Buyer Beware: Seller using AI-manipulated eBay listing images
P0CKETCHANGE
Posts: 3,369 ✭✭✭✭✭
Never seen this before. Appears to be a legitimate listing as the other photos appear unedited, but the primary photo and reverse slab shot are AI-manipulated. At first glance I didn’t notice, but then I zoomed in and looked at the lettering.
Listing link: https://ebay.us/m/alRcPX
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
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Yep, looks like he was trying to enhance the image or something with AI on those 2 shots. I think he did it to try and get rid of the slab glare and he messed up. I don’t think the other images are AI enhanced though
Mr_Spud
Is getting rid of the glare such a crime?
Also, this seller does show the original pictures.
I do understand your concern though as AI will definitely become a huge problem (but not in case).
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
It's not just the lettering. That is wild.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Coincidentally, I just stumbled upon a Reddit post on r/coins titled “Very Nice Seated Proof Quarter” about this coin that uses (only) the two AI-edited photos.
100% of the comments (9 at the time of this post) are praising the appearance of the coin and 0% of the comments make mention of the manipulated images (presumably, no one noticed).
https://www.reddit.com/r/coins/s/hSoLNekD09
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Never seen AI used in this fashion before. Would be nice if the seller disclosed that the photos are AI edited.
Collector
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I have a major problem if “Liberty” is illegible and who knows what else has been distorted on the coin.
eBay has editing software for images.
I wouldn't consider that AI...
I tend to agree. However, the term "AI" tends to be misused. Photography filters are often a form of AI but they are not "generative AI" which is what people tend to mean these days.
I had a funny (?) conversation with a colleague who wants my university to turn off AI in all enterprise software as the default. I said, "you want to turn off spell check and word fill." They didn't think it was funny.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Yes, I'm glad @jmlanzaf brought up the distinction between image filters and generative AI. In this instance, it's not simply an adjustment of color balance, but an intentional distortion of the physical properties of the coin.
It's telling that the Reddit thread has nearly 200 upvotes and 11 comments, and not a single one calling out the AI manipulation. It fooled me on eBay at first, and the obverse photo was what got me to click into the listing.
It raises interesting questions about the demarcation line between appropriate image editing and blatant manipulation, which I suspect will be more prevalent as the use of generative AI expands.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
UNITED STATES of AMERBICA
That is not glare.
Did you point out the AI manipulation to the nice Reddit folks?
Look again….UNNITED too! 😉
Rare variety
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Nah, I wanted to give it more time and see if anyone would call it out. It's only gotten more upvotes and more positive comments in the time since my original post.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Any digital image is inherently manipulated. All you need to do is change the ISO. Even a cell phone has some sort of AI enhancement in the photo app. Also its really hard to get the photo to show the real luster or surface without some sort of rotation under a bright light. (My opinions). As for this one, it might be manipulated. I wish there were a way to post authenticity questions on EBay itself. They certainly dont do any sort of policing. Anything listed on EBay could be fake, and the listing itself could be too. That being said, stick to the highly respected vendors such as Dave's Collectible Coins (Dave Enders), M Barr Coins, Denver Coins etc.
The seller posted the original image too. I can only assume he wanted to get eyeballs on the listing by removing the glare from the slab. I'd think if anyone is spending that kind of money, they would look at all photos posted in the listing. If the seller didn't include the originals, that would be sus.
As I noted in a comment above, there is a difference between color editing and changing the physical properties of the coin.
There's no "might" about it—just look at the lettering.
I suspect you will get pushback on this one for reasons at least partially related to this thread topic.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
I always assumed Denver Coins images were doctored. Amazing how they pull in the highest amounts for raw coins with 100% feedback.
Anyone who doesn't realize the images in the OP have been heavily manipulated, likely with AI, either hasn't looked at the images or hasn't seen Seated coinage. I am guessing we are all familiar with the latter.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Fair point, but (1) I zoomed in significantly on the coin to show the details and (2) you were already primed to look for the manipulation based on the thread title.
I'd consider myself at least an intermediate collector and have looked at lots of seated coinage, but the eBay listing thumbnails and first glance through photos on my iPhone did not raise any flags.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
I'm not writing about the ebay listing, I'm writing about this thread.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Seller probably isn't trying to deceive, since the original pictures and a video are there, but he's definitely not doing his reputation any good. We're not the only ones that are going to see the images for what they are. This is probably more an innocent bad judgment call than anything else.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I've got nothing for or against Denver Coins. They seem legitimate and professional to me.
I just used them as an example. (I had them as one of my saved sellers, but as you say, their reputation is good based on feedback - 100% positive). When I went back and looked at the photos of some of the coins currently for sale, they do look more colorful than my own feeble attempts at coin photography. That can be said for the PCGS True View coins as well. A lot comes down to the lighting, white balance etc. I dont know if that is an unfair business practice or not. What that does tell me is that a good photo is worth money in the eyes of the buyer. Blurry or grainy photos and ridiculous claims of errors that arent there are another story.
Their issues are more than just juicing photos. Read some of the threads on the forum about them
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
I'm laughing at the image of the reverse......the gibberish of where the motto is supposed to be, the lack of horizontal lines on the shield, the not-so straight arrows, and the very sickly looking eagle.
Throw a coin enough times, and suppose one day it lands on its edge.