Taking images through a plastic holder

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1. Post a front and back image of your coin with a specific question about what you’re seeing or asking about and one coin per topic.

2. Please remove coin from the holder unless it’s US or an official mint case or unless it is graded by a grading service.

3. Images should be taken by a camera or cell phone camera, we ask that members don’t use images through a microscope screen.

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Daniel
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Re: Taking images through a plastic holder

#11 Unread post by Daniel »

I do see what you're saying about the coin's details, but this makes it look more proof like than cleaned, at least to me. Publicly you should never hide the marks on a coin, if you plan on selling it. However, I do see some collectors who can't discern a scratch in the plastic verses a scratch on the coin.

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Re: Taking images through a plastic holder

#12 Unread post by mhonzell »

To emphasize Daniels comment... "However, I do see some collectors who can't discern a scratch in the plastic verses a scratch on the coin."
Look at the photo below. Is the area between the '7' and '0' (date) on the coin or on the plastic? Maybe it's easy to tell because the photo is so large. But, I find the natural state of the coin can lead one to think the mark is on the coin. (Not one of my better coins.) Hmm... giving me an idea for a contest.

Image

PS. My photo "rig" is a $26 USB Digital Microscope that sits perched on an empty CD case (100 pk) with a desktop magnifying glass/flourescent ring shining on the slab. I turn on the rooms incandescent light to restore the copper color to the coin which tends to disappear if I don't. I only mention this to show that for home use, you can go pretty cheap and still get good results.
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Re: Taking images through a plastic holder

#13 Unread post by Daniel »

It looks like a holder scratch since it's lighter than it would be if it was on the coin. BU coins are more difficult to discern since they're white and so are the plastic scratches. What's the blob in between the 7 and the 0?

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Re: Taking images through a plastic holder

#14 Unread post by mhonzell »

That 'blob' is a holder scratch. But, it's copper-colored due to the incandescent lighting and back scatter. If the photo is reduced to "normal" eBay display size, it looks like a potential "cleaning" scratch on the coin. The type of scratch made with sharp pointy instruments. But, the coin is graded, so it couldn't possibly be that...

Image

As you state, silver type coins present their own unique issues. Especially as the grade goes up.
I'm lousy at silver coin photos since my "setup" is for copper coins. But, here's an example on your comment:

Image

It is difficult to tell by photo if the scratch in the lower right is on the coin or on the plastic, but it is on the plastic. The "smoke trails" in the upper left are actually a reflection on the plastic. The specks in the lower right are paper dust on the outside of the plastic. I don't envy those taking photos of silver coins.
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Re: Taking images through a plastic holder

#15 Unread post by mhonzell »

Instead of trying to get around the scratches with photography, try prepping the slab:

This was from an article I printed out once and it works very well, but I don't use it much since I don't take high quality photos for my records.
===
Most scratches can be rubbed off of a slab with a little work. I use automobile rubbing compound (available at most auto supply stores). It’s a nice fine polishing agent intended to take hairlines off of car paint. I have found that it will take off scratches on plastic pretty well too. I have heard of using Brasso™ and plastic polish also. The shinier the slab, the less glare you’ll get on your images.

When polishing slabs you need to be careful of the direction in which you polish. Polishes will leave very fine hairlines on the plastic that will not
normally be visible when shooting images except when your light is at 90 degrees to the hairlines. I alleviate this problem by polishing in one direction.
If I want to light a coin from 10 and 2 o’clock, I will polish the slab from 6 to 12 o’clock (fig.9). Always polish toward the anticipated light source.
===
Hope you find this useful.
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Re: Taking images through a plastic holder

#16 Unread post by Daniel »

Yeah, thanks for posting. I would point out that there's a slab scratch remover I saw somewhere and since you posted this I remembered it. I never thought of using polishing compounds used on cars. I thought the grit would be too large. I do have some of the scratch out that feels smooth enough.

I found it at ebay and it's called slab renew. I am sure there's cheaper alternatives but this doesn't require any jeweler's rouge, and doesn't require a guess. It's an actual plastic polish.

Slab Renew at ebay

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Re: Taking images through a plastic holder

#17 Unread post by mhonzell »

I use Kit Scratch Out. ( Plastic polish. ) Sold at Wal-mart for a whopping $3, at Ace Hardware for $5.
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Re: Taking images through a plastic holder

#18 Unread post by Daniel »

I think this should be bumped as a reminder to members and if anyone might want to add more tips.

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