Lot Viewing Shake-up posted by Electric Peak Collection

[CSJournals-migration]

Priorities change...

 

After buying and planting a new Canadian Red Chokecherry tree today, I drove in to downtown Baltimore for the Stack's-Bowers auction lot viewing this afternoon. As I had written last time, one coin in particular was already my top priority, based on the on-line information. Several other coins were on my list of alternates.

 

What a difference seeing coins in-hand can make! That top priority coin is a pretty good coin. But close scrutiny revealed some mildly annoying features. Conversely, one of the alternates jumped out as notably nicer than the photos suggested. I now have a new top priority for the auction...

 

So the lesson I and others have given before is: If you are thinking of spending a significant amount of money on a coin, then if at all possible get a good look at it, 'up close and personal'.

 

The photos provided by the big auction companies are generally pretty good, but they simply cannot tell you everything about a coin. For example, the lighting may serve to hide or to exaggerate a scratch. And sometimes undesirable scratches are hard to distinguish from acceptable die lines. In-hand inspection allows you to make your own complete evaluation.

 

As usual, I'll write about my experiences at the show. Happy hunting!

 

See more journals by Electric Peak Collection

[Six Mile Rick]

Your journal is full of truth. The camera never really shows the truth of a coin and some issues are hidden with different lighting. Good luck on that swell looking alternate choice you found!!

 

Rick

[TD Henson]

I agree. Pictures hide lots of imperfections... It's hard to buy top grade coins via pictures only. I recently bought a couple of FS jefferson nickels on Ebay, on a whim, as the pics looked good. When they arrived neither was a FS - they were close in some regards, but overall they wouldn't make the grade. I didn't pay much for them, so it was just one more learning experience. Need plenty of photos, conversation and then that isn't like holding the coin.

[JAA]

Agreed. A picture may be worth a thousand words but viewing a coin up close and personal is worth a thousand pictures.