Start with two complete views
Photograph each face straight on against a simple background, leaving the entire boundary visible. Use a consistent light source and keep original files without beauty filters. Give the pair one record number before photographing another coin. If the coin is already in a holder, record that fact and work with the accessible views rather than assuming the holder must be opened. Label a face you cannot see as unavailable, not blank or without a design.
Add a scale and targeted details
Record diameter separately or include a readable scale in the same plane when practical. Do not derive an exact measurement from a tilted photo. Add close views of the date, the smallest visible letters and any feature you want to ask about. A detail should have a companion overall image showing where it belongs. If an edge is accessible, photograph its visible features and explain which section is shown rather than implying that one angle covers the full circumference.
Prepare a useful request
Write a short note stating what you want to know: the issue, an unreadable character or an unusual mark. Keep these as separate questions so a likely issue match is not mistaken for an answer about authenticity. Include the original images and clearly labeled crops; avoid collages that make the coin too small to inspect. If two photos produce different suggestions, retain both results and identify which image generated each one. Better documentation can clarify the question even when identification remains unresolved.
Take it with you
- Link both faces with one permanent record number.
- Show where each close detail belongs.
- Ask issue, mark and authenticity questions separately.
Coin ID
Coin collecting and visual research
Identification, grade-related estimates and possible error suggestions may be wrong. Coin ID is not certified grading, authentication, appraisal or financial advice. Displayed values are not guaranteed sale prices. Feature access and any paid options depend on current in-app terms.