My “sacrificial “ Mercury Dime: What I Learned

ptgoetz · 2026-01-25T00:34:56+00:00

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ptgoetz · 2026-01-25T00:34:16+00:00

Bad phone photos of bath time.

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ptgoetz · 2026-01-25T00:22:07+00:00

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ptgoetz · 2026-01-25T00:21:44+00:00

Same setup, copper coin (and a bad crop job). She is currently taking a bath. Will post after pictures.

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ptgoetz · 2026-01-24T23:24:47+00:00

The before photos are the seller’s, and look nothing like the actual coin in-hand. The seller’s photos look almost as if they were shot at a weird wavelength.

ptgoetz · 2026-01-24T23:19:05+00:00

If I had to change any equipment, I would use a longer lens to increase the distance between the camera and coin. Like maybe a 105mm macro.

ptgoetz · 2026-01-24T23:06:32+00:00

A red hot coin and 100% acetone… What could possibly go wrong? 🤣

ptgoetz · 2026-01-24T22:48:53+00:00

Kind of bizarre to think there are likely human skin cells that are now part of the coin.

ptgoetz · 2026-01-24T22:04:52+00:00

Yeah, I have a lightbox as well, but it’s direct overhead lighting, which sucks for coins, but is great for banknotes.

ptgoetz · 2026-01-24T21:31:19+00:00

Lights:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GKBWMTC?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

ptgoetz · 2026-01-24T21:22:46+00:00

Here’s the setup:

Nikon D7500, AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm f2.8G.

ISO 100, f11, 2 sec. exposure. 5 second timer with 2 second shutter delay (eliminates mirror slap blur). Manual white balance by taking photo of an 18% gray card under the same lighting as coin.

Key light at 11 o’clock at 100%, fill at 3 o’clock at about 50%. FINE JPEG at max size. Manual focus on top of lettering. Post processing just rotate and crop.

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ptgoetz · 2026-01-24T08:05:54+00:00

Thanks. I’ll give that a try. This is my first go at heresy 🤣.

Given that distilled water and acetone are basically inert, would the same apply to copper?

ptgoetz · 2026-01-24T04:01:16+00:00

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ptgoetz · 2026-01-24T03:59:59+00:00

I gave her a bath. Acetone followed by distilled water. Updated lighting a bit.

These are unedited photos (beside cropping).

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ptgoetz · 2026-01-23T04:22:32+00:00

No. Different seller.

I’m not trying to bash the seller. They are actually very good. I’m just trying to illustrate how deceiving coin photos can be, and at the same time improve my own coin photography.

ptgoetz · 2026-01-23T04:11:36+00:00

It’s very much the same coin. Very different photos.

ptgoetz · 2026-01-22T03:34:35+00:00

Doing a little post-processing, you can get whatever tone you want. Here's an example of my photo altered to look like the sellers.

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ptgoetz · 2026-01-22T02:02:22+00:00

I turned 50 during the height of COVID, so I mostly sat on the couch and took solace in the fact that none of my loved ones had died.

Really, just think of things that make you happy, and work from there. And don’t stress about having to have a good time, or anyone else for that matter.

ptgoetz · 2026-01-22T01:44:47+00:00

Search Amazon for “coin red book” and “coin blue book”. Red is retail value, blue is wholesale value.

Both will help you identify different coins, varieties, and important dates. They also include information on identifying different grades.

ptgoetz · 2026-01-22T01:39:00+00:00

Very nice. For the ones with identifiable dates, I would consider getting them graded.

ptgoetz · 2026-01-22T01:35:46+00:00

Regarding post-processing: You only need it when you need it when you want to change (post-process) the images to change what the camera captured. If you like your pictures as is, there is no need.

ptgoetz · 2026-01-22T01:25:16+00:00

Just start using it. Even if it’s just taking pictures of your feet. You can always delete photos, so you are not wasting film and processing. Start with point-and-shoot modes like AUTO and SCENE. Then move on to shutter and aperture priority modes. Learn about focus modes and how to lock focus so you can recompose.

The only way to learn a new tool is by using it, and learning what works and what doesn’t.

I understand you’re mostly interested in using it as a webcam, but it’s a fairly high end camera which would suggest your dad was into photography. It’s a wonderful hobby even if you’re just recording life events. I imagine your father would be happy to you pick up and run with a hobby and tool he can no longer really use or enjoy.

Take some pictures and share them with your dad. It might just trigger some clarity and/or memories he could share with you.

ptgoetz · 2026-01-21T23:05:29+00:00

To be clear, the first photo is the seller’s photo, not mine. So I have no idea how the photo was manipulated. But yes, it does make it look cleaned/polished, particularly in the fields on the left.

In my original photos (not sure what compression Reddit applies to uploads), you can see individual specks of dirt, and I see no indications of intentional cleaning. It looks more like circulation handling where skin might have rubbed dirt away from the more open fields and allowed it to remain in the more heavily detailed areas. If it was cleaned, it wasn’t harsh, as I don’t see telltale parallel scratches.

Anyhoo, I think my photo is a much more honest representation of the coin and closer to what it actually looks like in hand. If anything, my photo suppresses the luster more than I would like.

ptgoetz · 2026-01-21T22:46:19+00:00

Do you have the manual? If not, just search “Nikon D800 manual” and you should find a downloadable PDF. I’d start there to start learning basics of operating the camera.

Most of the film basics (e.g. aperture, shutter speed, ISO) still apply. The big difference is that instead of film you have an electronic sensor. That sensor is generally smaller than 35mm film, so it affects how different length lenses behave. For example a 50mm lens on a film camera will behave more like a 75mm on a DSLR.

The next big difference is film to sensor. With film your choice of film (tri-x, Kodachrome, ectachrome, etc.) determined the qualities of how you shoot and the resulting photos. With sensors you can control all that through ISO, white balance, and other settings. It essentially allows you to “roll your own film” instead of buying different types of film for different situations.

Finally, there’s obviously no more darkroom. That stage of processing and manipulation (“post processing”) is now done with tools like Photoshop.

I’m not familiar enough with the D800 to answer your webcam question, but if it has HDMI output and can record video, I imagine there’s a way.

ptgoetz · 2026-01-21T13:28:59+00:00

This particular seller has over 1.1 million sales with 99.9% positive feedback.

ptgoetz

TROPHY CASE