Hard to believe this is the same coin!
TopoftheHill
Posts: 200 ✭✭✭
I have been impressed how some PCGS True View photos can make a coin appear better in a photo than it does in hand. Here is a true view photo of a trade dollar: 
And here is a photo of the same coin from a long ago DLRC auction:
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Here is another example on a Proof coin from the same era. I bought this 1874 With Arrows quarter from Northeast Numismatics over a decade ago. They put up both pictures on their webside.
Brilliant proof coinage is notoriously difficult to image "accurately" and this is especially true when it is toned. Depending on the angle of the light source to the surface of the coin the colors can flash, appear dull or even melt away. It is really tough.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
If you’ve seen enough pictures of enough Proof coins, it’s not at all hard to believe it’s the same coin. And that applies to TrueViews as well as other sources of imaging. Differences in the lighting, angle, editing, etc. of images can result in drastically different appearances of the same coin. This can occur when different shots are taken by different photographers or even when taken by the same photographer.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I would never buy a coin only from a TrueView.
This is why I hate buying coins online. I much rather prefer going to a coin show and seeing the specimen in person.
God comes first in everything I do. I’m dedicated to serving Him with my whole life. Coin collecting is just a hobby—but even in that, I seek to honor Him. ✝️
The true view seems axially lit, which really brings out the colors from my experience, During my experiments, proof coins that are super colorful in true views, at very often some shade of brown when held in hand if the light's not exactly right for the colors to pop.
As mentioned, axial vs. direct lighting. Both can be equally accurate.
It falls upon the buyer yo exercise knowledge of photography, and evaluate the photos based on that. If the buyer lacks such expertise, it greatly limits the options of coins they have available to buy (for example, a decent gem Proof Barber half can be readily found online, but can be very difficult to find at a show).