one is accurate?
Link?
I'm not Alaura22, but I wouldn't expect a link until after the auction closes. Too many vultures around here.
Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't love to look at a pretty bust.
1- are these the same size as PCGS true views or NGC photovision so they can be easily uploaded into our registry sets if there is not a true view or photovision?
Great Photo's appear to be identical in dimension to True Views - very similar format. Go to GC and have a look.
@alaura22 said:
Ok, I just saw one of the GreatPhoto pic on a coin I'm looking at. And it happenes to have a True View.
These two photos couuldn't be more different.
Which one is accurate?
Link?
I'm not Alaura22, but I wouldn't expect a link until after the auction closes. Too many vultures around here.
I looked through the Mercury Dime offerings on GC last night and notice quite a few had the new photos. The quality is much improved and is welcomed. Kudos!
"If it's not fun, it's not worth it." - KeyMan64 Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
@alaura22 said:
Ok, I just saw one of the GreatPhoto pic on a coin I'm looking at. And it happenes to have a True View.
These two photos couuldn't be more different.
Which one is accurate?
Link?
I'm not Alaura22, but I wouldn't expect a link until after the auction closes. Too many vultures around here.
It's great that we can stop complaining about GC photos, but now I must start complaining about the woeful decline of trueview quality. This crossover cost me $1300, and this is one of the worst TV's i have ever seen. You'd think they could have at least tried to make this 6 figure coin look decent, Its extremely overexposed, and shows no depth to the design details. I understand that this was a show service, but if @FlyingAl can travel with his equipment to set up in a hotel roomand replicate the same quality he produces at home, then so should PCGS. 🤮🤮🤮
@seatedlib3991 said:
Who knows. maybe that coin is just like me. Never taken a good picture in my life. James
It’s not the coin, here’s another overexposed TV taken at the same time that we can compare to its previous TV. The old one is what the coin looks like in hand. I had no issue with the first picture but the coin had to be reholdered.
@DeplorableDan
OUCH! Double D that hurts! Maybe as a first step call them and see if they took other images that they could switch for the official TrueView when you look up the coin? I’ve done that in the past pre-Phil departure.
GC's photos show overly exaggerated detail. Definitely not what a coin looks like in hand. Sometimes I think they use an Electron Microscope.
Reminds me of what a dealer said to me once at a coin show. "What power is that loop you're using? Oh put that away or you'll never buy anything."
@oldrattler said:
GC's photos show overly exaggerated detail. Definitely not what a coin looks like in hand. Sometimes I think they use an Electron Microscope.
Reminds me of what a dealer said to me once at a coin show. "What power is that loop you're using? Oh put that away or you'll never buy anything."
He's saying, 'He won't be able to sell anything!'
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
@DeplorableDan said:
It's great that we can stop complaining about GC photos, but now I must start complaining about the woeful decline of trueview quality. This crossover cost me $1300, and this is one of the worst TV's i have ever seen. You'd think they could have at least tried to make this 6 figure coin look decent, Its extremely overexposed, and shows no depth to the design details. I understand that this was a show service, but if @FlyingAl can travel with his equipment to set up in a hotel roomand replicate the same quality he produces at home, then so should PCGS. 🤮🤮🤮
Have you seen what PCGS is producing in their studio these days? The quality here is on par with that lol. Sorry about the bad images.
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
I got a GC GreatPhoto coin in hand - and Phil did an awesome job capturing the in hand look. I when for more of a color shot, but his shot is accurate as well.
Hard to believe it's already been a year. I've had to develop and refine some new techniques for shooting coins in the holder, but ultimately I feel my work at GC is the finest I've done. Hopefully all of you consigners and auction winners are pleased as well!
Phil Arnold Director of Photography, GreatCollections
greatcollections.com
@PhilArnold said:
Hard to believe it's already been a year. I've had to develop and refine some new techniques for shooting coins in the holder, but ultimately I feel my work at GC is the finest I've done. Hopefully all of you consigners and auction winners are pleased as well!
Hope things are going well for you, but for my own selfish reasons I wish you would return to PCGS!!!!
@PhilArnold said:
Hard to believe it's already been a year. I've had to develop and refine some new techniques for shooting coins in the holder, but ultimately I feel my work at GC is the finest I've done. Hopefully all of you consigners and auction winners are pleased as well!
Have to thank you for the great photo of a 1916-D 3-1/2 leg Buffalo nickel that I recently sold through GC. I was unable to take a photo that demonstrated the weakness of the leg but yours was spot on and I made a nice profit.
Proud recipient of the coveted "You Suck Award" (9/3/10).
Phil Arnold,
Thanks for your great work! I've been over at GC many times in the last year, picking up some great coins that I'm sure you've handled. Like this beauty below..
As an aside, have you ever ran into a coin that seemed off, or not quite right about it's look, feel, or authenticity while in the booth?
I've had a recent occurrence as such with my PCGS coin pictured below. You very well may have shot this coin for GG.. Here's the coin...
Without going through the process of explaining what's going on with this coin, let me allow you to read my conundrum story that I've posted on another forum...
My hope is that someone from PCGS and GC/Ian Russell will see this issue that I have with this coin here on this forum.
This is my first attempt to reach out to PCGS/GC regarding my top pop 2014-D PCGS SP-70 50th Anniversary UNC SET Coin(Clad)...
Obviously reaching out to PCGS/GC Customer Service would be a next step for me as well...
Link to my recent conversation(I'm Rick)... https://www.coinnews.net/2024/10/11/u-s-mint-2025-superman-coin-and-medal-designs-recommended/#comment-545028
PCGS made a mistake by mislabeling the silver coin version into the clad coin number slab. I had an experience buying a coin from GC where PCGS got it completely wrong, and Ian provided the refund and GC handled the guarantee with PCGS.
Phil didn’t have anything to do with PCGS’s mistake.
This is a simple fix that I’m sure GC will handle swiftly if you contact them.
1madman,
Thanks for your reply, this is encouraging to hear that this has happened to you as well, and that you received fair treatment from GC in the end.
Yes, Phil didn't do anything wrong. He does amazing work for an amazing Auction House!
@PhilArnold said:
Hard to believe it's already been a year. I've had to develop and refine some new techniques for shooting coins in the holder, but ultimately I feel my work at GC is the finest I've done. Hopefully all of you consigners and auction winners are pleased as well!
Phil, the one question that I’ve wanted to ask for a while now is can I request a Greatphoto picture be taken for a coin on an active auction that doesn’t have it? Certain coins that are inexpensive (let’s say under $250) don’t ever get Greatphotos added to their auction page, and I’ve actually not placed bids because I can’t see certain areas on the coin well enough from the standard photos.
@PhilArnold said:
Hard to believe it's already been a year. I've had to develop and refine some new techniques for shooting coins in the holder, but ultimately I feel my work at GC is the finest I've done. Hopefully all of you consigners and auction winners are pleased as well!
Phil, the one question that I’ve wanted to ask for a while now is can I request a Greatphoto picture be taken for a coin on an active auction that doesn’t have it? Certain coins that are inexpensive (let’s say under $250) don’t ever get Greatphotos added to their auction page, and I’ve actually not placed bids because I can’t see certain areas on the coin well enough from the standard photos.
Sure, you can request that I take a photo of any item.
Phil Arnold Director of Photography, GreatCollections
greatcollections.com
@PhilArnold said:
Hard to believe it's already been a year. I've had to develop and refine some new techniques for shooting coins in the holder, but ultimately I feel my work at GC is the finest I've done. Hopefully all of you consigners and auction winners are pleased as well!
Phil, the one question that I’ve wanted to ask for a while now is can I request a Greatphoto picture be taken for a coin on an active auction that doesn’t have it? Certain coins that are inexpensive (let’s say under $250) don’t ever get Greatphotos added to their auction page, and I’ve actually not placed bids because I can’t see certain areas on the coin well enough from the standard photos.
Sure, you can request that I take a photo of any item.
Phil and GC did this for me on my last set of 34 coins I sent in for auction on GC.
PCGS made a mistake by mislabeling the silver coin version into the clad coin number slab. I had an experience buying a coin from GC where PCGS got it completely wrong, and Ian provided the refund and GC handled the guarantee with PCGS.
Phil didn’t have anything to do with PCGS’s mistake.
This is a simple fix that I’m sure GC will handle swiftly if you contact them.
That's what PCGS does these days. Probably no contact with the customer before they did it, either. They ignore your proper PCGS designation, ignore the coin spec number you provided for them, and change the number to whatever they want to call it without even looking at the coin.*
*The overdate is so pronounced that I figured they never looked at the date.
I saw another "Mr. Magoo-like" customer-screwing mistake on a very easy attribution by PCGS attributors last night that had me amazed at the level of incompetence they've achieved. They couldn't tell an 1842 WB-3 half (R6) from a WB-4 when the difference is obvious.
Wrong - the date position further to the right, the date slanted upward, the recut "4", and the tine off the serif of the "1" clearly show this is a WB-3. WB-4 has none of those character states.
@wondercoin said:
Why not just call PCGS customer service to fix the pics? Why post this complaint on a GC thread?
Wondercoin
I tried that. I told them that I have about 50 TrueViews that are either way too dark, way too overexposed, grossly colorized, or they failed to capture iridescent color. They whined about it and said they wouldn't be able to find the time to do that.
No time to do it right, and no time to do it over.
@PhilArnold said:
Hard to believe it's already been a year. I've had to develop and refine some new techniques for shooting coins in the holder, but ultimately I feel my work at GC is the finest I've done. Hopefully all of you consigners and auction winners are pleased as well!
Phil, the one question that I’ve wanted to ask for a while now is can I request a Greatphoto picture be taken for a coin on an active auction that doesn’t have it? Certain coins that are inexpensive (let’s say under $250) don’t ever get Greatphotos added to their auction page, and I’ve actually not placed bids because I can’t see certain areas on the coin well enough from the standard photos.
Sure, you can request that I take a photo of any item.
I see many coins worth less than $250 with GreatPhoto's, mostly coins with interesting color. With over a 1000 coins auctioned per week, who decides which ones get the extra photos?
@PhilArnold said:
Hard to believe it's already been a year. I've had to develop and refine some new techniques for shooting coins in the holder, but ultimately I feel my work at GC is the finest I've done. Hopefully all of you consigners and auction winners are pleased as well!
Phil, the one question that I’ve wanted to ask for a while now is can I request a Greatphoto picture be taken for a coin on an active auction that doesn’t have it? Certain coins that are inexpensive (let’s say under $250) don’t ever get Greatphotos added to their auction page, and I’ve actually not placed bids because I can’t see certain areas on the coin well enough from the standard photos.
Sure, you can request that I take a photo of any item.
I see many coins worth less than $250 with GreatPhoto's, mostly coins with interesting color. With over a 1000 coins auctioned per week, who decides which ones get the extra photos?
Raeleen, Ian, client requests, and my personal discretion determines what gets a GreatPhoto. There’s no real hard rules, and we try to be as accommodating as possible. I usually shoot 400-500 coins a day, sometimes less if there’s other fun photography projects I need to tackle - check out my shots in the jewelry section for example.
Phil Arnold Director of Photography, GreatCollections
greatcollections.com
Phil - Thanks for coming back and giving us an update. I just would like to note that the GC photos are top notch and are a welcome change from the red tinged photos from PCGS of old. I'm going to assume you figured out how to avoid this now! A big thank you.
Seated Half Society member #38 "Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Comments
There are a large number of Phil's shots starting to appear on GC.
I did notice a few things - the Trade above and the 1898 Morgan posted at MyCollect are wonderful, and Phil's normal quality.
I am still trying to figure out a lot of what is going on with the photo changes at GC. I think there are a lot of kinks to work out, so the first batch of shots may not be representative of what will be the final product.
Coin Photographer.
Are you sure. He’s had time to make a whole five posts here👍🏻
Nice photo that was posted. By TDN.
Martin
Hi,
I'm a lowly collector really interested around the rules for Phil's images, i.e., all coins imaged, only coins above a $1,000, $10,000?
Will collectors be able to afford this service?
Thanks
GC does not charge for the new GreatPhoto images we're adding to listings. And while we're obviously adding more of the GreatPhoto images to high value coins - we're also adding many lower value and toned coins of all values. Looks like more than 500 already uploaded to our site, and I'm sure more than this next week.
I am quite amazed at how the photos are appearing, with Phil shooting through the plastic.
Owner/Founder GreatCollections
GreatCollections Coin Auctions - Certified Coin Auctions Every Week - Rare Coins & Coin Values
GREAT news!
Is there a way to identify which coins have the new images?
We will be adding icons to the search/browse pages. And I think we might do a gallery page of these images by auction.
Owner/Founder GreatCollections
GreatCollections Coin Auctions - Certified Coin Auctions Every Week - Rare Coins & Coin Values
Relatively speaking Ian!!!
But I do appreciate the volume you guys do as well you guys have been killing it for some time now.
couple questions
1- are these the same size as PCGS true views or NGC photovision so they can be easily uploaded into our registry sets if there is not a true view or photovision?
2- it seems you are running a couple thousand lots a week - I am curious how many people are on your photography and related computer picture processing/uploading team?
Ok, I just saw one of the GreatPhoto pic on a coin I'm looking at. And it happenes to have a True View.
These two photos couuldn't be more different.
Which one is accurate?
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
Congrats to all those involved. I look forward to the potential here.
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
Looking forward to seeing the improvements. The current slab shots are hit or miss....sometimes I can zoom to the detail needed and other I can zoom in not quite enough.
Link?
Coin Photographer.
I'm not Alaura22, but I wouldn't expect a link until after the auction closes. Too many vultures around here.
Great Photo's appear to be identical in dimension to True Views - very similar format. Go to GC and have a look.
Fair enough. PM link?
Coin Photographer.
I looked through the Mercury Dime offerings on GC last night and notice quite a few had the new photos. The quality is much improved and is welcomed. Kudos!
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
Sent
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
Ian and Phil are both great, and what a great combo!!!
Here you go.....................two examples of Phil's work at GC.
He's going to be a great asset at GC.
GreatPhoto™
It's great that we can stop complaining about GC photos, but now I must start complaining about the woeful decline of trueview quality. This crossover cost me $1300, and this is one of the worst TV's i have ever seen. You'd think they could have at least tried to make this 6 figure coin look decent, Its extremely overexposed, and shows no depth to the design details. I understand that this was a show service, but if @FlyingAl can travel with his equipment to set up in a hotel roomand replicate the same quality he produces at home, then so should PCGS. 🤮🤮🤮
Founder- Peak Rarities
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Who knows. maybe that coin is just like me. Never taken a good picture in my life. James
It’s not the coin, here’s another overexposed TV taken at the same time that we can compare to its previous TV. The old one is what the coin looks like in hand. I had no issue with the first picture but the coin had to be reholdered.
New
Old
Founder- Peak Rarities
Website
Instagram
Facebook
@DeplorableDan
OUCH! Double D that hurts! Maybe as a first step call them and see if they took other images that they could switch for the official TrueView when you look up the coin? I’ve done that in the past pre-Phil departure.
GC's photos show overly exaggerated detail. Definitely not what a coin looks like in hand. Sometimes I think they use an Electron Microscope.
Reminds me of what a dealer said to me once at a coin show. "What power is that loop you're using? Oh put that away or you'll never buy anything."
He's saying, 'He won't be able to sell anything!'
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
Why not just call PCGS customer service to fix the pics? Why post this complaint on a GC thread?
Wondercoin
I never understood why they just did not use tru-views for the coins that had them.
I was told return rates were higher when they used TrueViews.
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
Have you seen what PCGS is producing in their studio these days? The quality here is on par with that lol. Sorry about the bad images.
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
PCGS will figure it out. Its not rocket science.
I think the new GC photos are good, definitely a more "in hand" image, which I think personally is best from a buying perspective.
Though I understand a glamour shot is impressive for the owner of an exquisite rare piece.
I got a GC GreatPhoto coin in hand - and Phil did an awesome job capturing the in hand look. I when for more of a color shot, but his shot is accurate as well.
Coin Photographer.
I like the new GC photos a lot!
Instagram
Hard to believe it's already been a year. I've had to develop and refine some new techniques for shooting coins in the holder, but ultimately I feel my work at GC is the finest I've done. Hopefully all of you consigners and auction winners are pleased as well!
Phil Arnold
Director of Photography, GreatCollections
greatcollections.com
Hope things are going well for you, but for my own selfish reasons I wish you would return to PCGS!!!!
Have to thank you for the great photo of a 1916-D 3-1/2 leg Buffalo nickel that I recently sold through GC. I was unable to take a photo that demonstrated the weakness of the leg but yours was spot on and I made a nice profit.
Phil Arnold,
Thanks for your great work! I've been over at GC many times in the last year, picking up some great coins that I'm sure you've handled. Like this beauty below..
As an aside, have you ever ran into a coin that seemed off, or not quite right about it's look, feel, or authenticity while in the booth?
I've had a recent occurrence as such with my PCGS coin pictured below. You very well may have shot this coin for GG.. Here's the coin...
Without going through the process of explaining what's going on with this coin, let me allow you to read my conundrum story that I've posted on another forum...
My hope is that someone from PCGS and GC/Ian Russell will see this issue that I have with this coin here on this forum.
This is my first attempt to reach out to PCGS/GC regarding my top pop 2014-D PCGS SP-70 50th Anniversary UNC SET Coin(Clad)...
Obviously reaching out to PCGS/GC Customer Service would be a next step for me as well...
Link to my recent conversation(I'm Rick)...
https://www.coinnews.net/2024/10/11/u-s-mint-2025-superman-coin-and-medal-designs-recommended/#comment-545028
Thanks to your absolute incredible pics, I have cherry picked a BUNCH of coins at GC...Thank You!! and of course Ian.
WS
Rick5280:
PCGS made a mistake by mislabeling the silver coin version into the clad coin number slab. I had an experience buying a coin from GC where PCGS got it completely wrong, and Ian provided the refund and GC handled the guarantee with PCGS.
Phil didn’t have anything to do with PCGS’s mistake.
This is a simple fix that I’m sure GC will handle swiftly if you contact them.
1madman,
Thanks for your reply, this is encouraging to hear that this has happened to you as well, and that you received fair treatment from GC in the end.
Yes, Phil didn't do anything wrong. He does amazing work for an amazing Auction House!
Phil, the one question that I’ve wanted to ask for a while now is can I request a Greatphoto picture be taken for a coin on an active auction that doesn’t have it? Certain coins that are inexpensive (let’s say under $250) don’t ever get Greatphotos added to their auction page, and I’ve actually not placed bids because I can’t see certain areas on the coin well enough from the standard photos.
Sure, you can request that I take a photo of any item.
Phil Arnold
Director of Photography, GreatCollections
greatcollections.com
Phil and GC did this for me on my last set of 34 coins I sent in for auction on GC.
...
That's what PCGS does these days. Probably no contact with the customer before they did it, either. They ignore your proper PCGS designation, ignore the coin spec number you provided for them, and change the number to whatever they want to call it without even looking at the coin.*
*The overdate is so pronounced that I figured they never looked at the date.
I saw another "Mr. Magoo-like" customer-screwing mistake on a very easy attribution by PCGS attributors last night that had me amazed at the level of incompetence they've achieved. They couldn't tell an 1842 WB-3 half (R6) from a WB-4 when the difference is obvious.
Wrong - the date position further to the right, the date slanted upward, the recut "4", and the tine off the serif of the "1" clearly show this is a WB-3. WB-4 has none of those character states.
I tried that. I told them that I have about 50 TrueViews that are either way too dark, way too overexposed, grossly colorized, or they failed to capture iridescent color. They whined about it and said they wouldn't be able to find the time to do that.
No time to do it right, and no time to do it over.
I see many coins worth less than $250 with GreatPhoto's, mostly coins with interesting color. With over a 1000 coins auctioned per week, who decides which ones get the extra photos?
Raeleen, Ian, client requests, and my personal discretion determines what gets a GreatPhoto. There’s no real hard rules, and we try to be as accommodating as possible. I usually shoot 400-500 coins a day, sometimes less if there’s other fun photography projects I need to tackle - check out my shots in the jewelry section for example.
Phil Arnold
Director of Photography, GreatCollections
greatcollections.com
Phil - Thanks for coming back and giving us an update. I just would like to note that the GC photos are top notch and are a welcome change from the red tinged photos from PCGS of old. I'm going to assume you figured out how to avoid this now! A big thank you.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"