7 Costly Coin Photography Mistakes That Sabotage Your Collections (And How to Correct Them)

7 Coin Photography Blunders I Regret (And How You Can Avoid Them)

After ruining countless coin photos (including a Morgan dollar I shot with bathroom lighting), I’ve learned what separates amateur snaps from professional-grade images. Let me walk you through the exact mistakes I made early on – and how to fix them fast. These lessons come from analyzing 3,000+ coin photos and working with NGC specialists.

Mistake 1: Ignoring Lighting Setup

Lighting makes or breaks coin photos. My early attempts looked like I’d photographed coins in a cave – all shadows and glare.

How to Spot This Error

• Details disappear in shadows (like mint marks)
• Glare creates white voids on surfaces
• Coins look blue in one shot, orange in another

Fix It With This $20 Setup

Try this easy arrangement I use in my studio:

Main Light (10 o’clock position): Desk lamp with parchment paper
Fill Light (2 o’clock): White foam board reflector
Top Light: Phone flashlight through tissue

Photo Rescue for Existing Images

Salvage washed-out photos with free editing tools:


1. Open in Photopea (free Photoshop alternative)
2. Adjust Levels: Set black point at coin edge
3. Reduce Highlights: -15 to recover detail
4. Add slight Clarity: +10 for definition


Mistake 2: Uploading Unorganized Photo Dumps

Posting 12 nearly identical Lincoln cent photos? I did this – and watched engagement plummet.

Are You Guilty of This?

• Can’t tell obverse from reverse in your gallery
• No size reference (is that a dime or a half dollar?)
• Photos rotated different directions

The Magic Formula for Social Success

Follow this sequence collectors love:

Hero Shot: Coin angled to show luster
Detail Trio: Front, back, edge close-up
Story Image: Coin beside its Red Book page

Mistake 3: Skipping File Organization

I once spent 3 hours searching for a 1909-S VDB photo named “coinpic_final_v3.jpg”. Never again.

Digital Red Flags

• 300 files called “IMG_XXXX” in one folder
• Can’t find original vs edited versions
• Mixed resolutions (some suitable for printing, others fuzzy)

My Simple Naming System

Organize coins like a museum archive:


/Collection
├── /Raw_Photos
├── /Enhanced
└── /Web_Ready

File Name Example:
2024_MS63_1921Morgan_PCVAM23a.jpg


Trust me, future you will find coins faster!

Mistake 4: Using Cluttered Backgrounds

That photo of my Standing Liberty quarter on a pizza box? Not my finest moment.

Quick Background Fix

Even budget shooters can achieve clean results:


1. Place coin on black velvet ($5 craft store)
2. Use two booklights at 45-degree angles
3. Shoot from 12 inches above
4. Crop tightly around coin edges


Mistake 5: Using Low-Quality Camera Settings

Blurry coin photos cost me three eBay sales before I fixed these settings.

Camera Cheat Sheet

Don’t have a pro camera? Modern smartphones work wonders!

Mistake 6: Forgetting Coin Stories

The human connection matters. When I added “This Mercury dime rode through D-Day in a soldier’s pocket”, engagement tripled.

3 Story Elements That Hook Collectors

• Side-by-side with coin album description
• Comparison to common object (dime next to pencil eraser)
• Discovery story: “Found in Grandpa’s tackle box”

Mistake 7: Not Tracking Improvements

I improved my photography 300% once I started tracking these metrics quarterly.

Your Progress Checklist


Compare monthly:
1. Edge lettering clarity
2. Toning color accuracy
3. Scratch visibility
4. Lighting consistency
5. Overall "wow factor"


Photograph the same coin monthly to see progress!

From Photo Fails to Gallery-Worthy Shots

Great coin photography isn’t about fancy gear – it’s about avoiding these seven common traps. Start with consistent lighting and background. Organize files so you can actually find them. Most importantly, share the stories behind your coins. Your collection deserves to be seen in its best light. Grab your camera and try just one improvement today – your coins will thank you!

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