I just bought this 1862 silver three cent piece graded MS-62 by PCGS. Does anyone have any tips for photographing coins this small? If I am not mistaken, I think it's the smallest US ever made. This is the approximate true size of the coin ... (I can't imagine digging these out of my pocket in 1862!) These are magnified photos provided by the seller. Looks like a nice original surface, some golden toning and no black spots.
I really like the color, and no the tyI gold dollar is only 13mm. Your camera needs a heck of a macro setting and you'll need some good diffused light.
Depends on how you define smallest. As bqcoins mentioned the type I gold dollar is smaller in diameter, but the type II and III three cent silver are the lightest US coins ever made at .75 grams. They are also the smallest by volume. The type I gold dollar is .0974 cc, the type II and II silver three cent are .0721 cc.
Usually I think the "size" of a coin, whether it's the biggest, smallest, or what ever is determined by the diameter. Weight and volume are different considerations. I agree with bqcoins, the Type 1 gold dollar is the smallest U.S. coin minted. I like your coin a lot, but can't help you with the photography part. I've always forund it difficult to take pictures of coins in slabs. Nice find!
For photographing it: Of course make sure you have macro on. Then try putting a magnifying glass between the coin and the camera. Hope that helps.
hey thanks for all the photography tips ... i need to investigate my small digital nikon to see if it has a macro setting
