I like ebay. I like to surf ebay, I like to bid, and I occasionally like to sell on ebay. However I, like every experienced collector, know that ebay can contain deals, steals, and great buys, but the buyer will have to figure out which one is which every single time. When something seems too good to be true, or looks like a monster coin if it were just graded that is where I take my first clue that something may be amiss. However, when looking at pictures, even if the coin is graded because sometimes problem coins come in non-problem holders, there are photographic techniques I am on the lookout for. 1) the image is out of focus...even slightly. That doesn't mean the picture is out of focus, a savvy seller can put a softening filter on an image and use it to hide hairlines, scratches, etc. if the image has any blur its a no for me. 2) if the white balance is out of whack...if the coin is whited out, or is too dark, that too can be used to cover problems like polishing and whizzing. 3) pictures taken from oblique angles. Pictures of coins that aren't from a straight on shot should make you look twice. If the coin is shot from an extremely low angle there is a chance that a problem coin is being covered up. This auction is guilty of all three techniques: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1895-Barber...72?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item51c7467974 The angle is wrong, it is too bright, and slightly out of focus....so why? This is a desirable date barber coin, with seemingly colorful toning, in a grade that most barber collectors would of course want. So we start searching auction archives and there it is on heritage: http://coins.ha.com/itm/barber-dime...9-126-mintage-690-000-numismedi/a/1204-9063.s Hmm, details graded, scratched....which is why I am looking at a raw BIN on ebay that it out of focus, angled, and whited out. Perhaps if they hadn't shot for the stars with a MS60 graysheet ask someone would have snapped it up without taking the time to go in depth, but again this coin is just one of many that appear by all kinds of sellers on ebay everyday so watch the listings, and don't trust any listing until you've checked it out from every which angle.
Good write up Tony thanks, plus the eBay seller has only 67 negs for the year! Makes you wonder why anyone would ever pull the trigger on this one.
Here is the difference between the two photos, the Heritage auction photo and the scam ebay photo. The seller tried to sell it for $675 when the other auction sold it for only $525, a $150 difference, 22% greater price, is made by scamming by calling a AU details coin a MS+ coin by talking horrible photos.
actually heritage recorded the sale at $282 which makes the $675 a roughly 239% markup after cracking the coin out....but this happens all the time on ebay, not just this seller.
I wanted to pull the trigger, which is why I did the research....I've been looking for a problem free 1895 P for a while now and then after months of fruitless searching I dropped that money into an 1896 S quarter instead...we'll try again for an 1895 P next year.
I know it is not an F12 or a VF, but I couldn't begin to afford those and I must've looked at a hundred AG3s to find one that was close to a G4. This one, IMO, has just a teeny bit too much wear into the 7 to 9 o'clock area. But now I have two of the big three.
Nice 96-s. Well worn but honest and original agree very close to a g-4. You could get a bean on it lol. Would rather have this then a cleaned to death higher grade
