Wow, I feel like I've got two new coins; (1) the one I bought & (2) the one I received. Personally, I prefer the one I bought compared to the one I received. Here is the seller's attractive photo: Here are my usual point & shoot photos taken at my desk: The high points on the coin are shiny in hand. You can see the shine in both the seller's & my photos. The coin has an old cabinet tone below the shiny high points. It's cool how the rider has a shield & two additional spears held at his left side. Rather than saying the dolphin has attitude, I'd say that the dolphin has a rather determined look on his face. There is a little dolphin under the dolphin and Ω & Σ on both sides. Please post your nomos coins of Calabria, Tarentum (Taras on dolphin).
So, of the two sets of images, which comes the closest to the actual coin? Regardless of the answer, it is a wonderful coin I'd like to have.
I'm in total agreement with Bing!! I'd welcome it into my collection...and I'm also wondering which photo captures the true image of the coin.
I don't believe in the concept that a photo looks more or less like the coin. The photo looks like the coin did in the light by which it was photographed. The seller was able to light the coin to its (or his?) advantage. If you feel he was deceptive, return the coin and never buy from him again. If you feel he was a better photographer than you but that the photo shows the coin reasonably, try again to make a better photo. If you buy coins from dramatic and dark photos you may find they look better in hand if you turn off the lights. Most of my coin photos show faults hard to see on the coin unless you look closely and in good light.
A coin like this needs to be disposed of properly. Send to Ancientnoob c/o VF Greater Greece Coin Disposal 666 East Sucker's Ln. NottooFar, CT 06513 USA
Another thread relating to photographic lighting ("What a difference lighting makes") underscores what Doug just commented---the altering realities of perception caused by the positioning and application of the light source. What we perceive is our reality as transmitted by the available light---but what we all mean by does the photo capture the 'true' essences of the coin is: Does it look like that in the everyday ambient light. I could spend years studying this concept and still be fascinated by it.. I also suspect that the sellers photo was tilted and purposely light directed to show its best presentation and lessen the evidence of those small scratches etc---most of which we do not even see as we hold it in our hand, just as Doug stated.. C-89, I still think it's a terrific coin unless you feel you paid for the more flawless looking coin the seller advertised rather than the one you received as shown in your 'point and shoot' photos. I do not have an example to share, unless you wish to part with it?
I'm on the fence on this one. He made the coin look pretty darn nice & I feel I paid about 30% extra for the pretty-factor. Returning it is going to cost me money. I've never had any dealings with this fellow so he would probably block me & avoid selling to me in the future. Part of me wants to return the coin. Part of me wants $50-$100 credit. (Yep, I'd be much happier with the coin if it cost me 100 less than it did). The seller doesn't know me so my only real choices are to either return the coin or just eat the coin, expense, & experience. [Unless ANoob wants to pay me for the coin
I'm not really seeing the issue. The seller's images have oblique lighting and are poorly focused. Collect89's images have somewhat sharper focus but suboptimal lighting. When I look at the two pictures, I don't get the sense that one coin is more valuable/desirable than the other. It's a lovely coin. Just reshoot it with more attention to flattering lighting and I think you'll be happy.
If you don't like it and have the option to return it, I'd do so. You probably won't have your first impression change that significantly over time. Photography is tricky and Doug's comments are spot on. Lighting can make coins look worse or better than they "usually" look but in the end, there is an angle and condition under which that coin looks like the dealer's photo, it just might not "always" look like that. I have a room in my house with energy efficient bulbs that have some odd color temperature which causes attractive coins to look truly awful. You may want to view it in a few differently lighting conditions and see if it fares any better and if not, consider returning it.
Someone said in another post about another subject, "If you don't like it now, you probably will not like it later". IMHO, if you do not like the way this coin looks, return it and suck up the loss. One other thing you might try. Tell the seller what you think about the coin and his photography and that you are debating whether to return it or not. Perhaps you two can meet in the middle somewhere.
I have purchased several calabria nomos(i?) In the last few months and even considered the OP coin. All dealer photos of coins I have purchased accurately or understated the coins actual condition in hand and in all lighting conditions. The OP coin would have been the exception and would have been returned. The photo is deceiving. I wouldn't offer it, dealer photo in tow, with a clear conscience.
What we learn here is not to pay extra for what we can not see. You are not entitled to $100 credit and the coin for having made a poor choice in hindsight. Return the coin while you can. If you fail to find a better one cheaper, you can blame us for giving bad advice. We do it all the time.
Please post your dolphin-boy coins to keep mine company. I really don't have any negative feelings toward my new coin. My only hard feelings are with the seller & his photo. I've deleted the misleading photo & it is all good in my collection now. The coin has some cabinet toning & he is fitting-in with his new coin friends in my collection.
Does anyone have a tale to relate of immediately disliking a coin received in the mail and later growing to like it enough to be happy with the purchase?
Aww many! I generally like most coins I buy and finding a good coin from a dumpy photo is a skill. Quite some time ago I purchased an tetradrachm of Vima Kadphises, a Kushan King, the tetradrachm was large both in weight and diameter and seemed a bit of rough on the surface, compared to most coins in my collection lacked substantial detail for my liking. As time went on, I came to realize that most Kushan bronze coins in general are battered to Hades, and my example was better than most but not as good as some, but I had good obverse facial detail, a decent amount of legend and a good amount of all the important parts that the coin could be appreciated. The tamgha of Vilma Kadphises and a decent hermaphroditic Shiva. I enjoy the coin very much.
I'm quite content with the coin now (providing I don't look at the seller's photo). The original seller photo gave me different expectations. Where is Stevex6 with his awesome dolphin?
C89 => I love your new coin ... it's kinda like a mood-ring, but it's a coin?!! oh, I have one of those as well (it's actually my most expensive coin)
