1948 Quarter Picture Posted for Wondercoin

cosmicdebris

wondercoin

Bill: Thanks again for helping me post this scan. But, here again, is why I really hate putting up scans. This coin is "on fire" in person with BOOMING LUSTER dancing and swirling in the super neat colors. The obverse in particular is really, really cool. Yet, the scan, while nice, doesn't really show this.

I was reading on the US Coin Forum how Indian Cents from the Heritage sales which show as very dark coins then appear as very bright coins on other seller's websites. I do not alter my pictures in any way and they simple do not capture the coins the way I like. Wondercoin

keithdagen

Mitch,

I think that the limitation is something that most people get used to. Any lightly toned clad, or coins with a golden color, I can scan well. Bright white silver coins or deeply toned coins, I can't usually get a good scan of.

However, knowing how my scans turn out poorly, I can imagine how great this, and other toned coins, must look in person.

Keith

TomB

I agree with Keith. I scan many truly neat coins that are toned and few images, if any, have the same fire and personality of the coin "in person". Knowing that, I would have to think that your coin is really quite special when held in hand.

cointime

Great looking coin. Bill,I am wondering what type of scanner you used and if it is a 48 bit? I was using an old HP scanjet 5P. My father-in-law bought a Lexmark 83 48 bit and was able to scan one of his Franklins and show all the beautiful colors. I liked it enough, I bought a 73 model, but have yet to hook it up. Your scan still shows a lot more colors than my old 5P.

cosmicdebris

Ken I did not scan the coin. Mitch emailed me what he had scanned and I simply cropped it and resized it. Then I lowered the JPEG quality to get a smaller file size.

clevegreg

Mitch,

If the coin scans that well it must be a true Monster in person. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Greg

wondercoin

Greg and others: Thanks for the comments. This 1948(p) quarter is exceptionally clean and should be, imho, a PCGS-MS68. I personally like it as much as the 1948(p) quarter in PCGS-MS68 I graded at PCGS last week. I have little doubt it would grade MS68* at NGC (which I believe the pictured coin is). PCGS has, historically, been very tough on deep beautifully toned coins. Laura from Legend made the same comment here a couple weeks ago concerning commems.

PCGS is looking for a certain "look" for its MS68 silver dimes and quarters. Without that "look" your chances for MS68 are very, very slim. Yet, a percentage of those toned coins that do not have the "look" are amazing toned specimens. I see some progress" on PCGS appreciating these pieces a bit more lately, but, wihout the "look" pulling high grades on these coins is very tough. Wondercoin.

Strat

Mitch,

You could try the ole pencil trick, propping the slab on the edge of a pencil, to make sure the light from the scanner bed highlights the coin more evenly. However, this can make the coin look a bit different than it actually is. I've heard other numismatists recommend Visioneer scanners, and though I tend to stick with HP for other reasons, perhaps a Visioneer may help. My HP 5200C does only a fair job, producing scans that are a bit washed out.

Has anyone experimented with a digital camera for toned coins? Can decent images be produced without a lot of hassle/expertise?

cointime

Mitch,
I have question (I could have started a new thread,but thought it approp. for here). I'm sure you and many others have handled many more coins than I have, especially lovely toned gems as the one above, how do you part with these coins? Yes, I know the money part is a good motivator, but for an example do you have to justify it to yourself in some way? I mean you have hand selected the coin, prepaired it for a journey to encapsulation at PCGS and have it sealed, preserved forever with its bold and beautiful sheen, a multitude of rainbow colors that just capture and hold your eyes hostage, and dare you to look away. Only for a second you do, but you pick it back up again for further inspection(as if this is the first time you have touched or seen this coin), tip it back and forth as to look for something or a color you may have not seen before. You lay the coin down back in front of you in awe. I myself, find it very difficult to part with most of my coins if not completely impossible. I would appreciate any thought and ideas from you and anyone else. Thanks for sharing a wonderful coin.

wondercoin

Ken: First of all, you notice I have not sold this coin! And, I have a super toned PCGS-MS68 of this exact date, which isn't for sale either. And, I have the "matching twin" to this 1948(p) original mint set coin also in a PCGS-MS67 holder, which I will consider selling as it has basically one more mark on it than the pictured coin and is properly graded PCGS-MS67 (whereas the pictured coin should be in an MS68 holder). The only thing that has held me back is my concern of "splitting up the twins"

But, Ken, to answer your question, there are some coins that just are not for sale. To me, they are my cool prooflike business strike silver dimes and quarters or special toned coins (one of each type having been placed in my 10 year old son's toned type set anyway), or a couple neat pattern coins I bought like a very special 20 cent piece pattern, to list a few There are also some post-1964 "modern" coins that fall into this "keeper" category as well. Have I regretted selling some coins in the past year? Absolutely, but virtually never because I didn't get enough money. Only because I really "miss them". Like the 1960(d) Quarter in PCGS-MS67 (pop 1/0) that I let a forum member wrestle out of my hands less than a year ago. If he were a "friend" he would return it to me Wondercoin.

cointime

Mitch, reading your reply gives me a clearer picture of your interest and tastes. I must say it also makes more sence, as to there are some dealers that admire coins but never allow themselves to be attached too closely for the mere fact of business interests. That says a lot about you. As for your MS68 I can only wait to see a picture of it. Hope you post it. After playing with my new printer/scanner, I like it, but still agree with you that it still does not capture the real coin. Here is a picture of the only real toned coin I have. Not as near as nice as you 25c. Have a great evening.

Kenny