Buying from poor images.

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by ldhair, Jun 24, 2022.

  1. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    Sometimes it works out well but it can be risky. If I know the dealer really well, I'll sometimes take the risk. This is an example of a deal that worked out.
    If you wish, post an image you bought from and your image of what you received.
    I'll start with this proof Mercury.
    dime1942.jpg Image_1186.JPG Image_1197.JPG
     
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  3. Dynoking

    Dynoking Well-Known Member

    Proof MAD w/o full bands?
     
  4. Morgandude11

    Morgandude11 As long as it's Silver, I'm listening

    Excellent idea for a thread. I have often gambled with poor quality photography in buying coins. Especially with toned coins, the picture can bear no resemblance to the actual coin. I will post some specifics, but this is so important for all of us collectors to understand. This is often the case if the only pictures available are TrueViews, and those are often beauty contest pictures. Great thread, @ldhair.
     
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  5. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    I have two sizeable purchases that I bought from less than ideal photos. But I was dealing with fellows that I trust absolutely completely. I didn't save the initial photos;

    This is my bucket list coin. The photo I purchased it from had the TPG label cut off. He was straight up with me that the coin was a "details" coin which made it affordable for me. But the third party involved sure didn't want me to see the label when we were dealing.
    copper.jpg


    This nickel I bought from my favorite CT dealer. He had it shown with the PCGS photo which was almost neon red and did not really represent what the coin looked like. I am not a toned coin aficionado, But I do love the early nickels that show the mild rainbow toning and this one does not disappoint!
    nickel.jpg
     
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  6. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    Oh, man, buying from bad eBay images was a whole sub-hobby for me for a few years. I'll have to see if I still have any of the images filed away. I believe I've posted some of them on CT already.

    Best one was probably a big pile of mostly obviously damaged/corroded junk coins. The one on top was a holed, graffitied 1878 Trade dollar, showing the obverse. When I got the lot, that dollar's reverse had no mintmark. It was a proof-only issue, genuine, 900 minted. I found a buyer who was collecting holed proof Trade dollars, and about quadrupled my money on that single coin.
     
  7. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    And it's been a while since I saw anyone mention this one from @bqcoins, which I'm not sure will ever be topped:

    The eBay find (with pictures that weren't terrible, but didn't emphasize a rather important feature):

    [​IMG]

    Home from NGC:

    [​IMG]
     
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  8. Lehigh96

    Lehigh96 Toning Enthusiast

    The king of my Jefferson Nickel collection:

    Heritage Photos 8/2/2008

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]


    My Photos:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  9. Mac McDonald

    Mac McDonald Well-Known Member

    Very nice indeed, but must observe that for the money/fee and such well-deserved grade/value, it's too bad they didn't holder it a bit more plumb/straight, if probably within some sort of acceptable parameters. But for me, not wihin mine...if it were mine, etc. To each their own. Also, I can't see/count the 5FS clearly enough...my older eyes...but if 5FS are actually present (not 4,+1), wouldn't the "+1" factor give it 6FS...?
     
  10. Mcpix

    Mcpix Member

    Really nice photography.
     
  11. ddddd

    ddddd Member

  12. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    This one worked out well for me.
    nickel1882.jpg Image_1217.JPG Image_1223.JPG
     
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  13. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

  14. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    My current problems with images involve Great Collections.
    I'm an EAC collector and am collecting at the variety level.
    GC's auction images are all made with white backgrounds.
    And things are worse when the coins are in NGC slabs (the ones with the white inserts).
    The EAC coin images end up almost as brown discs.
    That makes it VERY difficult sometimes to ID the variety.

    I've mentioned this to them at the last two Whitman shows in Baltimore and I think I even sent them an e-mail.
    I don't get any responses that seem to indicate that they'll look into the situation.
     
    Morgandude11 likes this.
  15. Vertigo

    Vertigo Did someone say bust?

    I've gotten pretty good at doing this too. Once you buy a few from dark photos and get them you can compare what it looks like in hand to this sellers photographs. If it looks risky i just pass. But done right the profits can be nice.
     
  16. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    Proof coins missing design details? In this era and in the 1950s and ‘60s, absolutely!

    Collectors’ negative reactions to the satin finish and earlier Matte Proofs led the mint to excessive die polishing. Making dies last longer played a role too. Exceeding bright surfaces become more important than design details. The result was you have missing designer’s initials, a missing hand for Ms. Liberty and Lincoln’s bow tie hanging in midair.
     
    Dynoking likes this.
  17. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    It's in an NGC 67 holder. The gasket is hiding part of the rim.
     
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