I use the small McCormick Pepper can to lay my phone on. It's the perfect height. Sorry, large McCormick Pepper can.
The phone/camera is having a hard time focusing. The holder is part of the problem. You might also try the following. Raise or lower the camera a few inches at a time and snap an image. Look for that sweet spot that brings the coin in focus. You might also use the timer on the phone to snap the image. Any vibration will also mess with the focus. Play around with it. It just takes practice.
When you are a new collector, you have no idea who the "trusted reputable dealers" are because you are at a disadvantage in making that judgement. Unfortunately the old time brick and mortar coin shop is a scarce commodity in many areas. That's why you end up on the Internet, which for the inexperienced collector is very much "the wild west."
I do not have the app but I do know there is one for a scale on iPhone. If I find one that’s legit I will post. Welcome to CT.
thanks, Cheech. I was roaming the local coin show a few years back, scanning a lot of stale and problem material, and spotted this one. couldn't whip out the check book fast enough!
Authenticating from images only is tough enough but when they are this fuzzy there is no real way to tell unless there are obvious problems like your 1844-CC with motto $. Those images were equally bad and makes me wonder if you really want answers...