Okay everyone — I am beyond puzzled by the sheer idiocy of some buyers on Ebay. In specific, I have watched for the last few months how this specific seller (of whom I will mask any relevant identifying information) manages to sell a never ending supply of absolutely ridiculous edited coins, which are so blatantly (and crudely) sprayed over with a silver color that it leaves me wondering what the hell is going on? Especially considering that he manages to get 2-3 times what others are getting for ACTUAL, uncirculated coins. Not to mention, why I myself shouldn’t just start doing the same. I mean, seriously — just look at how laughable these are.
There are a handful of sellers that enhance photos (either to make a coin more DMPL, more colorful, or to hide marks). Quite a few are fairly obvious. Yet people continue to bid. Some of this might be explained by shill bidding (seller or his associates running someone up) but there is plenty of regular bidders that don't do their research or get too enamored with the photo (not realizing it is enhanced).
Oh, that's the one in Colorado. I just got snookered by the one in Arizona. And not for the first time! Yes, that's how stupid I am. Enamored! That's a nice word for it, thanks very much.
To the OP, they're not sprayed over with anything. It's all done with mirrors.. Mirrors and Photoshop.
It happens and the important thing is to learn from the experience. Take note of the seller and the style of the photography and refrain from bidding on those items.
Yeah, they're not sprayed and they look nothing like that in hand. The trick is all in the photography.
So is the enamor in the (supposed) DPML luster? Because the coins are so dinged and scratched up that’s it’s ridiculous.
Everyone knows this seller, and to avoid them. If you didn't know, now you do The background is an immediate giveaway.
People especially members in CT, compare photos of things posted here verses eBay or anywhere else. Clearly that coin has been modified. I’m no pro but no way is that coin attractive to even purchase. That’s my opinion of course. Today, people will probably do even more of falsifying items to sell. If it’s too good to be true it probably is. People work together to probably give the seller good ratings and yes help with bidding.
Einstein said it best - "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
just another way to part suckers with their cash and bad thing is there are suckers who fall for such things
At least it isn't like Etsy, where you can buy such coins for .99 but pay $132.50 for postage and shipping. LOL
Yep that's one to avoid. With the Arizona guy. I know I've posted before about these sellers. As have others. But there is a group of idiots on ebay. Mostly newcomers I believe that will bid on these. These sellers are likely using a shill bidder to up the bid and get these newcomers to go higher. If the shill wins they don't pay. And thus the coin will be re-listed later. And yes, mirrors and angled lighting. And software enhancement as well. At some point you learn and so do they. But not until they buy a few and find this site or others and they figure out they were taken. By then other newcomers come along and fall in the trap. I think there are people out there that don't ever figure it out. Sometimes their dead relatives discover they bought junk their whole life. Sad but sometimes true.
Well I definitely hadn’t expected the amount of replies and other related comments, which were garnered from my post. I thank you all for your time and for helping me sort out the issue — of which, no longer remains.
Although I don't know what you mean by enamor in this context, I reiterate that the photos are digitally manipulated. Generally by heightened contrast. Separately, IME their coins are pretty clean, just nowhere near as dramatic as they're presented. ETA that my experience is pretty limited, because I never ordered from them a second time, and the first time was more from curiosity than anything else.
I never buy listings like this but I buy off Ebay often. I have been buying slabbed coins lately though.