Morgan $ Little Lines - Now You See Them, Now You Don't
lilolme
Posts: 2,733 ✭✭✭✭✭
Time for another one of my different threads. 
This is an 1878S Morgan dollar that has PL fields and some dipping in the past but it is those little lines that is the theme here.
I kept my old snap-o'matic camera and the single light, which is to the right (3 o/c) but between the camera and the coin, in one place. This gives the dollar a luster beam or cartwheel that goes from about 3 o/c to about 9 to 10 o/c on the dollar. With the PL fields it is a little hard to see but in the first picture (and some others) you can see it near the rim of the coin. The PL fields help with seeing the little lines. The camera is not quite normal to the coin that is tilted back against the box wall.
I then rotated the dollar CCW in small steps, very roughly 30 deg. When the little lines get close to or line up with (parallel) the luster beam / cartwheel they become very 'Now You See Them'. When the lines are rotated more away from this position they are more 'Now You Don't'.
Just have to love photos and what they can and can't do / show.
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https://youtube.com/watch?v=wwmUMvhy-lY - Pink Me And Bobby McGee
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https://youtube.com/watch?v=D0FPxuQv2ns - Ruby Starr (from 'Go Jim Dandy') Maybe I'm Amazed
RLJ 1958 - 2023
Comments
Fabulous practical illustration that can truly help guide folks with how to spot issues on the surface of a coin. Nice work!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Wow, what a difference. Although all photos show minor hairlines, that 2:00 and 7:00 views really depict what the coins looks like. This should be a lesson for Buyer beware when buying raw on EBAY. I've been burnt a few times there with trick photography.
Very good pictures that show how to spot surface issues that may not be readily apparent. Cheers, RickO