Professional Coin Photography Tips for Perfect Identification

A great photo is essential for accurate coin identification, especially when using an AI-powered app like Coin Identifier - Coinly. The app's AI is incredibly powerful, but its accuracy depends on the quality of the image you provide. Poor lighting, reflections, and bad angles can obscure key details. This guide provides professional tips to help you take sharp, clear photos of your coins every time.

1. Master Your Lighting

This is the most important element. The goal is to illuminate the coin evenly without creating glare or harsh shadows.

• Avoid the Flash: Your phone or camera's built-in flash is too harsh and will create hot spots.
• Use Two Light Sources: The best setup is to use two desk lamps with soft, diffused light (like an LED bulb covered with a thin white cloth) positioned at 10 and 2 o'clock.
• Natural Light: If you don't have lamps, place your coin near a window on an overcast day for excellent, soft, natural light.

2. Ensure Stability and Focus

• Use a Stand: Do not hand-hold your camera or phone. A small tripod or a copy stand is essential to eliminate blur.
• Tap to Focus: On a smartphone, tap the screen directly on the coin to ensure it's in perfect focus. The coin should fill most of the frame.
• Use a Timer: Setting a 2-second timer will prevent camera shake from pressing the shutter button.

3. Choose the Right Background

A neutral, non-reflective background will help your camera focus and expose the coin correctly. A piece of black felt or dark gray paper is ideal.

Why It Matters for Coinly

Providing Coinly with a sharp, well-lit, and properly focused image allows its AI to analyze every fine detail—from mint marks and die cracks to the subtle textures that indicate a coin's grade. Better photos lead to more accurate identifications and more reliable valuations.