You can usually take a better picture with your phone than you can with a scanner. Don't waste your time with a scanner.
That's because scanners are designed for imaging 2 dimensional things and the focus is set to the surface of the glass and the depth of field is small. A raw coin sitting directly on the glass is pretty much in the depth of field. A coin in an airtight is raised above the surface of the glass and a slab has it even further away so you get poor images. Believe it or not cheap scanners do a better job than high end scanners because the cheap scanners focus and depth of field isn't as tight, so coins are more likely to be within the focal range.
I buy and sell mainly small California fractional gold. Most collectors know how small these gold coins are. I have tried many scanners from different manufacturers and all price ranges. Buying the most expensive is not the key to scanning coins. Old technology is the only way to go, at least for the moment. One thing you have to look for in obtaining an exceptional coin picture is if the scanner has 3D capabilities. The only one I have found is the Epson V series. Next is the type of light used on the scanner when scanning the coin. Again, the old technology I have found is the best and only way to go. The newer scanners use ICE and LED technology. You will not get a good coin scan using either but a washed out look of a picture. I could go on but will give you what I and several collectors and dealers have found. Epson Perfection V200 Photo scanner. No, you can no longer buy these but the good news is you can still find them on eBay and sometimes Amazon. I actually have purchased over a dozen of these just in case of failures. Cost - $30-$80 used. Oh, and this scanner is great for slabbed coins. 3D! Questions? Scanner settings? Look me up -Christopher Terry / Oldwestgold
Interesting. I've posted scans of coins here for comment and no one seemed to notice. I have an all-in-one Epson machine for scans, printing and copying. My avatar was created that way. I'm starting to scan all my coins, and I do it at 600dpi because I can. My scanning software allows me to adjust that and other variables and I don't see anything wrong with the results.
The trick is Vitaphone. That's how they made THE JAZZ SINGER the first talking picture, back in '27. Oh wait, are you taking about TALKING pictures, or are you talking about TAKING pictures?
