Mapping coins

Many people have asked me how I create the different overlay maps I use on this forum. I create the maps using TurboCad 2D/3D Deluxe. It is off the shelf CAD software I purchased from Office Depot for less than $100.00. I purchased the software a while back – and am still running it on a PC using Windows XP operating System. If that gives you any idea how long ago that was – so I suspect the software cost a bit more now.

Anyway, I also learned that some people a capturing these overlay maps and using them with other imaging software to perform their own overlays. So I decided to start a thread to post my different overlay maps so those that want can capture them to use.

I’ll begin posting with the different overlay maps I have created for the Lincoln Cent. If you decide to capture and use these maps – keep in mind – these overlays are only a tool. They are not a definitive test for determining authenticity.

Another point to keep in mind concerning the overlay maps is they are created and constructed from images of the different coins. Images contain artifacts such as shadowing and other forms of distortion and the coins imaged can exhibit damage and wear which may cause some irregularities in the creation of the maps. In other words these maps are not perfect renderings.

On the Lincoln Cent maps, you’ll notice that a set of gridlines have been added. This grid was created by drawing a line from the bottom edge of the “I” of “IN” and the bottom edge of the last “T” of “TRUST” in the motto “ IN GOD WE TRUST”. All other grid lines are constructed drawn parallel or perpendicular to this standardized baseline. I did this to give people a quick standard visual reference for the location of the mint mark relative to the date.

With all the disclaimers out of the way let’s get on with the show. First up is the 1909-S and 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

You should turn your hard work into an app and make some money off it.

 

Added bonus for 1909-S and 1909-S VDB. Being so few coins were struck by the four 1909-S VDB dies – I did some overlays to determine if any of the VDB-S Obverse dies matched any of the 1909-S Obverse dies I have cataloged. Those results are as follows.

 

Lincoln Cents 1910 through 1913

 

Lincoln Cents 1914 through 1919

 

I wouldn't no where to begin turning this information into an app. Actually I am somewhat of a Luddite. Still use a flip-phone, running PCs using XP operating system, running my businesses with databases I developed in Access97. Heck all my databases use the dos command prompt function to pass variables at some point or another. Haven't joined Facebook, Twitter and etc. Don't fully comprehend the concept of friending, snap chat, cloud computing and how all this new lifestyle of staying connected works.

Anyway onto Lincoln Cents 1920 through 1925.

 

@justafarmer

These overlays are fantastic and you've invested a lot of time and effort developing them. I think the burning question on most people's minds is "how do I use them to overlay a coin photo"?
I know there is not a one size fits all response to this question but maybe a short summary that's not geared to any specific software program would be helpful.

Great work.

 

I have used them by using a photo editor app. For Justafarmers maps hold your cursor or finger (if you are looking at thos on your phone as I am) on the image it will then ask you to download. Take a picture of your coin.
Then crop your picture to the rims using the photo editor app. Finally you use the blend option in the photo editor app to overlay Farmer's map onto your coin's photo. You should be able to resize and rotate the coin map to line it up correctly. Takes a little practice but the maps really make it fairly easy!!

 

Awesome thread! Thank you @justafarmer.

 

Thank you for posting your hard work. It's beyond my skill levels to make use of them, but I enjoying seeing them when you post them to CT.

 

Of course I use TurboCad - which I purchased off the shelf for less than $100.00. Razz uses a different photo editing software. There could be a low tech solution. Print the target coin image out and use the following.

Now Lincoln Cents 1925 through 1929

 

Bonus - following is a set of Lincoln Cent Obverse Maps for 1909 through 1919 overlaid onto each other.

 

2nd Bonus - following is a set of Lincoln Cent Obverse Maps for 1919 through 1929 overlaid onto each other.

 

1930 Lincoln Cents

 

Lincoln Cent 1931

 

Lincoln Cent 1933

 

Lincoln Cent 1934

 

Bonus Lincoln Cent RPM Cross Reference

 

Thanks for sharing your knowlege and time spent posting these images.
It's appreciated very much.

 

What a great resource. Thank you.