Digital Coin Photography – H. Craig Hamling – October 2001

Slabs

Slabs are great for passing coins around but they present special challenges for digital photography.  Forget about making reflected light pictures of slabbed coins because the light reflects off of the slab and washes out the image of the coin.

However decent pictures can be made with side lighting.

Slabs made with clear or translucent plastic inserts such as PCGS or SEGS are the easiest to photograph.

Slabs with white plastic inserts (NGC and ANACS) present special problems.  Bright MS coins are not too difficult because they send back lots of light to the lens.

For worn coins the best images are made with the light in a side position that is nearly at the reflected position.

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