The Goldberg's images...are they accurate? I'd like to hear from people who bought based on their i

ANACONDA

Have you ever bought coins in a Goldberg sale based only on the images in their catalog or via the internet.....and do you conclude that
the images were accurate?

I would humbly and respectfully request that only people who purchased coins relying on their images alone post to this thread.

Bear

Adrian, I have found that the Goldberg pictures, especially the colored ones,

are among the best in the bussiness. The coins look like the pictures. However, their is always

something magical about actually holding a coin in you hands and looking how the light plays

across the surface of the coin.The interplay of luster and subtle tonning can really only be done in

person on a very valuable coin.

Bustman

Adrian,
I can only speak for their silver coins with colorful tone, thats all I have purchased from them, but yeah, they are pretty much dead on. You mentioned in a thread earlier this week that you stay away from Goldberg auctions, care to explain? Just curious.

ANACONDA

I would rather keep quiet at least for now. I'd like to get a few more opinions and then maybe i'll say something.

RotatedRainbows

The three toned morgans I bought from them in 2001 were not quite as nice in person as I expected from the photos but they were pretty close. Certainly better then most auction houses.

Lakesammman

I'm shocked (after all the related threads) that people still buy coins based on the photos Looking forward to more replies. Is this personal injury or class-action??

EVillageProwler

Adrian,

I've placed bids on Goldberg auctions based on the pictures as well as their descriptions. No one viewed the coins in person for me...

Since I try not to do this sight-unseen bidding often, I consequently have only limited experience. In each time, I've been satisfied at my selection. But, keep in mind that the sample size here is really small. It could very well be that I got lucky.

BTW, in all cases, I find that their pictures are pretty faithful. Also their descriptions. Even when I do view the lots in person. It's just that even with an accurate picture and description, I find that it's best to view the coins in person.

So far, however, I've found no reason not to trust their images and descriptions.

EVP

gemtone65

I find their pictures to be very accurate as to color. Are they a perfect representation? No. Are the pictures just slightly better than the coins? perhaps so. Are they as good and as accurate as Anaconda's scans ? No quite. But, they are better than any other auction house, and by a far margin. The two caveats are that their scans do not provide a very helpful depiction of luster, which the new and enlarged Heritage scans do. And, the pictures are particularly weak in identifying marks, and the descriptions are not at all helpful in these regards as well.

In short, a lot of the coins appear to look to be of similar quality in the Goldberg scans. But, in person, there is a vast difference in overall eye appeal. One thing I have found most useful in this regard is their estimate of prices to be realized. You can rely on the ranking of those prices to reveal much of what was not said in the verbal descriptions or not easliy inferred from the scans.

ANACONDA

ttt

Nic

I have found the coins to be both better and worse than the pics and I believe they are as accurate as any. I've viewed/attended multiple auctions in person and bought several lots. K

Singapore

Adrian -

I think their images are excellent and I have not personally experienced any instances where the image was embellished or presented in such a way as to be misleadingly better than the coin, though I'm guessing that might be your angle here.

You didn't ask about the lot descriptions, which I think are generally among the worst in the industry, not accurate and filled with embellishments - which might make one question the 'accuracy' of the photos.

shylock

I've never bought a coin directly from their auctions but have seen some Indian cents from their sales that were much nicer in person, which was comforting. And they do a great job with colorful IH proofs, possibly the toughest coins to image.

I bought an 1862 PR66 that I tracked back to the Heathgate collection of Benson I, Feb. 2001 -- it was a PR65 back then. Their image compared to mine:

BigMoose

Adrian, from personal experience, proof indian cents sometimes look better in person when compared to the Goldberg's images. Where I think you have to be careful is colorfully toned silver coins-the images in their catalogues look uniformly nice, but is the color flat or vibrant and, most importantly, is there booming luster(which images just don't capture well) which really makes the colors come alive or is the luster flat and dull? I think there is no substitute for seeing the coins in person. Shylock is right on with regard to their proof indian cent images. TomT.

gsaguy

While I've not bought toned coins via the internet from Goldberg's, I hope that Adrian won't be upset with me.....nothing worse than a mad Anaconda.

I guess the best way I can put this is that their internet images were so good that I almost bought back some of my own coins!!!

Seriously, I consigned a decent group of toned Morgans to their sale held last September and found that some of the coins looked better in the scans than the coins did in person. While there wasn't a huge difference, it did seem that a bit of eye appeal had been added.

JMHO.

GSAGUY

TomB

So, what are your thoughts, Adrian? I feel comfortable posting in this thread as I, too, have bought multiple lots from Goldberg auctions.