Pictures a MUST in the Registry...

stinkinlincoln · July 2, 2009 3:11PM

Would the Registry as a whole suffer if PCGS made it so all coins used for the Registry had to have pictures?
Also, would this be something you would want?

Personally I would be for it. Ive yet to start my N.O Complete Type Set, but when I do, I plan on providing professional images of all the coins.

I just think if youre taking the time and effort to list these sets, and invest this much money in your hobby, why not include pictures of these coins?

morgandollar1878 · July 2, 2009 4:30PM

I think that a rule like that would possibly hurt, however it would be nice if you got bonus points for having pictures posted.

illini420 · July 2, 2009 5:26PM

<< <i>I think that a rule like that would possibly hurt, however it would be nice if you got bonus points for having pictures posted. >>

I don't think it should be mandatory since some people just don't know how to take photos of their coins as it's not that easy to do well. But a bonus for having photos would get a bunch of folks to find a way to upload them I'd think. Any bonus should be very minor though (maybe just a tiebreaker??) I'd think as it's really about the coins first, not the photos.

fcloud · July 2, 2009 10:08PM

I like when there are photos in the sets. I have photos in all by Mercury dime sets, but not all my sets. It is a lot of work to put photos up and even though I really like photos I don't think they should be required.

RBinTex · July 2, 2009 10:31PM

Jamie,

If/once PCGS truviews EVERY coin it slabs to help battle counterfeiters, the pictures will pop up automatically (like they do now for a truviewed coin).

Until then, forcing every person to post a picture of every coin in every one of their registry sets would be shooting themselves in the foot - IMHO (although I'm for the idea in principle).

cohodk · July 2, 2009 10:48PM

Personally I think registries without pictures are meaningless. I have had every coin im my registries trueviewed.

I think the fear is that many who have high numbers on their plastic will realize that there are nicer coins in lower numbered holders.

19Lyds · July 2, 2009 11:38PM

I do not feel that PCGS should require photo's as a lot of folks simply do not have the computer savy or photographic capabilities to make it happen.

ajia · July 3, 2009 12:11AM

f/once PCGS truviews EVERY coin it slabs to help battle counterfeiters, the pictures will pop up automatically (like they do now for a truviewed coin).
Until then, forcing every person to post a picture of every coin in every one of their registry sets would be shooting themselves in the foot - IMHO (although I'm for the idea in principle).

....although what happens to the coins already slabbed?

I currently have 1816 coins in the registries.
Am I going to send all those in to be TrueViewed (@ whatever the current $ is)? NO

To answer the question, "Pictures a MUST in the registry",......NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

What I would suggest is that if the coin is in the top, say 5-10% of those graded for that date/mm, PCGS provide a FREE TrueView of the coin.
Maybe doing so would encourage those with top sets to publish them so us mere mortals can drool.

HighRelief · July 3, 2009 12:52AM

I wouldn't say it should be a "MUST" but it is nice when you are able to see the coins that collectors have posted. I have pictures and descriptions on every coin that I have in my sets, that is the way I have been doing things from the start.

ProofCents · July 3, 2009 1:00AM

What if PCGS lowers the cost to get a coin TruViewed it costs $25 for the Pic plus $5 for a reholder plus$8 for handling plus return shipping of $17.60

Total cost for One TruView $55.60

RBinTex · July 3, 2009 1:21AM

Surely there's a cost effective way to at least take a quick his res scan of every coin that comes out of there in a PCGS slab.

ProofCents · July 3, 2009 1:34AM

<< <i>Surely there's a cost effective way to at least take a quick his res scan of every coin that comes out of there in a PCGS slab. >>

I KNOW there must be NGC is doing it

Swampboy · July 3, 2009 2:56AM

<< <i>Surely there's a cost effective way to at least take a quick his res scan of every coin that comes out of there in a PCGS slab. >>

No doubt. But to answer the question in the OP I don't think folks who have ponied up the bucks for coins to add to their sets should be compelled have those pieces represented by any image that does not suit their own standards.

On another note, I may be in the middle of the field in the Lincoln Cent Circ Basic set Registry but I'm looking up hill at only 3 sets with complete images. Come on folks!

Thank you to Water Sport, Rabbittracks, ESM, and (partially though well imaged) William E. Corum.
These guys share the quality of their collections and give me some inspiration.

WaterSport · July 3, 2009 3:33AM

Taking pictures is a B$%^. Its time consuming and I can not even fathom the cost of so many Trueviews with already very high slab fees given the shear volume of coins required in my sets. Obviously, my pictures suck and are there as a reminder to me so that when I am looking at another coin to buy, I have a quick comparison. Arguably, one reason most sets are not pictured is because people do not want to post coins marginally graded or have (heaven forbid) spots, thumb prints etc.

I would rather require alls sets to open than photographed

WS

ambro51 · July 3, 2009 3:46AM

I think having good pictures of your coins makes owning them much more meanigful. After all...most of us keep our stuff in safe deposit boxes. You go there every time you want to look at one????

My camera is a Kodak ZL12IS It cost all of like 200$, if that. The copy stand is an old enlarger stand....junk. Two lights, and thats it.

I photograph all the coins as I get them, put them into my photobucket account, and then the fun begins. Recently I uploaded Photoscape, and now crop round, and put in a black background. I think it highlights the coin.

While probably not in the same class as some of the best coin imagers out there....I think what I do is just fine.

And I totally agree that a registry set should have images....and it should also be OPEN. I realize there are indeed 'reasons' to keep a set private, and can respect that if it is the case...but for the most part, not having images is just not trying.

LindeDad · July 3, 2009 3:56AM

I like the idea of bonus for those that image there sets. But see no way to make images required.
They would lose a lot of players if they did that.

erwindoc · July 3, 2009 11:45AM

The NGC Registry has a tie breaker that if two people were to have the same score, the one with the most pics and descriptions wins. I think that is the only bonus PCGS should give. I bet if it were a close competition in certain series that some people would find ways to get photos up.

jakeblue · July 4, 2009 6:12AM

I understand how difficult it can be to a get "good" picture, especially if you have a nice toner. But, for me, part of the reason for having a registry set is to show it off. No matter how low it is on the totem pole.

And, I can get an opportunity to view coins others covet.

Win, Win.

QBert · July 4, 2009 6:46AM

I think given the level of high tech digital stuff today, coin photos should be done by all the grading services for every coin certified as part of thier process. I would think this would help with crackouts, conterfiets, and post graded consumer damaged coins, and probably a whole bunch of other stuff (legal?) I can't think of. Harddrive space is cheap and digital cameras are cheap. So why not?

stinkinlincoln · July 4, 2009 7:30PM

Some great thoughts and ideas here in this thread. The bonuses are really good thoughts.

Not only does pictures of these coins help the registries, it cant hurt the owner of the coins in case they are stolen or something.

Maybe PCGS shouldnt make pics a must, but they SHOULD reward sets with them for sure.

bolivarshagnasty · July 4, 2009 8:00PM

ambro51, When you downloaded photoscape with the circle cropping capability, do you now import pictures into that program to modify? Do you then export them to photobucket to upload to PCGS? I have a photobucket account, and would love to image my Lincolns and Jeffersons but don't know exactly how to start. Would you mind stepping me thru the process, from taking the pics with the camera, to getting them
uploaded to PCGS. I have uploaded pics to the message board from photobucket, so I'm not starting from
scratch. Thanks for any help, Shag

dbemike · July 4, 2009 10:41PM

ambro...Thanks for the tip, photoscape has many options that I haven't been able to do before. These were just practice ones without having to read any instructions. I'm impressed.

ambro51 · July 4, 2009 10:51PM

Photoscape is a breeze to use. Plus, its free, which is really nice.

Lets say you have lots of images.....no matter what file. After you start running photoscape, click viewer. and then click on one of the images. when it comes up, right click on it and then click on editor when the box opens up. that will put the picture in the edit window. now you can click on crop round or square, and choose the background color. once you crop round, hit CROP. now you can click on HOME, that give resize options. You can also change the angle of the coin, if the pictures you are using are tilted, and also increase the size of the item by a sliding scale. Ive been using 400 since that makes a nice double coin image for the monitor. 500 will work too but thats a bit too big I think. After you do all this, click SAVE, and that will just change that image from what it was in the same file. Now you can go to photobucket, and upload that file., and then use the bottom box to click and copy the image for the fourm.

pretty easy. (even a cave man can do it )

ajia · July 4, 2009 11:58PM

Interesting additional thoughts.

But for everyone you reward, don't you penalize someone else?
For the same reason(s) someone may not want to 'publish' their set, I would think they'd like to picture them even less.

Don't get me wrong, I'd LOVE to see pictures of all the coins in the registry sets, especially the top sets.
But I'm against rewarding those that do & penalizing those that don't.
Me? I'm honestly too lazy to spend HOURS imaging all my coins.
The vast majority would not thrill anyone.

But this would be just another rule (or law) telling me what I should or shouldn't do (or can or can't do).
The vocal minority pushing the majority what to do.

That's the bottom line as I see it.

ambro51 · July 5, 2009 12:02AM

Youre right...there should be no penalty whatsoever. none. If a set is open of closed, with or without pictures should be at the sole discretion of the owner, and without any penalty at all.

But, hey, why not show them off?? Maybe not go through the whole pile of dreck and photo each and every one...but some of the showpieces, why not?

bolivarshagnasty · July 5, 2009 10:02AM

ambro51, Thanks for taking the time to go thru it for us. I'll find some time in the near future to experiment. I'll let you know
when I get some of my registry photos up. Thanks again, Shag

ambro51 · July 5, 2009 10:24AM

...never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

If you dont like that proverb, I have my dads sign hanging in my shop and it reads

WORK ON THE JOB AT HAND

bolivarshagnasty · July 5, 2009 10:48AM

ambro51, This is all I could muster tonight. Worked twelve hours today and I'm worn out. The photoscape download was a breeze. The software was self
explanatory. This is my first effort, and I am stoked!!! Can think of so many possibilities for my set. I no longer own this 42-d over horiz. d, but I did
cherry-pick it a few years ago for 50 dollars. Shag

ajia · July 5, 2009 1:01PM

ambro51, I agree that it would be great if we all had images of our coins.
And I admire your dad for instilling that ethic in you.

I'll see what I can do in the coming week.

RBinTex · July 5, 2009 1:47PM

Every single one of the 246 coins in THIS set is imaged & I can tell you it was a pain in the butt.

Swampboy · July 5, 2009 2:47PM

<< <i>Every single one of the 246 coins in THIS set is imaged & I can tell you it was a pain in the butt. >>

ambro51 · July 5, 2009 8:11PM

Yeah. That's it! Photos are fun to take, fun to work with after you take them and fun to share with the gang here. What I like is I feel better about keeping my coins in the sdb as long as I can Have them on the computer. I usually have a pain in the butt anyway since my desk chair is about 150 years old and solid wood.

LindeDad · July 6, 2009 10:08AM

I spent about four hour yesterday deleting all my images from the registery.
Summer project new and improved views of the coins.
Version#1

Version#2

And these are linked from the registery.
And why do you guys go through photobucket to load to the registery. You can upload images from you computer to the registery direct, they must be in .jpg format though.
You only need to link through photobucket to show images in posts on the forums.
Once your image is hosted in the registery you can link it to posts on the forums like I just did. Only accessible from the inventory mode by opening the coin link.

Pictures a MUST in the Registry...

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