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 Replies: 25 / Views: 2,495 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19944 Posts |
Coin pictures on ebay are a challenge, there's no doubt about it. Most sellers don't know how to photograph a coin properly, probably 95% of them. LOL How do you judge the pictures? For me: Lighting - I try to determine the position and type of the lighting. From taking lots of coin pictures, I know the effects it can have. If I'm serious about a coin, I'll check their other pictures until I figure out their lighting, only then can I truly evaluate the coin. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
Eye Appeal. IF the pics are decent, I check color and/or luster along with overall appeal before even looking at the details. Signs of cleaned/re-toned coins often come through in pics and that's really important too. Value. ebay can be a source of frustration but I think it boils down to value. If you get what you paid for - to me that's value. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
666 Posts |
I think we approach this in exactly the opposite way. I look for auctions with absolutely horrible images. Even with the worst images you can sometimes determine an upper end grade possibility for a coin. So if for instance I see an auction for "an old Wheat penny" as the title with the date in the description and an image that's just blurry enough to obscure all the detail but clear enough to see the separation between the cheek and jaw more than likely I'm looking at a VF coin. Now if that auction was for a 1934 Wheat cent I'd pass right by it, BUT if it was for a teen date... And no one was bidding on it... what do you think? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
The pictures on ebay are a daily frustration . I have found several sellers who provide good pictures with the proper white balance, lighting and size which I buy the majority of my coins from when shopping on ebay. every now and then I will try out other sellers who's pictures are fair ,so far only a few disappointments over the years . |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1116 Posts |
i really hate it when the pictures are really blurry I like to see big clear pics so I can try to grade the coin. but what gets on my nerves worst of all is when sellers only show pics of the obverse or reverse of a coin.
there is no way I am going to bid on a coin without seeing the other side.
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Moderator
 United States
188213 Posts |
Quote:
there is no way I am going to bid on a coin without seeing the other side. I agree. For all you know, the other side has been completely sanded down or otherwise defaced. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1840 Posts |
Even great pictures can mask issues with a coin or be doctored. The first thing that I look at is the seller rating and return policy. Quote:
I look for auctions with absolutely horrible images. This is a great point. I find that people selling grandpa's collection typically don't take good pictures. Sometimes it is worth the risk. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1116 Posts |
 with this also I forgot to mention that I also look at the seller rating and return policy |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
666 Posts |
To me it's a question of finding the bargain... ebay is a great tool to use to determine fair market value on coins. if someone's selling a well photographed or slabbed coin the large pool of bidders should end up selling for what the coin is worth... I do buy coins like this for my collection if it's a coin I'm actively pursuing BUT my most favorite buys off ebay are the ones that I pick up for $20 and turn around and sell for $200. I've got a long list of searches that I run through on a fairly regular basis. Sometimes these turn up some amazing things. |
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
Just won the bid on an 1872 IHC at the last minute. I was on my cell phone and the pic was tiny! This guy only took one pic of the coin (obverse). I saw the price with 2 minutes left and could not refuse. I'll see when I get it. Looked nice from the pic. Return policies also are a big plus. That way you can at least check the coin out in hand and decide that way weather to keep it or not. swcoin.ecrater.com
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Valued Member
United States
311 Posts |
Quote:
I've got a long list of searches that I run through on a fairly regular basis. Sometimes these turn up some amazing things. I wouldn't be surprised if I've ended up bidding against you on some of them :) I'm the same way... dark, blurred photos just don't get the bids that a good photo does, so as long as I bid below the minimum grade I'd assign from the photos, it's hard to really lose. And then there are all the mis-spelled, mis-categorized, and/or mis-identified coins out there, just waiting for a patient and clever searcher... That reminds me, gotta check on my mystery-mintmark auction :) |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
598 Posts |
Here's two different ebay sellers selling the same gold coin, with the same picture... and the same listing with the same spelling mistake!  Although, one seller revised the listing to reflect his proper email address  . The gold coin(s) pictured is not in any of my catalogues... is it in yours? Perhaps someone here can tell me what kinda coin it really is  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...WA:IT&ih=012http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...WA:IT&ih=012edit... Quote:
And then there are all the mis-spelled, mis-categorized, and/or mis-identified coins out there, just waiting for a patient and clever searcher ... along with the bad pictures. AMEN BROTHER! Edited by IBGolden
12/02/2008 6:00 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1882 Posts |
Quote:Here's two different ebay sellers selling the same gold coin, with the same picture... and the same listing with the same spelling mistake! Although, one seller revised the listing to reflect his proper email address. The gold coin(s) pictured is not in any of my catalogues... is it in yours? Perhaps someone here can tell me what kinda coin it really is What kind? An expensive one. $200 for a coin from a seller with nothing but private feedback.  I keep telling myself that some of the things I find on ebay are indeed a good deal...and sometimes the coin I receive is much better than the picture. I just make sure that I am bidding low to leave room for the mystery factor. |
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Valued Member
United States
77 Posts |
As the old saying goes "a picture is worth a thousand words" well not on ebay. I believe most pictures are either meant to mislead their buyers or they aren't good a taking pictures. The picture draws me in, then I go to the seller's feedback. I rely heavily on buyers feedback. I have seen recent post on this site by people who back away from leaving negative feedback, which I believe is wrong. Many times people give the seller a positive feedback but will state problems they had, like the picture not matching the coin, over-grading of the coin or slow shipping. I always try to buy at a grade or two below the stated grade. I feel like I have done very well since I started buying about a month ago on ebay. |
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Valued Member
United States
138 Posts |
i don't think those are gold coins. they may have been gold plated. it says people's republic of china (taiwan) 20 (fen) cents on the reverse. who the heck makes 20 cent gold coins. (year 25) which means 1936. I'm not an expert and don't know that much. but I would advise to stay away from purchasing items from china, there are too many fakes.
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Valued Member
United States
250 Posts |
Like a photo of any coin my first glance is to get an overall impression. Sometimes you can tell something about a coin but not be able to really explain it. The seller ratings are next as many others have stated.
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Replies: 25 / Views: 2,495 |
Posted 11/25/2008 1:58 pm
