How can I take better photographs of coins for listing on eBay?

Question

Is there a certain way to take excellent photographs of coins for listing them on eBay? I've heard that scanning them can produce an excellent image; however, I'd like to know how to magnify the image so that it is no longer coin-sized on the website.

Can anybody tell me how to do so, and what model scanner to purchase that would be best for this task?

Answer 1

Try to take a picture of the coins in front of a white wall the lights on and on top of a desk but on its own little area or something like that.

Answer 2

Using a good (6+ megapixle) camera with a macro setting and small tripod will produce full size pictures and will allow you to adjust things like lighting and background.

Answer 3

Use a light box tent and a couple of 100W floodlights

Answer 4

Use a macro setting on your camera, do not take the picture on a distracting background. If you do not have a camera with macro settings, or a camera that can take good quality pictures (6+mp), than I recommend borrowing one.

Answer 5

I use a light tent, made out of a cardboard box and wrapped in a t-shirt. A light on either side and one on top.

Answer 6

Depending on how much magnification you're looking for there are usb powered microscopes starting around $90 that do a very good job especially when you want to point out die varieties in a picture.  Check them out at http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electro...

Answer 7

I am too cheap to buy more equipment for my digital camera, so I use the following method.  It is most important to not move the camera at all while taking the photo.  Instead of buying a tripod, I set the camera on a milk crate which is on its side and shoot through the holes.  THe camera is about 12" away from the coins and should be zoomed out as much as possible.  I put the coins on a contrasting color background sheet of paper, dark for silver coins, light for copper coins.  The lighting should come from predominantly the upper right for the shadows on the coins to be most natural.  I set the milk crate on a window sill on a bright cloudy day.  An average digital camera can take good photos with the macro setting.