Would you pay to have your coins photographed? More to the point, would you pay ME to photograph your coin and then deliver the images to you via email and via download from a website. If you would, what would you think would be a fair price per coin? Keep in mind that you'd be up for postage both ways too.
What would you think about paying me in barter, basically in the form of silver (like round 50c coins or 90% US coins, or sterling GB coins) rather than via Paypal or bank transfer, or cash?
I know Walter did something like this a while back, so it's not a new idea. And of course, PCGS do it too and it costs US$10 (about AUD$12) for them to do it. I've been talking to PPH about it for a while, and the twist is really the payment method. Anyway, let me know what you think.
Hi Mark, do you also offer a grading service? I not knocking your idea, im just giving my opinion on the subject. For me dealing with the smaller coins with mainly $30 - $100 value its not worth it. By the time I pay postage both ways and a photo fee. I understand a good picture sells. If I had more coins to the value of $500 - $1000 then I might think about it if I could get my coins graded at the same time. The biggest risk is loosing coins in the post. If you get insurance the postage cost rises both ways.
My answer is I would pay (yeah $10 -$12) to get a great picture that will attract buyers but would want to get it graded/slabbed all in the one go. If the coin is graded already I probably wouldn't risk it.
Quote from: 'markn' pid='65889' dateline='1422164477'I've been talking to PPH about it for a while, and the twist is really the payment method.
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http://fulvio55.altervista.org/ has price tickers and charts. From 59 to 67 Satoshi, and BTC has gone from $200 to $316. Not too shabby at all. :)
I think it is a great idea Mark.
I have seen some of your photography and IMHO it is better that the PGGS "Trueview" and Murphies dog can take better images than those crappy "Secure" ones they charge $5 a pop for.
These images can be quite easily uploaded to a set registry as well.
You could combine this service with a service to send coins off to PCGS/NGC , That way whoever consigns a coin for this will get a great Image of his/her coin and a grade estimate before having to wait the many weeks it takes for either of these TPG's to get around to it :yahoo:
Hi Mark, I would seriously consider it. However if I was to do it , I would do min 5 coins at a time to keep it economically viable option. More importantly I would be happy to pay via barter system than money... If I decided to pay via cash, I think $5. - $7.50 is a fair price..
Quote from: 'trout' pid='65899' dateline='1422170186'I think it is a great idea Mark.
I have seen some of your photography and IMHO it is better that the PGGS "Trueview" and Murphies dog can take better images than those crappy "Secure" ones they charge $5 a pop for.
These images can be quite easily uploaded to a set registry as well.
You could combine this service with a service to send coins off to PCGS/NGC , That way whoever consigns a coin for this will get a great Image of his/her coin and a grade estimate before having to wait the many weeks it takes for either of these TPG's to get around to it :yahoo:
MR Trout now thinks like a business man ! I agree Trout, your idea is a winner in my mind... I would use that service in a heartbeat..
hang on
isn't the question about a specialty coin photography service?
or it is a grading/photographing/slabbing service? All three are different services and are quite different with the latter assuming quite a lot of responsibility onto the handler
there are dealers here already who cheerfully accept lots to add to the numbers for their own pcgs submissions
anyways, aside from my rant I think a professional coin photography service would be great but the logistics could be a bit cumbersome
not so sure about the barter system though - could be tricky
Great idea Mark, the only issue for me would be the method of delivery. If it was just a matter of jumping in the car and driving down the road a bit, you've got me every time. Ever thought of moving interstate :nea: I didn't think so :)
Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='65916' dateline='1422182030'..... not so sure about the barter system though ......
As Peter Russell Clarke would say ...... "Because barter tastes better!"
(Sorry ........ it's been a slow day ......)
I would definitely consider it for my higher graded coins and for coins that I have difficulty photographing myself e.g. toned coins. Cost is obviously the issue. An alternative might be some tuition for those that would like to do it themselves but lack the skills and experience.
I use the exact same lense that Markin uses and on probably a higher Megapixel camera but cannot for the life of me achieve the same results as to producing a true to life image of a coin that he can get.
This Bloke is an "Artisan" with a camera and shows a coin for what it is and how it is, Unlike the "Trueview" images that look super touched up to my eyes.
I recon Markn could do this for $5 per coin (Same cost for the crappy secure images that PCGS provides) and produce a truly professional image that could be uploaded to a set registry in a heartbeat :yahoo:
So whither you want to sell a coin or simply show it off to the World I consider Markens offer to do this invaluable to collectors without the equipment or knowledge to be able to achieve this level of quality in coin imaging :ok:
Quote from: 'trout' pid='65922' dateline='1422188378'...cannot for the life of me achieve the same results...
Because its almost all in the lighting, not the camera.
i'd think that $5 a coin is pretty darn cheap for a professional service
my daughter paid $100 for her dogs to be photographed and that was mates rates by a prof. photographer
the pcgs $5 photo isn't exactly a winner amongst submitters here either but sometimes you get what you pay for
I wouldn't do it for $5. It takes about 5 minutes per coin with taking images, cropping, attaching to emails, uploading to website etc. Throw in breaking the coin out of a holder, polishing the odd scratched slab and the 5 minutes easily becomes 10.
I am thinking $10 cash or 1/3 of an ounce of silver ($7.50) per coin
QuoteI am thinking $10 cash or 1/3 of an ounce of silver ($7.50) per coin
That's still only a Florin or Two Bob per image :)
Quote from: 'markn' pid='65942' dateline='1422229317'..... polishing the odd scratched slab .....
A more than reasonable price Mark.
You posted a method about removing scratches from a slab a while back and I'm buggrd if I can find it. I have a perspex magnifier that I'd like to try it on if you'd be kind enough to let me know how.
Quote from: 'Unicorn' pid='65950' dateline='1422231667'Quote from: 'markn' pid='65942' dateline='1422229317'..... polishing the odd scratched slab .....
A more than reasonable price Mark.
You posted a method about removing scratches from a slab a while back and I'm buggrd if I can find it. I have a perspex magnifier that I'd like to try it on if you'd be kind enough to let me know how.
http://www.australian-threepence.com/blog/2011/08/polishing-scratched-slabs.html
Ah ha .... there it is!!!
Thanks heaps Mark ....... off to the shed in search I go!
Quote from: 'markn' pid='65942' dateline='1422229317'I wouldn't do it for $5. It takes about 5 minutes per coin with taking images, cropping, attaching to emails, uploading to website etc. Throw in breaking the coin out of a holder, polishing the odd scratched slab and the 5 minutes easily becomes 10.
I am thinking $10 cash or 1/3 of an ounce of silver ($7.50) per coin
then return posting etc etc
but for good coins it would be a valuable service for many
look how well trout is doing on ebay with his great photos now
May I ask a dumb question and this is asked not to put a dampener onto Markn's suggestion etc.
Why would someone pay a professional photographer/coin collector to photograph ones coin(s)?
Is it for security reasons or bragging rights or what?
I have scanned every one of the coins that are presently in my collection via my trusty scanner at a dpi setting of 1200 with not too much border about the coin.
This, to me, gives me quite a good picture/scan of my coin(s) for examination etc without the use of a microscope/magnifying glass.
The scans are then put a separate hard drive just in case the collection, part or whole, is lost/stolen etc.
Cost to me is negligible.
So why pay a professional to do what a decent scanner can do and a wee bit of time?
I suppose, in short, my answer to Marks question would be NO.
QuoteSo why pay a professional to do what a decent scanner can do and a wee bit of time?
How can I say this without hurting your feeling Bruce, I cannot so I will be blunt and truthful.
A scanner cannot make a coin look like it is in hand, There is NO way that this can be done.
A skilful photographer can make a coin look exactly what it looks like it is in hand, including all its blemishes.
Scans do NOT show Lustre or the stunning colours that toning can sometimes produce and make a coin quite frankly "Look like Shit"
I am still struggling to achieve what Mark can do with a camera But at least I am making the effort.
ANY Fool can pop a coin under a scanner, But it takes "Expertise" to produce a true and faithful image of a coin :ok:
Mark does this rather well and his images are far superior to the doctored and enhanced images that PCGS charge $10 a coin for.
If you are happy with crappy Scanned images then that is fine, Personally I wouldn't bother and would rather persevere to get the best images I could.
Hurt my feelings, no one but my wife can do that trout.
I thought I would just ask the "stupid" question and thanks for your response.
with respect to pre-decimal coppers and banknotes
a scanner makes a totally cleaned pre-decimal penny looks bloody amazing
similar can be said for banknotes
Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='66014' dateline='1422260966'with respect to pre-decimal coppers and banknotes
a scanner makes a totally cleaned pre-decimal penny looks bloody amazing
similar can be said for banknotes
Scanned images are fine for seeing details of the design but they give little idea of grade, lustre, detracting marks, hairlines, or bad colour. You might be able to look at a coin and match it with a scanned imaged, but you get no real idea of what the coin is like.
Quote from: 'Goldseeker' pid='65998' dateline='1422256065'May I ask a dumb question and this is asked not to put a dampener onto Markn's suggestion etc.
Why would someone pay a professional photographer/coin collector to photograph ones coin(s)?
Is it for security reasons or bragging rights or what?
I have scanned every one of the coins that are presently in my collection via my trusty scanner at a dpi setting of 1200 with not too much border about the coin.
This, to me, gives me quite a good picture/scan of my coin(s) for examination etc without the use of a microscope/magnifying glass.
The scans are then put a separate hard drive just in case the collection, part or whole, is lost/stolen etc.
Cost to me is negligible.
So why pay a professional to do what a decent scanner can do and a wee bit of time?
I suppose, in short, my answer to Marks question would be NO.
A professional photograph can do wonders when selling a coin but if your intention isn't to sell but to merely have a reference photo then it probably isn't useful to you.
Quote from: 'markn' pid='65961' dateline='1422240070'http://www.australian-threepence.com/blog/2011/08/polishing-scratched-slabs.html
Thanks again Mark!
I found my cutting compound (which had separated into liquid and solid ..... that shed gets rather hot at times) and after a good (attempt at) stirring, gave it a blast. This removed the main crap but left a fair few polish lines, which you mentioned. I followed up with a No. 1 wax polish which took most of that away. (I could probably get it better, but it's fine for me as it is now).
I'm happy as a Unicorn in Skittles !!!!
This is what I use when I noodle, so between the crap on it and the scratches on my glasses lens and the infinity focus on my only good eye ...... it was all a bit of a pain in the butt. I had broken it at one stage and the crap on it came from it's reaction to the superglue I used and my fumbling attempt to clean the excess off at the time.
Here's a quick before and after pic.
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/11067/mag_before.jpg)
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/11067/mag_after.jpg)
The cutting compound must have some good stuff in it ...... it triggered the smoke alarm near the office door! :laugh2: (No, I didn't rub that hard I started a friction fire).
Quote from: 'Unicorn' pid='66070' dateline='1422331595'This is what I use when I noodle, so between the crap on it and the scratches on my glasses lens and the infinity focus on my only good eye ...... it was all a bit of a pain in the butt. I had broken it at one stage and the crap on it came from it's reaction to the superglue I used and my fumbling attempt to clean the excess off at the time.
I would suggest one of these $10-ish 10x magnifiers I use. The ones intended for slides, with a clear 'cup' and the lens held in a black ring on top. Holding it upside down against your eye puts the lens maybe an inch away and lets you get as close as you need to the target to get things in focus.
Here's a pic of a similar looking one I just googled:
(http://www.boedlund.com/images/slide-magnifier-psd.jpg)
Jeepers McDuck I thought you were the techno Guy , Even I use a USB microscope noodling.
Just hook that baby up and look at the BIG screen :dance::dance2::dance::)
Quote from: 'trout' pid='66088' dateline='1422350349'Jeepers McDuck I thought you were the techno Guy , Even I use a USB microscope noodling.
Just hook that baby up and look at the BIG screen :dance::dance2::dance::)
Yeah, yeah.. way too fiddly. It only comes out for special occasions. :)