New way to scan coins!

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Jral1, Aug 26, 2011.

  1. Jral1

    Jral1 Member

    I have come up with a new way to scan coins so you can see the reeding(not sure if it works with coins that have words on the edge but it should show some part of the words or lack there of in cases of missing letter error coins). Maybe this would help apps that grade coins determin the quality of reeding and color seeing how you truly see have the coin. All you need is about four drops of water placed onto of the scanner glass then lay the coin down softly on the drops of water. You can achieve different effects using a external light source(flashlight or what ever else you can think of) if you leave the scanner open and shine the light at the coin and water. this might help spot plated vs silver coin "errors" aswell. If the drop of water has perfect cemetrical circle the results turn out quite well(ajusting brightness and contrast can help too. hover over image wait for image to pop up then click wait for new browser window to pop then click the image again to full at full res(click the center mouse button(scroll wheel) then move mouse around to scroll around image! Oh and always remember to chose custom scan and increase resolution to highest settingor at least 1200dpi!Also use the click and drag corners after you preview scan you picture to crop all blank space out of the image to keep vile size to a minimum
    quarter 003.jpg quarter 012.jpg quarter 011.jpg
    On a side note How many drops of water can the rim of a quarter hold before it spills ofer?(Lay quarter down on level surface and drop drops of water onto it!)
    and can that magnify a camera shot of the coin?(I dont have a camera right now.
    ;)
     

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  3. gbroke

    gbroke Naturally Toned

    Just keep in mind that the water can damage a coin. :|
     
  4. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    I wouldnt attempt it with any form of copper ;)
     
  5. Jral1

    Jral1 Member

    Well it is the universal solvent!(Water is?)yes yes it is. I dont have any cardboard coins(i get what your saying tho). ph balanced water/ soft water?> would that damage coins? isnt there always water in the air? do they add cilica dioxide to coin holders or anything like that? in high humidity climates anyways!
     
  6. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    It's not the water itself so much as it is the chemicals and minerals in the water. If you used distilled water, there should be no problems.
     
  7. Alex491

    Alex491 Boy Scout

    Is there another way to show the coin and rim without using water?
     
  8. Jral1

    Jral1 Member

    You can also use what ever cleaning solution that is appropriate/safe for coins as long as its clear!

    Disclaimer; Please get your perents permission before attemping this and make sure your scanner is flat and level before attempting this also dont play with matches! or just use your camera.
     
  9. Jral1

    Jral1 Member

    I am trying to come up with a roller type coin holder that you can use to roll the coin along the scanner as it scans. doing it by hand is real fidgity. but if you can come up with some kind of roller so you can roll the coin along the scanner keeping the edge ontop of the scanner light so you end up with a long skinny picture of the edge/reeding of the coin. You can just hold the edge of the coin on the scanner(openlid) wait for it to scan over then pick the coin up move it ahead of the scanner light spin the coin alittle bit then place back down on th scanner wait for scanner light to scan and repeat untill you have all of the edge/reeding scanned. then you can crop and stitch the pictures together to make a nice flat image of the diameter of the edge!
    quarter 005.jpg A better shot of my first idea with an almost perfect circle of water around the quarter!

    Keep in mind I am not saying not to use your camera or what is better this is just a trick you can you use to get one side of you coin along with abit more then half the reeding/edge of a coin in one shot. It might be usefull if you want to catalog a bunch of coins you have collected and be able to determin face quality and edge/reeding in a single picture! Cameras do a great job but they also tend to be very large in mb size and you have to shrink them down or diminish quality to get lower mb sizes. A single high dpi scan of a coin at 1200 dpi-2400dpi only takes up about 250-500 KB not even close to a mb not to mention with the scan you dont lose zoom and pan quality like most all the camera shots I have seen here and most everywhere else except my Camera shots that I havent reduced quality and size. I have had many cameras but they always get destroyed in my cargo pockets due to my extreme career choices and my stuburness to bring it along with me. My scanner howerver stays at home. Entiendo! loco. Black and white text I think tbi' can understand that! Merc
     
  10. Jral1

    Jral1 Member

    I dont have any proof coins with high grade reeding(lol) but I bet that would look even cooler. show your results if you do!
     
  11. Jral1

    Jral1 Member

    It helps to rest one edge of the coin just off to one side of the drops of water touching the glass of the scanner then letting it domino down on top of the little puddle of water to prevent air bubbles then use a tissue to absorb any spatter.
     
  12. Alex491

    Alex491 Boy Scout

  13. Alex491

    Alex491 Boy Scout

  14. Jral1

    Jral1 Member

    link doesnt work for me post the picture with credit where its due.
     
  15. Alex491

    Alex491 Boy Scout

  16. Alex491

    Alex491 Boy Scout

  17. Kasia

    Kasia Got my learning hat on

    Well, the photographer of the coin is president of NCS, so I imagine he has lots of great equipment. My thought is it's either a composite of the edge and the coin, or he has a mirror system that allows the coin side to show when he's photoing it.
     
  18. Merc Crazy

    Merc Crazy Bumbling numismatic fool

    Or give up the scanner and buy a camera.
     
  19. Melina

    Melina Nickel Addict

    Exactly... how about just take a photo of the reeding, instead of putting water on your coins...
     
  20. brg5658

    brg5658 Well-Known Member

    :thumb: I have to agree. Cameras, even less-expensive ones (less expensive than a scanner) can take better photographs of a coin than a scanner. And, if I'm making the effort to take a picture of a coin, I usually like it well enough that I'm not going to float it in a few drops of any liquid.
     
  21. zekeguzz

    zekeguzz lmc freak

    I've spent many, many hours working with my scanner to have my coins appear as they do when they're infront of me.
    The results are not too good. Doug came up with the suggestion to tilt the coin to capture its luster. This works somewhat
    but different effects show up such as oval shapes, and parts of the coin are out of focus.
    Now you are suggesting water------------- no way! Best it be distilled water, IF ANY.. I've seen what it can do to fine glass when the chemicals react with it. Then what if your scanner glass bed is level? I wouldn't risk it.
    USE a CAMERA, please.
     
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