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Heritage Pictures: Exhibit Z

ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,668 ✭✭✭
Most of us have come to expect that Heritage doesn't get the world's best pictures. Last week I bought an 1862 Seated Half Dollar (PCGS AU-58) based on the picture and a hunch. I guessed, based on my knowledge of their pictures, that when in hand this would be a coin still loaded with luster underneath an original hazy greyish toning. I think I was right. Part of the problem with Heritage pictures is that they don't show luster well; the other is that the pictures sometimes need white correction or different lighting (definitely the case with this coin).

Here's Heritage's pictures:

imageimage

Here's my new pictures, which is closer to what the coin looks like (but my pictures also can't fully convey the luster and heavy cartwheeling of this coin). Under the hazy toning, the reverse actually has a semi-prooflike look:

image

Comments

  • mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    Nice contrast. I don't trust their pic. copper's always way too dark.
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
  • ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,668 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Nice contrast. I don't trust their pic. copper's always way too dark. >>

    Their pictures tend to make a coin look more lifeless than they are, and that's why I suspected this one would be a beauty in hand. (Plus, this coin was designated "JH Exceptional," and I don't think I'm going to second-guess Jim Halperin's eye for coins.)

    I also think the brightness and whiteness tends to be off on their pictures. The "after" pictures posted here are mine and undoctored, but I did also put their original pictures in my picture editor, slightly increased brightness and contrast and applied whiteness correction. It looked quite similar to my picture, but with less luster showing.
  • mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    luster does seem to be a problem with many online dealers.
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section

  • Your pictures make the coin look much better. Very nice slider. I never have figured out why Heritage does not improve their imaging capabilities. My best guess is that they image soooo many coins that they just don't have the time to spend on each coin. Seems like the increased revenue from more bidding activity would more than cover the cost of quality photography.
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  • ScarsdaleCoinScarsdaleCoin Posts: 5,223 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think that if they reversed the pics above that people would complain...I think it is better to under photo than enhance....
    Jon Lerner - Scarsdale Coin - www.CoinHelp.com
  • ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,668 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I think that if they reversed the pics above that people would complain...I think it is better to under photo than enhance.... >>

    Well, you're right -- but I'd think they could do something about the lighting, which I think is why they "underphoto."

    If I can rig up a cheap setup with a $300 camera, one lamp and a little plastic "stand" to hold the coin in position and get something far closer to the actual look of the coin than they can, something's wrong.

  • You would think that they would address the issue, due to the fact that they employ full time photography and imaging specialists. I guess that I should not complain, since the mediocre images keeps the prices lower.
    www.jaderarecoin.com - Updated 6/8/06. Many new coins added!

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  • mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭


    << <i>You would think that they would address the issue, due to the fact that they employ full time photography and imaging specialists. I guess that I should not complain, since the mediocre images keeps the prices lower. >>



    Amen, brother.
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,954 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Amen Amen!

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

  • ElcontadorElcontador Posts: 7,523 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Just something I want to point out. From the image, the only place I see wear are on Miss Liberty's legs, between the knees and thighs (and possibly the eagle's right wingtip).

    More importantly, these are large coins, and usually have many contact marks. The surfaces on this coin appear to be exceptionally clean. Look in the open field between the eagle's head and STATES. There are no contact marks. This is most unusual for a No Motto Seated Half. I think this is also a better date. No Motto type I think are typically the 1847, 1859 O & 1860 O.
    "Vou invadir o Nordeste,
    "Seu cabra da peste,
    "Sou Mangueira......."
  • ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,668 ✭✭✭


    << <i>More importantly, these are large coins, and usually have many contact marks. The surfaces on this coin appear to be exceptionally clean. Look in the open field between the eagle's head and STATES. There are no contact marks. This is most unusual for a No Motto Seated Half. I think this is also a better date. No Motto type I think are typically the 1847, 1859 O & 1860 O. >>

    Yep. There is a little chatter in the obverse fields, but far less than typical, and no big hits. On the reverse, there is a very small nick on the reverse above the left wing. That's it; the reverse fields are clean as a whistle other than that. That certainly influenced my decision to take a chance on the picture and buy this one.

    As for the 1862 date, it's slightly better in terms of market value but not extremely so. It's the lowest mintage Philly half between 1852 and 1879 with a little over 250,000 pieces struck. It probably cost me about $50-$75 more than what a truly common date would sell for, which I thought was a small premium given the relative scarcity.

    I just had a hunch, knowing the distortions of color and luster in many of Heritage's pictures and how they usually seem more dull and lifeless than the coin really is, that this would be a super slider in hand -- and I'm glad to say I was right.
  • ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,668 ✭✭✭
    ttt for the night crowd. Just in case you didn't already know this about Heritage pictures. Some of 'em clean up nicely.
  • BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I think that if they reversed the pics above that people would complain...I think it is better to under photo than enhance.... >>


    Not from the seller's point of view. I don't think I'd ever consign a coin to Heritage for exactly this reason.
  • ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,668 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Not from the seller's point of view. I don't think I'd ever consign a coin to Heritage for exactly this reason. >>

    I'd wonder about that, too. It's fine to underpromise and overdeliver to the buyer, but in the general case in a consignment auction you have to answer to the seller, too...

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