Can someone please explain to me why coins look different under different light and how that might apply in identifying errors. Thank you!
Its just the way the light reflects off the surface...like a toned coin in one light it can be elertic...and photo another way the coin can look bad. To Id errors, and varieties you need references. Coinsandcanada.com Varietyvista.com Franklin lovers .com Wexlercoins And there is many more google is your friend.
Have you ever noticed that we look different when we look at ourselves in mirrors where the lighting that is used is different? Diffused, soft light, bright light, florescent.. Sometimes we look great and then we could look scary
Wavelength of the light (λ), angle of the light, finger 'jam' on a dirty coin, probably a few other variables affect how light reflects off of a coin... Same here - sometimes great, sometimes BETTER
Kelly you've realized, noticed, something that a lot of collectors never realize, even after decades of collecting. That being that the type of light you use when you're examining coins makes a world of difference ! The fact that you realized it shows you're on the right track This is the basic reason of why it happens - Said a different way, what that means is different kinds of light show different things. And by the same token some kinds of light hide things. So it's important to use the right kind of light. Examples of different kinds of light are incandescent, fluorescent, LED, halogen, neon, etc etc. And they even have what they call soft white, warm white, and bright white (also just called white) - and each one is a different shade of color. Now if ya read the right books they will tell you kind of light you should use to examine coins, and that's just plain white or bright white incandescent bulbs, preferably in the 100 watt range. Regular white incandescent bulbs show you everything you need to see better than any other kind of light. They will show you breaks in the luster, contact marks, hairlines and fine scratches, surface alterations, and all the fine details you need to see to identify varieties and errors. But there's more to examining coins than just using the right light. You also have to slowly turn and roll the coin under the light because, as mentioned above, some things can only be seen at certain angles - at other angles they will be hidden from view. Now if you wish to see color and subtle toning on coins, and especially for taking pictures, you need to use a slightly different light, sometimes known as a full spectrum light. GE Reveal bulbs are a good and inexpensive example of this, but there are a few others as well.
Hahahaha! Many times!! But then what does it mean if it looks doubled or something else in one light but not another?
Thank you! I think you just answered every thought I had!! This is great information and will be very helpful. Just great. Thanks again!
I've noticed that also, when bar hopping overseas when I was in my early 20's. We'd go into a dimly lit bar/club and while inside meet some really hot chicks that looked the same age as us. Bringing them with us, we'd get out into the sunlight and poof! It looked like we were out with our moms. What happened? Now that explains everything. It's the light.
Hello, I am sorry, I am new and want to post a question; to point me in the direction I can talk about this error on this quarter? Or how to post. I did look but am spinning my wheels. The year shows is 999 instead of 1999. I would like to upload a pic. Thxs for your time, I appreciate it.
Hi and welcome to CT. Go to forums, then pick the correct one. Sounds like you need coin chat. Click on that and start a new thread. Post photos of both sides in fill size, not thumbnail. State what you see and ask questions, then hit create thread. It takes getting used to but you'll get the hang of it. From your description it sounds like a grease or debris filled Die. They are very common and add no real value to the coin. Your thread will determine that. Again, welcome to CT.
Hahahaha. I guess I should have explained myself better. Ha! I know different light affects how things will look, just didn't understand how something could look clearly doubled in one light y not another. And what did that mean...?? Is it doubled..? Is it not..? I love your reply tho!
Kelly I know this isn't what you are asking about, how one light can show doubling and another not show it, but perhaps if you see this it will help you understand things better. I'm going to show you pictures of a coin. Looks like 2 different coins doesn't it ? I mean they look radically different don't they ? Well it isn't 2 coins, it's exactly the same coin. I took both sets of pictures less than a minute apart, and I used the same lights for both. The only thing I did change, was I moved the lights up about 1/4 of an inch - that's it. Ya see, it's not only the kind of light itself, it's also the angle at which the light hits the coin and the angle it is reflected back to your eye or the camera. The type of light used and angles change everything you see - or don't see ! When the doubling is minor, the very same kind of thing happens as what you see above. Now if the doubling is major like it is on a '55 doubled die cent, I don't care what kind of light ya use or what the angle is - you're gonna see it ! But when it's just minor, you're not always gonna see it. That's what lights and angles do.
