I recently bought this MS68 Mercury Dime and I am really surprised how different it looks depending on the lighting conditions and angles. The three images below are all of the same coin. IMAGE #1 This first image was made with seller supplied photos as it appeared on the auction web site. I think this is the view as it was captured by NGC when they graded the coin as part of their certification look-up process. I imagine they used a pricey SLR camera. IMAGE #2 This second image was made by me (iPhone) where I had angled some glare from bright indirect sunlight off the coin. This lighting condition appears to have maximized the color and color variation. It's interesting how the green took on a lot of blue overtones with this lighting. IMAGE #3 This third image was also made by me (iPhone), but this time it was taken in an area where there was no glare at all, only diffuse indirect sunlight. This lighting condition appears to have done a better job capturing the reflectivity (shine) of the coin. It's really interesting to me how difficult this coin was to capture (I took at least 150 shots) and how different it looks at various viewing angles. My iPhone had a hard time focusing for some reason (maybe because the coin was small? or perhaps because the coin sits behind the plastic slab by a good 1/8" inch and my auto-focus was fixated on the plastic slab instead of the coin?) Vote Now: Which image do you like the best and why?
As far as image for quality I like the first one. It's straight on and shows details better. As far as to show off the toning... I'd have to say #2
Agreed, first one is clearest. It is difficult to capture real details, color and beauty of coins without very expensive cameras. Lighting tricks can also "washout" coins, a trick used often by on line sellers, particularily on Ebay.
Wow! Will be the 1st word I put in here! You certainly have an Eye for Beauty. I've never collected in this Mercury Dime series before, but after seeing this I'm very tempted! You have a True Love for the Merc's, it shows by the way you describe with text and photos. Which do I think is the best photo of all (3) ? That's a Toughie, for each photo tells its own lil' story. If I had to choose thou' I think the 1st-one, it has the color, that's most stunningly (Beautiful). The 2nd' photo shows its' originality,,,very nice also. An' the 3rd' shows a dark-gem, that also has a remarkable look to it. So it was really hard to pick just one of them. I do wish you the best in your search for more like these. :thumb: I collect Jefferson nickels, I just put up a post here of my 1961-D Jefferson Rainbow nickel. When you get the time, ck' that one out! Your welcome to visit my Ngc Registry in the 1938 to date catagory also. If your putting these in the Ngc Registry Let me know, I'd love to see just how many of these beauties you have? Take Care & Merry Christmas! Jim/Chasindreams
Wow is right.So this coin was rated as an MS68 by NCG.I am new to this hobby, so I do not understand how so much color in the coin affects the grade the coin receives (+ or-).I guess it is a typical noob mistake to think 'white' or 'silver' should be the correct color (obviously).What do you think is the best or three best companies to grade a coin ans what does it cost to have one graded?Fwiw, I like #3 the best. The iPhone is a great camera for coins, ESP the 4 and 4S.Thanks,FDF
Hi I saw your post i have a 1935 and a 1942 dime just like the nice one here in the photo we have seen. How do u get them graded? and there sure not colored like this one is. thanks
