Beware of Greeks bearing gifts...

coinpictures

... unless of course it's SYRACUSIAN.

Just got a package in the mail today from the Grecian one. Some very lovely coins contained therein:

Greece 20L 1874A, raw. Lovely little coin about the size of a U.S. dime.




Canada 5c 1902, PCGS MS64. Yowza! I had my doubts that it would be this colorful in hand. I was wrong... way wrong! It has an alien deep blue glow about it that is just stunning.

dcamp78

Suhweet!

lordmarcovan

That particular Greek has borne some NICE gifts to yours truly (and my daughter) in the past.

SYRACUSIAN

Canada 5c 1902, PCGS MS64. Yowza! I had my doubts that it would be this colorful in hand. I was wrong... way wrong! It has an alien deep blue glow about it that is just stunning.



I believe that the reason that Dan was worried about the colour, was its TrueView photo




There has been a lot of talk (over at the Liteside) lately, about the accuracy of these photos, with many members expressing a view that they presented the coin better than it was in reality. All this talk took place because there's a rumour that PCGS will discontinue its TrueView service, and if this happens I will be very sad if not devastated.My submissions to PCGS will probably diminish too, since TrueView had become the main reason for submitting to them.

My experience with TrueView is that sometimes the photo was capturing a particularly favourable angle from which colour and luster were looking at their best, but this was not meant to deceive buyers, this angle certainly existed, when you rotate a coin under proper lightning, you can discover some particular angles under which the appearance of the coin is much better, and Phil is a master in discovering these, hats off for that.

Anyway, this particular fishscale, with mushroom pedigree, was as colorful as its TrueView photo suggested, and it was not a gift.

lordmarcovan

<< <i>there's a rumour that PCGS will discontinue its TrueView service >>

As far as I know, it's confirmed. TrueView will be no more, alas. I never used it but had plans to.




<< <i>My experience with TrueView is that sometimes the photo was capturing a particularly favourable angle from which colour and luster were looking at their best, but this was not meant to deceive buyers, this angle certainly existed, when you rotate a coin under proper lightning, you can discover some particular angles under which the appearance of the coin is much better, and Phil is a master in discovering these, hats off for that. >>



Indeed. I see nothing wrong with shooting a coin from its best possible angle, as long as that angle really exists. (Even if it's a devil to capture, as Phil so skillfully does). Somebody likened it to those "Glamor Shots" photographs that women have taken in studios. As long it's really you in the picture, who cares if that isn't how you look on the average workday?

Then again, I wouldn't want to buy a coin from a glamour shot and have it arrive and find that it's a dull, lackluster greyish-brown piece with no pizazz, which only shows its colors under certain lighting conditions and angles. This is the problem with a lot of 19th century proofs, I've found. In a perfect world, a seller should show both faces of the coin- both the ideal glamor shot and the normal, everyday look. However, sellers being who they are (and I count myself as no exception), they're gonna want to show only the glamor and none of the blah.

Therein lies the conflict of interest, I suppose. I see both sides of the issue, I think, and both have their points. But generally I see nothing wrong with a little glamor photography. I only wish I was better at doing it!

rhound1977

Awesome 5C, beautiful blue....

laurentyvan

In a perfect world, a seller should show both faces of the coin- both the ideal glamor shot and the normal, everyday look. However, sellers being who they are (and I count myself as no exception), they're gonna want to show only the glamor and none of the blah.

Eh, not necessarily true. Example

lordmarcovan