Almost captured iridescent toning on Jeff.

DHeath

These coins are proving the most difficult of all for me to photograph. I have several Jeffs that have irridescent toning. They are violet and green and highly reflective. Every attempt to capture what my eye sees results in a disappointingly drab pic. Any suggestions from you photo buffs?

stman

Dheath, A little OT, but wanted to mention that yes it's tough to get a toned coin in it's best light and I see so many people pass judgement on a coin that in true life it's a beautiful coin but the image is so tough to capture.

Tonekiller

Had to work on this one.


Edited to make it simple: Multiple pictures with different light models. NOT working on the coin! This is a hard bunch!

braddick

Bryan, It's good having you back (I missed your eBay auctions too!). NICE Jefferson. -For sale?

nwcs

I've found that iridescent toning is best captured in subdued light at a slight angle with a camera that can capture lower light well. Using a tripod, of course. I did it with 1972 and 1974D dimes that have really nice light toning.

Tonekiller

<< <i>Bryan, It's good having you back (I missed your eBay auctions too!). NICE Jefferson. -For sale? >>



I have been lurking, just to many mean post to jump in. We are about to start posting our Baltimore coins and year end closeout inventory. 400+ toned coins in 6 weeks.

Picked up a set of 8 end roll 64d 50c with x-mas colors you might like.

TBT

onthespot

What I try to remember when photographing coins, is that in photography you are capturing the light, not the coin. I have the best luck with indirect sunlight, just inside a window, or just inside the shadow of a window with direct sunlight shining through it. Most often I try to orient the coin so that the top of the coin points toward the light source, so usually the coin is lying on its side. Experiment with rotating the coin so that the light is most flattering to the features of the coin. Then, slightly change the angle so that you get the face well lit. You may have to rotate your whole photo set a little at a time, until you get full reflection while still shooting at the coin full face, or straight on. Then I set the camera to underexpose the shot by a stop or two, sometimes all the way, depending on how much light I am trying to tone down. Then... when it is looking right, I just try to put the camera, on a tripod, as close as I can, between my eye and the coin. I use the timer and hold my breath. I sometimes use my hand to reflect light five or six inches away from the coin for extra luster, or to block light. I use a digital camera so I can see in the display before I shoot if it is looking like I think it will. That helps.

onthespot

Oh yeah, a word about background color. If you are using automatic settings, the camera tries to average out the picture to 50% grey value. i.e., if you have a bright white setting, the camera will automatically darken your whole photo more, including your coin. If you use black or navy setting, your coin will come out all washed out. If your coin is in a slab, you can mask out the slab with fabric, or a piece of paper or whatever, so your coin shot comes out good. Take the shot showing that the coin is slabbed separate, if that is an issue. Don't try to take a REALLY GOOD shot of the slab and the coin at the same time. And that is about all I have to say about shooting coins. Hope it helps.

wayneherndon

Don,

I think I know what you're talking about. I have a Jefferson that has iridescent colors to it. It does not look like typical toning at all. In fact, it reminds me of the colors you see when oil is mixed with water. It almost seems to float on top of the coin. The colors actually change colors as the coin is tilted in the light and they move around on the coin as it is tilted. Here's one I took of my nickel.

Link

The photo does not do it justice at all. I took so tons of pictures and then discarded all but this one. I took them so many different ways that I don't recall how I got this one.

coinguy1

Bryan, you said "Had to work on this one."

I will take that to mean you "had to work" on the image, rather than that you "had to work" on the coin!

With all of the talk about coin doctors, I'd be very careful about how you word things.

Tonekiller

Funny! The photos not the coin.

Russ

Did somebody mention toned Jeffersons?



Russ, NCNE

braddick

Bryan, I'll look forward to you posting those Christmas Kennedies! (I checked now, and you don't have them up yet...).
Those are my favorite colors on any coin- especially Kennedies.
Most Dealers will tell you, "No Kennedy comes nicely toned".

keets

hey don

you should probably just give up. after all, everyone knows nickel doesn't tone, especially those lousy nickel clads the mint started making in 1960 whatever!!!!!! i'm trying to figure out how you guys add the color myself.

al h.

TommyB

try taking the pic outside in the shade, I did that for this one.

the actual coin does not really show that much blue to the eye. am going to take to santa clara show this weekend to see what people think, AT or not is the question.

gmarguli

TommyB, the toning looks real. I've got one (1934) with very similar toning in at NGC right now.

jom

Did these with a scanner:

Type 1

Type 2

jom

DHeath

Thanks all.

TBT - That's exactly what they look like.

Wayne - Perfect description. Oil on water. Kind of like "mystic" paint schemes.

To all who made suggestions, I'll work on the pics and repost, although TBT got it right. My two just have more green than his.