As I've mentioned in previous threads, I'm new to ancient coins. One thing that I've been lax on as I've built my small collection is photographing them. I'm still perfecting my setup, but I thought I'd try what I have on this coin that came today. I mostly used things sitting around the house. On my very first attempt, I placed the coin on a matte black sheet of photography paper. For lighting, I used used my MT-26EX. I then setup my R5 + 100 macro on a tripod and took the shot. The main issue I had was the texture of the matte board was still evident, which took a bit of post processing to remove. I correct this by taking a chemistry stand my kids used, then attached a jewel grabber to a test tube holder. The jewel grabber held onto a two-piece lego structure that I then rested the coin on. It was a bit wacky but it worked. I then covered everything with a small sheet of photography velvet. The velvet did a good job of not reflecting anything and having it a few inches below the coin helped, so post-processing was easy. I continued to use the MT-26EX, but utilized more test tube holders to grasp the lights instead of the small light stands I used earlier that kept falling everywhere. The big advantage of the MT-26EX though is I can easily adjust the power of the lights or redirect them. Ptolemy I Soter AR Tetradrachm 27,5 mm 14,60 g 302/301 BCE (see below) Alexandria mint. Sv.162 (37 ex) - Cop.29 - GC.7750 var. - BMC.- - MP.6 Purchased from CGB (Paris) Note that according to CGB this coin was minted from 311-305 BCE, but from my reading that's incorrect. Per the following paper, it looks to have been minted in 302 or 301 BCE. LORBER, CATHARINE C. "A Revised Chronology for the Coinage of Ptolemy I." The Numismatic Chronicle (1966-) 165 (2005): 45-64. Accessed April 6, 2021. http://www.jstor.org/stable/42667274. I'm still working on my setup. The two main issues I still have are: - I want a reflection below the coin. I know I can do this in software, but I prefer it to be in camera - especially if I can take it in a way that shows the thickness of the coin. I do have a solid black reflective panel, but I had difficulties setting it up just right and finally took it down. - The current platform is too flimsy. I practiced on a quarter before I setup this coin, and I dropped it so many times that I cringed. I'm thinking to get some cylinder and stick it into something, similar to a jeweler's dap stick (but without the epoxy). - The whole thing takes too long to setup. That's not so huge of a problem because this coin ate up every last cent of my budget, but eventually I want to go back and photograph my other coins. Note that I've intentionally not shown my setup because it's not one I'd advocate emulating. Once I've perfected it I'll share. Feel free to show your setups!
I can't comment on your setup or any of the technicalities (I take my photos with my cellphone camera!), but I do want to say that that's a really beautiful photo of a wonderful coin.
That’s a beautiful photo of a beautiful coin. My photography set up is an ever evolving process and probably always will be. I’ll be interested to see yours when you finish it. Here is one of my most recently rephotographed coins.
Well photographed! If you add a white, or otherwise reflective cilinder around the coin, but large enough so that it will not be in the field, light will reflect on it and lighten the sides of the coin. My photography setup uses an IKEA lamp, some hardboard, black velvet, and Lego. The camera is a Nikon d3200 with a Cosina macro lens (the main bottle neck of my setup). I use axial lighting (google it) - some like it, some don't. Apart from cutting and cropping, I don't use any post-processing. @dougsmit has studied coin photography and reached a level of perfection.
