Question for toned coin lovers: how well can you interpret what a coin will look like in the hand fr

seanq

I get the strong sense from other posts here that deciphering the true colors of a toned coin from online images is something of an art form. I'm not talking about juiced or deliberately deceptive images, just poorly executed or inaccurate photos... the images on the Heritage site are probably a perfect example. My own coin photos, unfortunately, also fall into this category.

So those of you seriously passionate about toned coins, I ask: with enough experience is it possible for you to take a poor photo with an accurately worded description, and combine that into a mental image of what the coin would look like in the hand? Do certain colors or patterns always have a signature "look" when photographed by Heritage or Teletrade or Joe Digicam? And does it matter if the coin is certified by a reputable TPG? How much do you hedge your bets when bidding on such items?

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm selfishly asking these questions because I have a batch of vividly toned coins in PCGS plastic which I hope to sell in the near future, and I'm curious if I'd be better served working on my image quality before attempting it.


Sean Reynolds

VamGuy

<< <i>and I'm curious if I'd be better served working on my image quality before attempting it. >>

The fact of the matter is that you are hoping to realize a premium based solely on the toning. The best way to realize that premium is by providing the finest high quality images possible. Stunning toners often sell for less than an optimum price due solely to poor imaging.

RYK

I get the strong sense from other posts here that deciphering the true colors of a toned coin from online images is something of an art form.

I would say that it is more than a gamble than an art form.

I think that the people who do it best offer both a luster shot and a toning shot. If you want the buyers to be satisfied, my recommendation is that the image looks like the coin in hand when the buyer opens the package, not like the coin might look like with a halogen light and viewed at an extreme tilt angle through psychadelic glasses.

jbsteven

alot of times it is a crap shoot. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

pharmer

The images sell a beautifully toned coin. My guess is that the long, flowery verbal descriptions are ignored if the images tell the buyer what they are looking at. It can begin to seem like hype, or a hard sell, whereas a short and to the point description lets the images do the talking.

MICHAELDIXON

If I take the picture, you can believe the coin will look much better in hand than in the photo. The photos which Bruceswar takes capture the actual coins. He does a magnificient job!

mgoodm3

I think image interpretation is a bit of an art, and art requires talent. Some are good at it and some are not.

robertpr

<< <i>I think image interpretation is a bit of an art, and art requires talent. Some are good at it and some are not. >>



Yea, verily. But you can become very good after a while. Certain brands of cameras capture colors in certain ways to the point that I can sometimes look at a coin and know it was taken with XYZ type camera.

bestclser1

I agree that images by different sellers need to be interpreted differently.Still,no substitution for seeing the coin in hand.JMHO

kryptonitecomics

<< <i>I think image interpretation is a bit of an art, and art requires talent. Some are good at it and some are not. >>



I agree and I would consider myself as good as anybody in doing this as I have made numerous rips....with virtually no disappoints. I think the secret for some is that if we ourselves are good at imaging.....it helps us determine what the coin should look like in hand since it usually takes of years of bad imaging to get good at it.

Another secret for me with Heritage is......outside of the Battle Creek hoard......most of the NGC Star * Morgans have amazing color so....when I see an image of an almost black coin and it's in an NGC Star holder.....I know the coin is going to look much better in hand.

I am also good at finding nice bands of color on dark scans and quite a few times I will save an auction image to my Hard drive and then pull the image into a photo editing program and adjust the Brightness and or contrast to get a better feel for what the coin will look like in hand. Typically the description does very little to sell me on a coin since I do a lot of Ebay selling and know that a lot of the salemenship can be about how well you can accurately hype up what you are selling. On a few occasions though I have seen coins that look black and then a read the description about rainbow colors.....and I take a chance........I have made out like a bandit doing this and (knock on wood) have yet to be burnt since I tend to win the coins for very small bids.

LincolnCentMan

I feel pretty comfortable with my interpretation skills. Also, I flat out dont bye if I think the saturation has been messed with.

-David

IrishMike

Shane quit already with the secrets. Many a time I have downloaded an ebay or auction photo and gotten a better idea of what it will look like by messing with it in Adobe.

Fairlaneman

<< <i>Shane quit already with the secrets. Many a time I have downloaded an ebay or auction photo and gotten a better idea of what it will look like by messing with it in Adobe. >>



This is a secret ?

Ken

IrishMike

Um no but it was an attempt at humor, you old fart.

Fairlaneman

<< <i>Um no but it was an attempt at humor, you old fart. >>



Pulled your chain.....

Ken

Sunnywood

You cannot judge or grade a coin from most images ... however, if a particular dealer or photographer uses the SAME imaging method consistently, and if you have previously compared their images with the actual coins, you can then gain a sense of how that particular style of imaging relates to the coins ... and then you can judge other coins imaged in the same way.

But, in general, it's better to stick to the notion that you HAVE to see a coin in hand to make a final determination !!

Always remember that the imaging style can make a huge difference. Certain imaging styles that emphasize color and look very fluorescent will inevitably elicit OOH and AHHH responses, and everyone will say "Oh my God, what a neon fluorescent Godzilla monster toner !!!!" .... while other images of THE SAME EXACT COIN will get nothing more than "nice coin" and a passing notice.

Thus, bear in mind that some images may UNDER-represent the coin, while other images may OVER-represent the coin. In both cases, you are at a disadvantage in public auctions unless you have gone and looked at the coins PERSONALLY IN HAND.

Best,
Sunnywood

bestclser1

<< <i>You cannot judge or grade a coin from most images ... however, if a particular dealer or photographer uses the SAME imaging method consistently, and if you have previously compared their images with the actual coins, you can then gain a sense of how that particular style of imaging relates to the coins ... and then you can judge other coins imaged in the same way.

But, in general, it's better to stick to the notion that you HAVE to see a coin in hand to make a final determination !!

Always remember that the imaging style can make a huge difference. Certain imaging styles that emphasize color and look very fluorescent will inevitably elicit OOH and AHHH responses, and everyone will say "Oh my God, what a neon fluorescent Godzilla monster toner !!!!" .... while other images of THE SAME EXACT COIN will get nothing more than "nice coin" and a passing notice.

Thus, bear in mind that some images may UNDER-represent the coin, while other images may OVER-represent the coin. In both cases, you are at a disadvantage in public auctions unless you have gone and looked at the coins PERSONALLY IN HAND.

Best,
Sunnywood >>

Best and most ACCURATE post in this thread.Thanks Sunnywood.

seanq

Agreed, very informative post Sunnywood, thank you and the others who took time to reply. A few follow-up questions based on the replies thus far:

How about this as a solution - rather than trying to describe the colors, which may come across as puffery, what would you think of an auction with several pictures taken under different conditions, with those conditions described in the listing? For example, captions under each picture reading "natural light" or "approximately 30-degree tilt, two OTT lights, high resolution" or even "scanned at 300 dpi"?

I'm almost afraid to ask this one, but how much does the fact that PCGS found the coin "market acceptible" *cough* *100* *cough* impact your decision to bid? I'm assuming you take more precautions with a raw coin.

Finally, since the final determination must be made in the hand, do sellers offering a no questions asked returns policy (always the case in my own auctions) have an advantage?

Again, I greatly appreciate the insights being shared.


Sean Reynolds

sonoranmonsoon

I do not collect toned coins over any other, and I am not at all good at seperating an AT from a NT. I have had a few tones come across that I have put on EBAY. I only use a scanner, as my photgraphy skills are zero. I am always dissappointed with my scans. A Morgan that should come across with overall red toning, shows up only as an ugly brown coin. I make note of this in the discription, but lets face it; A picture is worth a thousand words. I have a full refund, no questions asked policy. Thats important. I guess if you feel the seller is reputable and will give you a full refund, it is worth taking the chance on some of use lousy photographers.

Veep

If you're not good at imaging toned coins, have someone who is good at it image them for you. Then you can list them or even have that same person list them for you. Airplanenut has sold quite a few toned coins for me. His images are excellent. His listings are attractive. His feedback is 100% positive. Bidders in his auctions are confident and reward him with higher bids. The amount that he charges is greatly exceeded by higher selling prices realized.

sonoranmonsoon

<< <i>If you're not good at imaging toned coins, have someone who is good at it image them for you. Then you can list them or even have that same person list them for you. Airplanenut has sold quite a few toned coins for me. His images are excellent. His listings are attractive. His feedback is 100% positive. Bidders in his auctions are confident and reward him with higher bids. The amount that he charges is greatly exceeded by higher selling prices realized. >>



Thanks for the info.