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 Replies: 28 / Views: 2,486 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
This tutorial pertains to ebay coins for the most part. Let's face it most sellers want to portray their product in the most favorable light and this is very evident when portraying coinage. Using a program that is provided with your MS operating system, I "doctored" the photos below. The first is doctored and the second is the original photo. It took me about 20 minutes ... photoshop would have been much faster. Minor flaws can be easily disguised. Major problems (polished, harsh cleaning and large gouges are another story). I offer this just as a precaution to those making online purchases of coins, especially when spending large $. Make sure the seller has a viable return policy! Photo one (1878 7/8TF Morgan) ... man that looks sweet!    Now here's the reverse ... man I gotta have that gem!   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
533 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
272 Posts |
Biggest thing I have seen is a nice picture of a coin and a small disclaimer at the bottom of the auction saying the coin for sale was not the one pictured, but one similar.
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Valued Member
United States
64 Posts |
Especially since this is his 666th post LOL
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Valued Member
United States
60 Posts |
Looking at these pics, I feel like I'm at the bar playing the touch screen game where you have to find the differences between two pictures. The difference is there is no time limit and I'm completely sober.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1173 Posts |
Good tutorial, SeatedNut. Thanks for taking the time to put it together so people unfamiliar with photo processing software can see what can readily be done to hide flaws. I don't know how many sellers "doctor" the photos of their coins. Another common ploy is to use such lousy photos that the buyer has to take a leap of faith that the coin was even minted in the year advertised!
Those, too, could be doctored, but they are so bad you'd never be able to prove anything. My coin budget is such that I just don't buy online any longer. I want to see the coin, in hand, under good light, before I'll spring for it.
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Moderator
 United States
187950 Posts |
Nice post, Dave! I have been tempted, but you just pushed me back away from contemplating ebay purchases! I'll just wait for the next coin show... something about having something in hand before buying...  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1179 Posts |
You would be amazed what you can do with photoshop, let alone some MS software. I've worked with photoshop alot and I know for a fact there are alot of people doctoring their coins. Your example was great using even the simplest tools. I always doctor family pics and stuff like that.
Now good news for all of you, I cannot take nice pics of coins to save my %$#, so even if I'm good at doing it, I cant ;( I would never anyways.
Good thread SN, more people need to know how easy this is and to take caution when buying.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
 Grade? ( ) |
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Valued Member
United States
265 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
543 Posts |
Wow you did an awesome jod with that, could easily call that Ms-65, you must sell coins on ebay, because this is how those sellers rip me off. |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
 Would you buy a coin from me? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
SuperDave: You would make a great on line used car saleman.
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Valued Member
United States
169 Posts |
I agree that there's a lot of "funny business" regarding the photos used on ebay. I don't know about photo-shopping the photos, but I have seen some that use a combination of lighting, angles, or whatever to hide flaws. One Lincoln Cent seller makes all his coins look MS65 with the lighting he uses. I've seen others sold with lousy photos, that just "coincidentally" didn't show specific flaws. Even darkening photos could hide flaws. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2797 Posts |
SuperDave ... that coin of yours has a striking resemblance to all the Morgans offered by a current ebay seller. Pardon me while I remove the Muffins from the oven Mommy!  And MorganNoob ... not a die crack. It's a contact mark.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
Kk......well several weeks back I finally signed up for ebay.....but I never made a purchase yet.......well.......I'm NEVER GOING TO ! JBuck..........I'm agreeing with your theory....I'll stick to coin shows & estate auctions.......Ebay is a wonderful place to swim, but the sharks that could be swimming in those waters......MIGHT GET YA ! With a lot of education and practice and of course getting "burned" enough times, I suppose one would "learn" how to operate on ebay.......but it won't be me !! |
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Replies: 28 / Views: 2,486 |
Just kidding. The way that you didn't completely fix the cheek makes it seem all the more believable, as a perfect coin would arouse suspicion. Also, is that a die crack that runs from her temple to the base of the Y on her headdress? Great job smoothing that baby out. Once again incase nobody heard me, DON'T BUY COINS FROM SEATEDNUT UNLESS YOU SEE THEM IN HAND FIRST!!
Posted 03/12/2008 3:16 pm
