The best light source for viewing coins

lcoopie · April 16, 2008 10:51AM

in my humble opinion is the Sun, what do others think?

While walking my dog with a newp in hand I noticed the colors stood out more, the luster seemed sharper and stronger, and the world was good. (I love my dog)

I have read a lot of what has been said about fluorescents, incandescents, halogens, as related to photography and viewing, but they seem to me to be an imitation of the real thing, our lovely sun.

I plan to try photography outside when it is nicer, to compare to my lousy indoor lighting setup.

So is the sun the ideal light source (knowing the limitations of your latitude) for coins??

Coxe · April 16, 2008 10:57AM

Yes, I prefer the broad spectrum balance of a mid-afternoon sun. But for practicality, an Ott lamp isn't all that bad.

JRocco · April 16, 2008 11:05AM

The best way to really give a coin the once over is in a dark room with a single strong light source (like a spot halogen). Look at the coin from every angle possible. It is amazing what you can see on a coin for the first time when doing this.
The sun is a great light source for taking in the overall look and color of a coin, but not for really appraising a coin.

adamlaneus · April 16, 2008 11:06AM

I have found that viewing gold coins in direct sunlight is a good way to go temporarily blind.

timcoin · April 16, 2008 11:12AM

One important lession I learned is that it is important to look at a coin both in the light, and out of the light, especially for gold. I picked up this trick from watching a dealer do it while looking at auction lots one time. He would go from coin to coin and swirl each one under the light, and then away from the light. It really works well as you can sometimes catch some things you might otherwise miss. I like normal 100 watt bulbs.

adamlaneus · April 16, 2008 11:28AM

Yep...good advice about Gold. Probably works on all coins.

There is a huge difference between a point source of light and ambient light.

A point source will show you specular reflectance characteristics of the surface.

Ambient light will show you diffuse reflectance characteristics of the surface.

Here is an Indian Eagle with a problematic reverse. It has a spot that is visible only under ambient light.

First...the image from a point source. It is possible to see surface rubs...but not the spot.

Now...100% ambient lighting...the reflective rubs are gone...but a spot appears!

FilthyBroke · April 16, 2008 11:29AM

<< I have found that viewing gold coins in direct sunlight is a good way to go temporarily blind. >>

JRocco · April 16, 2008 11:32AM

<< 

First...the image from a point source. It is possible to see surface rubs...but not the spot.

>>

I bet you would see EVERYTHING if you moved the coin around and looked at it from all angles.
One look from one angle only shows one area of the surface.

JohnMaben · April 16, 2008 11:34AM

I prefer 100W soft white. Most professional graders use 75W or 100W. Even more important than the bulb, is how you hold the coin, how you tilt the coin in the light, the lighting that is present in the room besides the light source you are using (if any), and the distance you view the coin from the light source.
John

adamlaneus · April 16, 2008 11:37AM

Honestly, no. Under a point source, the spot was almost entirely invisible. In my opinion, the spot is clearly visible in the first and fourth of the four photos taken in typical lighting conditions. It is emphasized in the last photo. In fact, when I used 100% ambient light, the spot was exactly the same nomatter what the angle of the coin.

When in hand, and in room lighting, the spot would come and go as you tilted the coin.

The best I can do to prove this is to post more photos:

Don't ask for more, as I no longer have the coin. I took a beating on this one selling it on eBay.

adamlaneus · April 16, 2008 11:42AM

I'm sorry for hijacking this thread.

Back to the question...

I find that interior artificial light is the best light source for photographing coins. Your basic incandescent is a great light source. I can control it.

If you find that your indoor lighting setup is lousy, then perhaps we should ask some follow-up questions. What, specifically do you find lousy about your photos?

If you have an SLR, look through the viewfinder at the coin as you move the light source around with your hand. You will find a 'sweet spot' or two where the image is best.

lcoopie · April 16, 2008 1:00PM

I am striving to get pics as good as some of the ones posted every day by our photo-savy posters, so I think mine are not really lousy, but lousy in comparison.
I use 2 reveal bulbs on gooseneck lamps, and a copy stand. I do well with white balance (learning it here of course), not so well with sharp focus and I have a lot of trouble with glare which seems to get in the way of the colorful aspects of the coins.

I will study MGoodmans previous advise further and I appreciate the input received here so far.

DJCoinz · April 16, 2008 1:01PM

<< I have found that viewing gold coins in direct sunlight is a good way to go temporarily blind. >>

julie42 · April 16, 2008 1:06PM

adamlaneus · April 16, 2008 1:23PM

As far as glare goes, that is an issue that can be minimized with specific lighting positions. Reduce your ambient light/reflectors/diffusers and try to get more of a point source. Turn one of your two lamps off. Then, as you look through the viewfinder, move the second lamp until the glare is minimized but the coin is 'maximized'. There is usually a very small sweet spot for this. More of a point source of light can be had by making your light source more distant. The broader your source of light, the more potential for glare. The sun is very much a distant 'point source' of light. The disc of the sun is actually quite small compared with the size of a closely set incandescent bulb.

Precision focus is important. But that is more than turning a dial. This requires that the camera film plane to be dead-on flat parallel to the coin surface. No tilt allowed.

Out-of-focus issues can also be caused by camera or subject movement when the shutter is open. To minimize this, you need to do two things...you need a remote trigger and you need to use the mirror lock up feature of your camera.

Scratches on the surface of a slab can be annoying, but can be reduced by opening up your aperture wide (low numbers). This causes objects outside of the focal plane to become more blurred. The most expensive lenses have very wide apertures, very shallow depths of field, and can really blur out that slab surface even though it is pretty close to the coin surface.

If you are shooting in the 'raw' file format, do not worry so much about white balance. It can be losslessly corrected on the computer later. If you are shooting JPEG, TIFF or anything else, try to get the white balance right in the first place.

tahoe98 · April 17, 2008 12:37AM

let's not forget about grading light. incandescent light is the recommended source used in the ana grading book when grading coins.

dorkkarl · April 17, 2008 1:33AM

<< in my humble opinion is the Sun, what do others think?

While walking my dog with a newp in hand I noticed the colors stood out more, the luster seemed sharper and stronger, and the world was good. (I love my dog)

I have read a lot of what has been said about fluorescents, incandescents, halogens, as related to photography and viewing, but they seem to me to be an imitation of the real thing, our lovely sun. >>

for viewing or for taking digi-pics? 1 things for sure, the sun is a terrible way to view coins. you accidentally get that sunlight reflected back into your eyes say off of a proof coin, & your done for the day.

K S

keets · April 17, 2008 1:54AM

i would have to agree with what JRocco stated. the best i've been able to come up with for overall viewing is a single halogen in the basement, about two feet above and slightly behind my head, with no other light. it tends to work best for judging Cameo contrast, PL surfaces, luster, contact marks, rub, hairlines and overall tone.

while other sources and set-ups may be better for one or more of those attributes, nothing i've found shows them as well.

Connecticoin · April 17, 2008 2:19AM

For grading, I use a halogen lamp in a dimmed room -- this is especially best for revealing hairlines and cleaning on MS and Proof coins.

For color, a natural light incadescent or sunlight.

Also, I would NEVER grade a coin in sunlight -- hairlines on MS coins generally do not show up in sunlight.

Prethen · April 17, 2008 2:49AM

I simply don't understand how sunlight is good at all for viewing coins. It's just too overpowering and the piece of metal basically just blazes. You could make any POS look beautiful in full-blown sunlight.

MajorDuty · April 17, 2008 2:55AM

Viewing coins in sunlight seems to wash out the coin's colors from what I've noticed. Whatever the light source I prefer to view coins indoors.

Doogy · April 17, 2008 5:00AM

<< Viewing coins in sunlight seems to wash out the coin's colors from what I've noticed. Whatever the light source I prefer to view coins indoors. >>

not to mention it makes coins with very minor hairlines from circulation or being in a bag, come alive and look much worse than they really are.

ricko · April 17, 2008 5:02AM

I usually carry a separate light source (small Surefire LED light) for the poorly lighted areas at coin shows... Cheers, RickO

stman · April 17, 2008 6:39AM

To evaluate a coin for possible purchase I just like a regular 100 watt bulb. Sitting in the comfort of my chair with the rest of the room dark. Light above my shoulders, giving the evil-eye and twisting, rocking and turning the coin every which way. I like to study surfaces. On an old circulated classic silver piece, I can see the rose/blue hues peaking out from underneath. Well, at least I like to see these kind of surfaces but rarely find them anymore.

LeeG · April 17, 2008 7:13AM

<< To evaluate a coin for possible purchase I just like a regular 100 watt bulb. Sitting in the comfort of my chair with the rest of the room dark. Light above my shoulders, giving the evil-eye and twisting, rocking and turning the coin every which way. I like to study surfaces. On an old circulated classic silver piece, I can see the rose/blue hues peaking out from underneath. Well, at least I like to see these kind of surfaces but rarely find them anymore. >>

Makes sense and nice ICON coin also.

pontiacinf · April 17, 2008 8:27AM

mark of a true animal lover and coin collector

takes his dog, and "coins" for a walk!

sunlight has always been my choice, discoverd it imaging a custom capital plastic jefferson 38-89 display.

them f&*^$#@* popped to say the least

LindeDad · April 17, 2008 9:34AM

I have found the 5500 Kelvin light source (Ott light) to be more reliable and dependable that the sun as I live in Washington and the sun in option prime viewing mode is only available for about six hours every twelve months or so.
So I have purchased two of them, so they can do double duty as my light source for imaging and viewing of my coins.

PawPaul · April 17, 2008 10:54AM

a halogen light source used properly is the way to go ; hidden defects stand out like beacons and hairline's that are practically invisible show up in all their grandeur .

With practice , the halogen will show you the luster UNDERNEATH the toning , whereas A.T will appear washed out.

The halogen bulb has saved me thousands of dollars over the years - buy not buying problem coins

Frankcoins · April 17, 2008 12:09PM

<< in my humble opinion is the Sun, what do others think? >>

Absolutely not. Too intense and also too variable with weather and time of day.

lcoopie · April 17, 2008 12:22PM

thanks for all the suggestions and comments, my forum friends, I appreciate the discussion.
I have to stop looking into the sun, like my grandmother warned me in the famous solar eclipse in the 60s

kryptonitecomics · April 17, 2008 1:03PM

For looking at toners....the sun is the worst light source in my opinion....completely bleaches out the color. I have made the mistake of opening packages in the parking lot of the Post office and I typically don't recognize the coin. When I get them home and put them under my 100 watt reveal bulbs......the colors come alive

The best light source for viewing coins

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