While FFIVN and his sister were out playing on the swing set, I decided it was time to take a few of the coins that I had less than stellar pictures and try to get something better. Well, the pictures are marginally better at best but at least the kids and I got some fresh air. Not looking forward to tomorrow when we are cooped up all day due to the rain... Thrace, Chersonesos Silver Hemidrachm 386-338 BC Obverse: Forepart of lion right, head reverted Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square with alternating raised and sunken quarters; monogram beside pellet in one sunken quadrant, amphora in the other **This one was not attributed correctly when I bought it but I believe I found the correct attribution on wildwinds** http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/ionia/ephesos/ACC_ZR1429.jpg Ephesos, Ionia AE16 Magistrate Apollonides 280-258 BC Obverse: Bee Reverse: AΠOΛΛΩNIΔH, Stag grazing right, quiver above. Unlisted reverse type for this magistrate ACC Art. zr1429 Sicily, Syracuse Hiketas 287-278 BC AE 24mm Obverse: Head of Zeus Hellanios left Reverse: Eagle on thunderbolt, star to left. Faustina II Denarius Obverse: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right Reverse: AVGVSTI PII FIL, Venus standing left holding Victory and resting hand on shield set on a helmet
Good to have fun outside with the kiddos! The photos turned out fine! Here's my Faustina II with the Venus Victrix: The reverses aren't quite die matches, but I'm convinced they were done by the same engraver.
Beautifully diverse selection! Man, I love the Chersonesos lion coins. And yours appears to have some iridescent toning. Here’s mine. A real guy and a fouree:
@Ryro My lion is actually really bright silver. So bright in fact, I think the surrounding backyard colors reflected a bit in the coin haha. It is a really hard coin to get a decent picture of. Your fouree has a great mane! @Roman Collector , our reverses are definitely very similar. Our obverses however, are definitely not. Yours looks like a woman, whereas mine looks a bit like a cartoon drawing of a woman
I have found that taking pictures of my coins in direct sunlight do not come out well. Too bright and reflective. When I decide to image my coins outside, I wait till it is cloudy or that I am in the shade where the sunlight cannot reflect. Even with overcast skies, the angle is important. Just my two cents worth.
Yeah I was trying to stay in the shade because the sun was too much. It helped a bit but not much. Perhaps a better camera than my iphone 6 would help too!
It's great to spend some time outdoors these days, and with such great companions! I've always admired these Thracian lions, but only recently picked myself up my first, then the second followed pretty quickly. Cherronesos, Thrace Circa 480-350 BC AR Hemidrachm Obverse: Forepart of lion right, head turned back. Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square with a dot and palm branch in each of two opposing quarters. References: Sear 1602-1606, BMC Thrace 10, McClean 4081 Cherronesos, Thrace AR Hemidrachm, Circa 400-338 BC Obverse: Forepart of lion right, head turned back. Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square with alternating shallow and deeper sunken quarters, with a dot and selinon leaf on stem (wild parsley or celery) in each of two opposing quarters. References: Apparently unpublished Very rare symbol. cf: CNG E-Auction 104, Lot #37; NN Auction 67 (7/1/2018), Lot #57 Here's my right-facing Zeus Hellanios~but no star... Syracuse, Sicily Hiketas II, Ruled 287-278 BC AE Litra, Struck circa 283-279 BC Obverse: ΔΙΟΣ ΕΛΛANIOY, youthful laureate head of Zeus Hellanios right. Reverse: ΣΥΡΑΚ-ΟΣΙΩΝ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, with wings spread, A to left. References: CNS II, 168; HGC 2, 1449; SNG ANS 799 Here's my Faustina II sestertius with the same reverse legend as your denarius. Your's has an interesting, unique portrait. Faustina II, Wife of Marcus Aurelius AE Sestertius, Struck 145-161 AD, Rome mint Obverse: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, Bust of Faustina the Younger, draped, right, hair is elaborately dressed in horizontal lines with ringlets down front: it is coiled in a chignon on back of head. Reverse: AVGVSTI PII FIL, Spes, draped, standing front, head left, holding up flower-bud in right hand and gathering up fold of skirt in left, S-C across field. References: RIC III 1371 Size: 30mm, 23.5g
As Bing said: Try again when there is no glaring sum. When the kids are enjoying sunshine, dad and coins should be in the shade. Too much contrast ruins more images than flat light in the shade or on a cloudy day. I do suggest setting the color balance of the camera manually if you camera allows it. If you have a covered (dry) porch or open garage door, you might be able to shoot under a torrential downpour.
I haven't really had a good experience in direct sunlight. (See this shockingly blue coin of Theodosius). Better indirect lighting with a very careful positioning of the camera/phone. I've practiced some and gotten better at it.
Interesting post. I've been trying to improve my photography without building a professional lighting set-up (because I am lazy and my camera is old and I don't want to get a newer one). Outside direct sun is still my favorite lighting "system" - but as Bing and several others mentioned, it tends to be too "reflective" especially on silver or overly-cleaned AE. Here are some recent efforts: A new Commodus denarius in direct sunlight and on a cloudy day. Both photos are unsatisfactory. Note the two different interpretations of what CVPP stands for - opinions welcome!: Commodus Denarius (186-189 A.D.) Rome Mint M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT, laureate head right / VICTORIAE FELICI, Victory walking left, holding wreath over two shields set on a low base inscribed C V P P. RIC 196; RSC 952; Sear 5721 (3.02 grams / 18 x 16 mm) "The cippus inscription 'CVPP' is short for 'Clupeus Virtutis, Pater Patriae', and shows Victory placing a new clupeus virtutis (shield of Virtue, for Commodus' supposed bravery and virtue) alongside the Augustan shield of Virtue awarded...in 27 BC." (Vcoins, Incitatus Coins) "...inscribed CVPP for Consul V Pater Patriae..." (Numismatica Ars Classica auction 91, lot 31) And yet with some toning and/or crud, a silver coin photographed in direct sunlight can look okay (by my standards). Another Commodus: For a bronze coin with patina, I much prefer direct sunlight because it shows the colors best - and the colors on these are a big part of the appeal for me. Here's a Thessalonica AE - the obverse colors really appeal to me - the reverse was partially stripped so the obverse/reverse don't really match (I much prefer the blotchy red/green/ bronze obverse). Not a pretty coin, but the colors came out pretty accurate on this photo: