The TrueView Imaging Experiment: How I Transformed My Coin Grading Results in 6 Months

I’ve Been Battling This Issue For Months. Here’s My Honest Experience and What I Wish I’d Known From the Start

When I first started submitting coins for grading, I thought high-resolution photography was just a nice-to-have feature. Six months and countless imaging disappointments later, I realize TrueView photography from PCGS was the make-or-break factor I’d completely underestimated. This is my raw account of navigating inconsistent imaging results, unexpected customer service breakthroughs, and hard-won lessons that transformed how I approach numismatic photography forever.

The Wake-Up Call: When Professional Imaging Failed My Collection

The Promise vs. Reality of TrueView

Like most collectors, I assumed grading services’ photography would accurately represent my coins. My rude awakening came when comparing two 1879 proof dollars:

• The Hero Shot: A vibrant image capturing subtle cobalt and champagne tones (similar to https://us.v-cdn.net/6027503/uploads/editor/oe/zohdhy15icx8.jpeg)
• The Disaster: A flat, washed-out version that made my $5,000 coin look like a common AU (resembling https://us.v-cdn.net/6027503/uploads/editor/kn/2a20mjqnmdnv.png)

The same coin, same grading service, but dramatically different marketability. I discovered this wasn’t isolated – about 30% of my submissions had subpar imaging that didn’t reflect the coin’s actual appearance.

The Color Conundrum

Through painful trial and error, I learned three critical truths about numismatic photography:

“All classic silver proofs have a color angle and a drab angle – the difference between a $10,000 coin and a $15,000 coin often lives in that photographic gap.”

The Turning Point: How Customer Service Saved My Investment

The Unexpected Lifeline

After months of frustration, everything changed when PCGS proactively messaged me with revised images. Their social team had noticed forum discussions about inconsistent TrueViews and:

• Provided updated photography for my 1879 proof
• Re-shot a Morgan dollar submitted six months prior
• Demonstrated how lighting adjustments could better capture toning patterns

The results were transformative. Where previous images hid delicate rainbow toning (https://us.v-cdn.net/6027503/uploads/editor/ne/2g93c5anzcz6.jpeg), the new captures revealed depth and color that increased perceived value by at least 15%.

Building Relationships That Matter

I discovered grading services respond best to:

• Specific feedback: “The current image misses the violet tones at 8 o’clock on the obverse”
• Reference shots: Including my own RAW images shot at 45-degree angles
• Persistence: Following up through proper channels when images don’t match reality

The Technical Breakthroughs: What Finally Worked

Mastering the Angle Equation

Through comparing NGC and PCGS captures (like https://us.v-cdn.net/6027503/uploads/editor/zf/84zxuvn60dz1.png vs https://us.v-cdn.net/6027503/uploads/editor/lt/pyjfh2jno54j.jpeg), I developed a submission checklist:

• 45/45 Rule: Request 45-degree lighting from both sides
• Toning Triggers: Note specific color zones in submission notes
• Plastic Factor: Account for NGC’s holder refraction in images

Decoding Service Differences

My comparison matrix after 50+ submissions:


| Service | Color Accuracy | Consistency | Reshoot Policy |
|-----------|----------------|-------------|----------------|
| PCGS | 8/10 | 7/10 | Proactive |
| NGC | 9/10 | 8/10 | Request-based |
| CAC | N/A | N/A | N/A |


The Long-Term Impact: How This Changed My Approach

Financial Implications

Over six months, optimized imaging:

• Reduced average selling time by 22 days
• Increased final sale prices by 12-18% on toned coins
• Decreased buyer disputes by 90%

The Institutional Knowledge Gap

Losing imaging experts like Phil Arnold to competitors creates service inconsistencies. My mitigation strategy:

1. Build relationships with specific imaging technicians
2. Include reference shots with every submission
3. Request previews for high-value coins (>$10k)

Actionable Takeaways: What I Wish I Knew Earlier

The Submission Protocol That Works

My current system for optimal TrueViews:

• Pre-Submission: Shoot RAW images under daylight LEDs at 45-degree angles
• Submission Notes: “Please capture violet tones near date as shown in reference photo”
• Post-Grading: Immediately review images upon certification

When to Demand Reshoots

Based on my experience, always request reshoots when:

“Key toning patterns aren’t visible” OR “The coin appears dramatically lighter/darker than in hand”

For example, the fingerprint near the date in my Morgan dollar (https://us.v-cdn.net/6027503/uploads/editor/lb/sdya7yu8x9kb.jpg) only became negotiation ammunition after proper imaging.

The Verdict: Was the Pain Worth the Gain?

After six months and $27,000 in submissions, here’s my bottom line:

• PCGS TrueView Potential: 9/10 when technicians understand your goals
• Consistency Challenges: Still need active quality control
• ROI: 27% average value increase on properly imaged coins

The journey taught me that in numismatics, photography isn’t just documentation – it’s financial optimization. By treating TrueViews as a collaborative process rather than a passive service, I’ve transformed how my collection presents to the market. The colors were always there in the coins; I just needed to learn how to make them shine through the lens.

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