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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Lehigh96, post: 752421, member: 15309&quot;]I have already stated that the most accurate photo was the last slab photo (Polaris photo). If you think that is close to black then okay. I have seen the coin in hand and while it is dark, it is not close to black and is very appealing. Both you and Doug would like people to believe that you must turn a toned coin at just the right angle for the colors to show and that otherwise the coin just appears dark. This is simply not true other than toned proofs (especially copper) and iridescent toned coins. Bag toned Morgans show their colors at just about every angle other than straght on. I don&#039;t know why one would care what the coin looks like at a distance since most people view them directly under a light with usually with a loupe.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie5" alt=":confused:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Furthermore, I don&#039;t consider a photographer who makes the coins appear better than they are a good one. I consider a good photographer one that is able to accurately show the true colors, details, and overall appearance of coin as it would look in hand. I believe that a small group of photographers are able to this. The group would include people like Mark Goodman, Todd Pollack, and yes, Brandon Kelley.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I believe that you have seen more of their inventory in hand than I have. I don&#039;t believe that you scrutinized their entire inventory at their table. If you want, I can start posting more coins I purchased from Anaconda along with my photos for comparison.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I would like to reword my intial statement. Anaconda did not purchase exceptional toned coins, they purchased coins with exceptional toning. The majority of their inventory was common date grade stuff that was overgraded due to the customary market bump given by the TPG&#039;s for exceptional toning. They were not exceptional coins with regards to strike or surface preservation. Luster is a very important factor with regards to toned coins and the slab photos could usually give you a better indication of the luster. Some of their coins had good luster, others didn&#039;t. I would like to point out that you have a discipline to your collecting style that demands the utmost quality in every aspect for every coin in your collection. Very few collectors are as discriminating as you are and you must allow for others with lesser standards or knowledge than you to have different opinions of the same coins.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>If Anaconda and every other major toned coin dealer follows the same practice of using good photos to sell their coins at higher prices than those that choose to sell them with substandard photos, why shouldn&#039;t it define market prices. Sight seen auction prices are fine, but most of the coins at major auctions are purchased by dealers at wholesale prices for the purpose of re-sale. I can&#039;t count how many Heritage auction lots I bid on that I lost to Anaconda who then sold them for a sizeable profit on their retail website. However, it would be cheaper for me to purchase the coins from Anaconda at their price than it would to take time off work and pay for travel expenses to attend the show myself. I did not see a big difference between Anaconda and most of the other toned coin dealers with regards to price and still don&#039;t now that Anaconda is gone. I have even seen the boys at CRO sell a toned coins for a significant premiums using the same business model. Last time I checked, Mark Goodman does all of their photography. Don&#039;t get me wrong, I am not comparing the quality of CRO&#039;s inventory to that of Anaconda&#039;s. CRO has coins of impeccable quality, but that does not preclude them from selling the occasional toned Morgan for a significant premium using a Mark Goodman photo.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Now Mike I clearly stated that their initial list price was $1,000 per coin making their initial markup 37%. I negotiated the price down to a 19% markup. I still overpaid, but their is no way I am auctioning them in a Heritage sale just to solve this debate. In addition, I would not consider auctioning them to Heritage unless I was guaranteed an oversized photo along with the slab photo. Under that scenario, I am very confident that the coins achieve comparable prices to their last auction performance.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It is perfectly acceptable to create a catchy title in order to attract readers as long as you make qualifying statements within your writing that set the record straight. I thought I did that.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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