For a real challenge, try photographing coins that are worn so smooth that you cannot make out what denomination, yet alone, what country it is from. I call these "smoothies." Photographing them revealing enough detail to attribute them is fun and challenging. Z
Overall I’m probably most satisfied with this one. However I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how a few of my photos have turned out such as the ones below.
Maximian AE Follis 294 - 296 A.D., London Mint, null Officina 8.85g, 27.0mm, 12H Obverse: IMP C MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, Laureate, truncated, bare neck bust right Reverse: GENIO POPV–LI ROMANI, Genius standing, facing left, head surmounted by a modius, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera in right hand and cornucopia in left arm Exergue: -/-//- Provenance: Ex. Ancient & Medieval Coins Canada Auction 1, Lot 126, Ex. James Pickering Romano-Britannic Collection, Ex. Gert Boersema Reference: RIC VI Lugdunum 14b Leo VI the Wise AE Follis 886 - 912 A.D., Constantinople Mint, null Officina 7.72g, 28.0mm, 6H Obverse: +LЄOҺ bASILЄVS ROM', Bust of Leo VI facing, with short beard, wearing crown ornamented with cross and chlamys, holding akakia in his left hand Reverse: +LЄOҺ/ЄҺ ΘЄΟ bΑ/SILЄVS R/OmЄΟnҺ, Legend in 4 lines Exergue: - Provenance: Ex. Leu Numismatik Web Auction 5, Lot 1307 Reference: SBCV 1729
My favourite is probably this one....Frustratingly can't remember how I took it, but just remember I liked the result....
I love shooting well worn coins. They are some of my favorites. I've had numismatists use my photos to attribute coins because it was much easier to see the coin's detail in them then with the coin in hand and a loupe.
100% agree with you, especially the porous metal is often awful in photo despite sometimes being not that bad in hand. One of my favorite: perfect orientation which allowed to capture a nice natural light.
Nice coins. I'm not into the very old coins, but I do like to see them and hear the stories surrounding the time they were in circulation. Thank you for sharing.
Not my best ever, but best today...and it's Jupiter on a goat! Valerian II A.D. 256- 258 AR Antoninianus 22mm 3.5g VALERIANVS CAES; Radiate and draped bust right. IOVI CRESCENTI; Infant Jupiter on goat. RIC V Lugdunum 3; Göbl 907e Göbl assigns this coin to Cologne see Göbl, MIR 36, Die Münzprägung der Kaiser Valerianus I / Gallienus / Saloninus (253/268), Regalianus (260), und Macrianus / Quietus (260/262).