I have come a bit late for the FSR win threads, but shipping to Europe just takes a little longer from the US. These are my own photographs, so feedback is highly appreciated since photographing coins is still kind of a difficulty for me. Here they are: Achaia, Achaian League. Antigoneia (Mantinea). AR Triobol – Hemidrachm (Circa 188-180 B.C.) Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right. Reverse: Achaian League monogram; above, forepart of goat right; A-N across field, CΩ below; all within wreath. Reference: Benner 5; BCD Peloponnesos 1492.2; HGC 5, 926. With this tiny Greek silver I had a bit of problems photographing, so I toke it with different lightning, please let me know which photograph is better! And if possible also explain why, lightning seems to be playing a massive role in making a nice picture. Islands off Troas, Tenedos. AR Obol. (Early-mid 5th century B.C.) Obverse: Janiform head, female on left, male on rigt. Reverse: abrys within incuse square. Reference: BMC 7; HGC 6, 381. and at last, a nice Seleukid, the portrait is nice, reverse unfortunately is messy due to a worn die. I still need to figure out the precise reference, I am a bit doubting about the identification as Antiochos III. Antiochos III Megas (223 - 187 B.C.) AR Drachm. Obverse: Diademed head right. Reverse: Apollo Delphios seated left on omphalos, testing arrow and resting hand on grounded bow Please share your examples of these coins! Especially coins of the Achaian League I kind of find interesting lately.
Those are nice coins and good photographs overall. For the Tenedos choices, I prefer the upper image since the lower has rather deep shadow above the ears. However, the shadow in the upper image obscures the face behind the head. If the relief of the coin is prominent, then to catch it all you may need to go with three point lighting, with main lamps at 10 and 2 (that is standard) and a highlight lamp at 6. If you don't have a portable third lamp of the same color temparature as the first two, then try angling a mirror at 6 o'clock to bounce some of the illumiation from the two lamps. I particularly like what you did with the triobol to preserve something of the toning.
Very nice scores, I like the upper pic of the obol because it shows a lot more detail around fine line areas like the eye sockets.
Thank you both, and I will use your tips @lrbguy, I hope the picture will turn out better. I also need to buy a proper camera, I use my mobile phone.
With help of @David@PCC I figured out the true ID of the Seleukid coin. It was sold as Antiochos III but the portrait on this coin just didn't make sense for that ruler. Antiochos IV Epiphanes (175-164 B.C.) AR Drachm. Ekbatana mint, struck ca. 173-164 B.C. Obverse: Diademed head right. Reverse: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ (“of King Antiochos”). Apollo seated left on omphalos, testing arrow, resting hand on bow; to outer left, horse head left; in exergue, ΔΚ. Reference: SC 1548; HGC 9, 623. We also agree that this coin is overstruck on an unknown silver coin, which would explain the obliterated reverse and the unknown inscription on the bottom.
