Have you seen some of the (Non-TrueView) SecurePlus images?

oih82w8

Before our host included TrueView images with the SecurePlus service, there was an image that was included of the coin in a "different light". It is the same coin...just different. I was browsing through some images and this "little box" showed up.

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/does-pcgs-secure-plus-grading-offer-a-higher-level-of-quality-and-conservation.249149/

At first I thought it was a "good sized" box and PCGS was being coy, but the box (CoinSecure CP-16) is relatively small in comparison to the operator next to it.

NOTE: I do not know if the CP-16 is still being used by PCGS, or if it has been updated and theses images are from obsolete technology.

http://www.drakesterling.com/coins-for-sale/news-wire/news-wire/pcgs-grading-costs-and-services

"The PCGS Coin Sniffer uses dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), Fournier Transform Infra-Red Spectral analysis (FT-IR), Raman Spectroscopy and other analytical techniques to detect the kinds of materials applied by so-called “coin doctors” to conceal problems with a coin or alter its surface to improve its appearance in an attempt to artificially increase the coin’s value...FT-IR spectroscopy in the PCGS Coin Sniffer process uses a beam of infra-red light that is reflected off a coin’s surface to detect molecules of foreign substances. Different molecules vibrate at different wave lengths. A complete analysis of a coin’s surface with simultaneous detection of all wave lengths can be completed in less than one minute."

http://www.coinlink.com/News/author/pcgs/

This why the coin looks "different", it's just another frequency of light (infra-red). Visible light within the electromagnetic spectrum is just a small portion, with infra-red being just slightly longer in wavelength frequency than visible light.

http://www.astronomersgroup.org/images/EMspectrum.jpg

The coin that I picked recently from our own forum member Charmy Harker, also known as The Penny Lady, which just happened to have one of these SecurePlus images on CoinFacts. At first I though that the image was just a bad TrueView, not centered and color off just a skosh, so I contacted PCGSPhoto, also known as Phil Arnold to see if other TrueView images were available for this coin. Phil replied back (very promptly) and stated that the image on Confacts for this serial number was not a TrueView image but rather the SecurePlus image, which sometimes did not center.

http://www.pcgs.com/cert/26004000

Sometimes when you think you have it all figured out, a different point of view is brought to your attention which requires further investigation. Thank you for your interest and comments.

MsMorrisine

PCGSPhoto is aware of the unfortunate past photos.

Our own TDN has one that is so out of focus you have to wonder how fast they threw them through back then.

oih82w8

I was not trying to point out "unfortunate" images of the past, just that the SecurePlus images can bring out details that TrueView does. I am not sure if the SecurePlus images are readily available like they used to be.