Auction catalogers have a tough job at times. They have to please both the consignor and eventual buyer. One way they try to do this is by oblique phrasing of negatives. A while back, I started a thread about "blending of impression" being cataloger-speak for weak strike. Another that comes to mind is "subdued luster", which is cataloger-speak for dull. What are some others? Cal
Ancient coin catalog description translations: "wholesome example" = very worn, but generally in a uniform and attractive manner; a decent coin for someone who can't or won't spend what it takes for a higher grade "light smoothing" = overt smoothing, possibly some tooling "very nice for the type" = virtually all known examples are very ugly/off-center/unevenly struck/low relief/die rust; this one is less so "a little porous" = surfaces look like 120 grit sandpaper "porous" = surfaces look like 80 grit sandpaper "not in literature consulted" = "It might be unpublished. I don't have many reference books but it isn't in any of them and I didn't see it on Wildwinds. I'm hoping the verbiage will lead to a higher price, but hedged on the wording in case I missed something." (To be fair, this is a perfectly reasonable thing to say... if the cataloger has knowledge of and access to the appropriate catalogs. The value of the statement depends on who is saying it.) "some roughness" = looks like the surface of the moon "spots of corrosion" = huge defects in the surface from prior bronze disease "MS" = "We're trying to entice slab-trained collectors of modern coins to buy ancient coins and so will employ terms not traditionally used in the world of ancient numismatics." Also in most instances (particularly when on a label inside a flat plastic rectangle) it equals EF rather than FDC (fleur de coin).
This is a great thread. Thanks OP. I'm going to steal it. Just opened an auction catalogue to find: A little "Cabinet Friction" = AU-50 "First of these that we have seen" = Modern replica. "Tiny contact Marks" = Stippling to hide a repaired field. "Deep steal gray with slate iridescence" = Corroded coin, artificially toned. "Violet-gold surfaces with bursts of dark blue iridescence' = "dirty" gold. "Virtual absence of any naked eye marks" = Please don't put a 2X loupe on it.
Don't leave out the favorite guys - "conserved" when the coin has been cleaned ! Devil made me say it, I swear he did
I posted this discussion on CU and credited Cal. May I add these great answers over there if you guys don't?
"From our earlier sale of..." - I copied and pasted the lot description*. * - I actually just witnessed this. Lot description was verbatim.
Here are some from the other site - with his permission. AmazonX Posts: 458 ✭✭✭ June 26, 2017 1:10PM edited June 26, 2017 1:18PM "A tiny carbon spot/mark for easy providence identification" = Huge ugly edited carbon spot/mark that you or anyone else will never unsee when looking at this coin. "Freshly graded from Europe" = Recent Ebay buy sent in for a reholder by a dealer who is 5% Russian "Swimming with luster" = I over exposed this photo. "Will be appreciated by the experts in the series" = Don't ask why it's overpriced, you're not an expert. Just bid. "This coin needs to be seen in hand to appreciate it!" = Please bid and do not notice that I do not accept returns. "So close to the next grade which is worth 10x more. A quality piece". = I've already spent almost 10x the value of this coin trying to bump this edited to the next grade. "Fresh to market" = Sold to a new dealer "Stickered for quality" = Stickered so I can bump the price up "Affordable key date" = Only the second highest mintage of this series
This sort of reminds me of interpreting GSC auction titles. Looking at it from the other side, how about some positive cues, which can translate to a superb quality, especially if you're in the market for the Crème de la Crème example of a given coin? Do we interpret it one step down if we're looking at say, Stack's catalogs? + "Penetrating strike" = Well struck? + "Well struck" = Sharp strike? (Better) + "Sharp Strike" = Near or at proof level strike? (Best)
My take on that one is = Huge ugly edited carbon spot/mark that you could mistake for all of Rhode Island!
A more cynical translation is: "Penetrating strike" = holed "Well struck" = can read date, but not mint mark "Sharp Strike" = can read date and mint mark Cal
coruscating luster shimmers beneath variegated shades of chestnut and army green = avert your eyes as this is the coin equivalent of medusa
A just started coin collector looking for Mint Errors.. "It looks to be an error" or "No way it's PMD" The reality - it's PMD
