Posted 01/05/2007 8:41 pm
Jim, it's not you nor your imagination. I have a LOT of Morgans on my ebay Watch list and 75% would be my very conservative estimate (more likely about 90%) of the number of raw coins which have experienced tampering - dipping, cleaning, whizzing, even simple wiping. All these techniques alter the original and natural surface. I also am surprised at the number of persons who bid big bucks on coins which are essentially ruined for investment and/or serious collection purposes. I believe the buyers are just ignorant and are being presented a false bill of goods by dealers and sellers who mostly know better. The buyers may not find out for months, years, decades or even longer (if their coins become legacy items) and eventually are appraised by experts or offered for sale to knowledgeable persons.
A problem we've all seen on ebay is the art of Photoshopping a bright white coin or otherwise photographing or scanning a bright coin such that it appears much better than it actually is. I've returned two wannabe high grade Morgans this past month that appeared Mint State but, in hand were obviously altered and not as they appeared in the images. At least at coin shows (none of which are anywhere near me which is why I shop ebay), one can examine a coin in hand before purchase.
Fred
A problem we've all seen on ebay is the art of Photoshopping a bright white coin or otherwise photographing or scanning a bright coin such that it appears much better than it actually is. I've returned two wannabe high grade Morgans this past month that appeared Mint State but, in hand were obviously altered and not as they appeared in the images. At least at coin shows (none of which are anywhere near me which is why I shop ebay), one can examine a coin in hand before purchase.
Fred
