Gold is HARD

Eagleguy · October 12, 2019 2:40PM

...to photograph!

I've been trying some new things with my camera and decided to take some coins out of their fancy Mint boxes and try my luck. I learned quite a few things, namely:

Uncirculated gold is easier to photograph than proof gold - DUH! Those proof mirrors are hard to work with, as @C0inCollect0r pointed out in his recent post. The proof Liberty coins were especially difficult and I gave up trying to do better. However I did find that smaller proof coins are easier than larger coins since I could place them between the lights with less chance of glare and also avoid less obvious reflections.
Light placement is critical and, for the larger coins, I had to use a homemade light box to help diffuse the light to avoid reflections.
Those mint boxes leave a LOT of fuzz on those mint capsules. I will have to pick up some compressed air to blow off the fuzz in the future while it is positioned under the lens. I did my best by blowing and wiping with a cloth but, as you can see, there was always more clinging to the capsule. The Kennedy even has a piece of fuzz inside the rear of the capsule at 6 o'clock - grr!
Some of my gold coins have developed red spots. Interesting given the gold purity.
For some reason, I had no idea that the 2015 Liberty came in both uncirculated and proof versions. Nor did I realize that the $100 2017 Liberty is also available in a $10 version. I discovered this while perusing CoinFacts. Now my "Coin Collector OCD" is kicking in...

Comments welcome, as always

ricko · October 12, 2019 2:54PM

Those are absolutely beautiful gold coins....and your photography is great as well.....Thanks for showing us...Cheers, RickO

Kliao · October 12, 2019 3:47PM

Hmmm🤔

Looks like JFK died his hair!

MFeld · October 12, 2019 3:59PM

@Eagleguy said:

... > 4. Some of my gold coins have developed red spots. Interesting given the gold purity.

Were they coins which had no copper content?

Broadstruck · October 12, 2019 4:12PM

I don't follow moderns are the 2015, 17, & 19 all a African-American Miss Liberty design?

Hemispherical · October 12, 2019 4:16PM

@Eagleguy

Gold!

Thanks for the awesome pics of your gold!

coinsarefun · October 12, 2019 4:17PM

Difficult as it may be.......I love each one of them!

Eagleguy · October 12, 2019 8:11PM

@MFeld said:

@Eagleguy said:

... > 4. Some of my gold coins have developed red spots. Interesting given the gold purity.

Were they coins which had no copper content?

I have no info aside from the fact that the spouse coins and the Kennedy gold are listed as 24 kt (0.9999 fine). I do not know what the remainder is.

Eagleguy · October 12, 2019 8:13PM

@Broadstruck said:
I don't follow moderns are the 2015, 17, & 19 all a African-American Miss Liberty design?

I believe the designs are intended to illustrate a more inclusive form of Liberty. Personally, I think the designs are quite nice, especially the reverses

Tibor · October 13, 2019 1:12AM

You've done an excellent job. The African-American Liberty designs are some
of my favorite modern ( post 1980) designs. I may try to collect the series thanks
to your photography skills and inspiration.

Gold is HARD

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