Nobody really cares what the 2x2 looks like. Use a High resolution scan and blow them up to 5 inX5 inch photos. Use a auction aid like Auctiva to use multiple shots and save ebay multiphoto fees.
Even with the 2 by 2's, you could have doubled the size if you had laid them out 2 across and 2 down. However, I would have zoomed in on each coin and cropped each image right at the coin's edge, and then I would have laid them out 2 across/2 down, in a single pic for obverses and one pic for reverses. The images of each coin would have then been about 4 times as large.
Personally, I don't think it was scanning the coins that hurt so much as small imagery. I don't know anything about the value of and market for Egyptian coins, so whether or not there simply is insufficient demand on eBay for these items, I cannot say. But for coins having little to no luster, I believe scanning is perfectly fine in providing potential bidders with a good assessment of the lot.
I use a scanner 99.9% of the time. Scan at 300-500dpi and adjust contrast / brightness to closely match coin in hand. However this technique does not capture lustre. I also use free Photobucket which allows multiple photos in the listing for no extra cost.
So for your lot I would have scanned at 500dpi, obverse and reverse, crop to frame each coin, upload the 8 pix to Photobucket, copy their eBay tags into the listing. The listing would have 8 small photos that one could click on to get larger views.
Gene
Life member #369 of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association Member of Canadian Association of Token Collectors
Collector of: Canadian coins and pre-confederation tokens Darkside proof/mint sets dated 1960 My Ebay
One idea is not to put them in a raw, the picture size is limited, if you have put 2 on top, and 2 under, they would show appx. double -x4 the size, with the same effort.
I appreciate all of the advice! If I continue using the scanner, I will try the suggestions - I would like to switch to using photos but I don't think my camera is really good enough to get good closeups. I will also check out photobucket - sounds like a good way to get a better presentation and lower my Ebay fees as well.
As far as demand, I think Ebay prices tend to be lower than Krause for these, but I have seen similar coins (same KM and date) sell for double or triple the price. Some of these tips may help. Thanks again!
<< <i>I appreciate all of the advice! If I continue using the scanner, I will try the suggestions - I would like to switch to using photos but I don't think my camera is really good enough to get good closeups. >>
I used to use a scanner, but the biggest problem I found was the inability to easily adjust lighting when I needed to- cameras are much more flexible in this regard. You don't need an expensive one- a Sony Mavica FD-73 takes good pictures, and the one in the linked auction sold for $29.
<< <i>I will also check out photobucket - sounds like a good way to get a better presentation and lower my Ebay fees as well. >>
This is a good way to control the quality of your images- you don't have to worry about loss of detail if/when your pictures get resized by eBay.
<< <i>As far as demand, I think Ebay prices tend to be lower than Krause for these, but I have seen similar coins (same KM and date) sell for double or triple the price. >>
I think you'll find that the more detailed your picture, the better a price you'll generally get.
Sometimes I think that providing a really clear, huge image will result in lower closing prices than an average, slightly fuzzy, medium-sized image. Reason is: The super high-def images show all the miniscule marks which would never factor into the coin's grade if viewed in-hand. That said, crappy images (and I didn't look at the OP's images, so this is not a comment on his) make me shy away rather fast. I hate scanned images in particular. They never show off the coin as well as a nice photo, but I understand why people scan anyway. It's cheaper, faster, and easier than photography.
Comments
1-Dammit Boy Oct 14,2003
International Coins
"A work in progress"
Wayne
eBay registered name:
Hard_ Search (buyer/bidder, a small time seller)
e-mail: wayne.whatley@gmail.com
which worked fine.
I would sometimes have to use a graphics program to enhance the brightness or contrast
of the image.
If I had a lot of pictures, I would put them into a separate personal website and put a link
in the Ebay listing to the other website.
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
FOR SALE Items
Even with the 2 by 2's, you could have doubled the size if you had laid them out 2 across and 2 down. However, I would have zoomed in on each coin and cropped each image right at the coin's edge, and then I would have laid them out 2 across/2 down, in a single pic for obverses and one pic for reverses. The images of each coin would have then been about 4 times as large.
Personally, I don't think it was scanning the coins that hurt so much as small imagery. I don't know anything about the value of and market for Egyptian coins, so whether or not there simply is insufficient demand on eBay for these items, I cannot say. But for coins having little to no luster, I believe scanning is perfectly fine in providing potential bidders with a good assessment of the lot.
So for your lot I would have scanned at 500dpi, obverse and reverse, crop to frame each coin, upload the 8 pix to Photobucket, copy their eBay tags into the listing. The listing would have 8 small photos that one could click on to get larger views.
Life member #369 of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association
Member of Canadian Association of Token Collectors
Collector of:
Canadian coins and pre-confederation tokens
Darkside proof/mint sets dated 1960
My Ebay
Palestine mandate coins
As far as demand, I think Ebay prices tend to be lower than Krause for these, but I have seen similar coins (same KM and date) sell for double or triple the price. Some of these tips may help. Thanks again!
Bjorn
<< <i>I appreciate all of the advice! If I continue using the scanner, I will try the suggestions - I would like to switch to using photos but I don't think my camera is really good enough to get good closeups. >>
I used to use a scanner, but the biggest problem I found was the inability to easily adjust lighting when I needed to- cameras are much more flexible in this regard. You don't need an expensive one- a Sony Mavica FD-73 takes good pictures, and the one in the linked auction sold for $29.
<< <i>I will also check out photobucket - sounds like a good way to get a better presentation and lower my Ebay fees as well. >>
This is a good way to control the quality of your images- you don't have to worry about loss of detail if/when your pictures get resized by eBay.
<< <i>As far as demand, I think Ebay prices tend to be lower than Krause for these, but I have seen similar coins (same KM and date) sell for double or triple the price. >>
I think you'll find that the more detailed your picture, the better a price you'll generally get.
then resized, it's amazing the detail you can get in a scan