Coin Video - how do you take video of your coins?

[ewomack]

Hello, I tried taking a video of one of my favorite coins (a 10th century follis of Romanus I) and I think it turned out passable, but not fantastic. I'm thinking I may have used a little too much light. Those of you who have taken video of your coins, any suggestions?

 

[rasiel]

Looks fine to me. What's with the glove though?

[ela126]

I learned from an American gold coin group you usually want to do 2-3 swirls per side to show any hidden marks at certain light angles.

other than that, I heard turning off sound is ok, I took this video yesterday and the phone picked up my toddler saying inappropriate stuff.

 

 

[Prieure de Sion]

8 hours ago, ewomack said:

any suggestions?

yes some constructive 😉 

1) Use a silent background music or say anything about the coin - but delete / edit this background sound.

2) I don't use gloves in my videos. I don't think you have a good feeling when holding and turning the coin. 

3) If you use your hands without gloves, make sure your hands and fingernails are clean. I often notice unkempt fingernails in particular.

4) A little more distance from the coin. In your video, the coin is sometimes cut off a little.

5) It is best to show the coin from the front. Then tilt the coin slightly forwards and backwards. Then turn the coin clockwise so that you can see all the details. Then turn the coin over and do the same. And what is also interesting - the edge. Roll the edge.

6) Place a piece of photo cardboard in gray on the desk and use it as a background.

 

[Prieure de Sion]

Two examples - but I know - my videos also not perfect 🙂 

 

 

 

 

[AncientCoinnoisseur]

I always try to take good videos and photos of my coins. I usually just use a macro lens and whatever natural light is available, rarely direct (except for one instance where I needed direct sunlight to capture the iridescent toning of my drachm).

Sometimes I use a black or red background:

• Black
• Red
• White / marble

In a few instances I used a rotating light source to create a ‘3d effect’, and removed the background. 
 

It’s always hard to capture a coin perfectly in video, usually it’s better in person, but at least you can bring out more details, especially if the coin is really small!

 

 

[shanxi]

1 hour ago, Prieure de Sion said:

2) I don't use gloves in my videos. I don't think you have a good feeling when holding and turning the coin. 

I find too many fingers just as distracting as a restless background. Gloves with little texture in the same color as the background would be ideal.

[Prieure de Sion]

2 hours ago, shanxi said:

I find too many fingers just as distracting as a restless background. Gloves with little texture in the same color as the background would be ideal.

That's right, a good point. 

But then I wouldn't use thick “wool gloves”. Neither in white, nor in black, with a thick wool pattern on the fabric. Not only do you lose the feeling for the coin in your hand - I also find such a knitted wool glove and the pattern of the wool irritating.
 
And thick woolen gloves often “swallow” a small part of the coin because the gloves give way and the coin “sinks” into the fabric.
 
I would then use very thin fabric or plastic gloves - which are smooth and fit very tightly.

[Prieure de Sion]

2 hours ago, shanxi said:

I find too many fingers just as distracting as a restless background. Gloves with little texture in the same color as the background would be ideal.

As you can see, the thick, coarse wool glove “eats” the edge of the coin a little.

[rasiel]

3 hours ago, Prieure de Sion said:

That's right, a good point. 

But then I wouldn't use thick “wool gloves”. Neither in white, nor in black, with a thick wool pattern on the fabric. Not only do you lose the feeling for the coin in your hand - I also find such a knitted wool glove and the pattern of the wool irritating.
 
And thick woolen gloves often “swallow” a small part of the coin because the gloves give way and the coin “sinks” into the fabric.
 
I would then use very thin fabric or plastic gloves - which are smooth and fit very tightly.

I'm just guessing here but I think the whole thing with the gloves is a carryover from high end auction houses where you don't want some schmoe to hold that priceless Stradivarius, Monet or Ming vase you're thinking of bidding on with their icky Cheetos fingers. In the case of something like a rare stamp, ancient cloth or a medieval book or similar it makes sense for the protection of the item but in many cases I think it's just snobbishness. In the case of coins it's downright silly imo. Well, maybe not for a proof coin but certainly ancients.

Rasiel

[ewomack]

I expected some comments on the glove. I agree that it's strange and not the best glove for the purpose. The reason I wore gloves will probably sound sillier. My work with security, etc., has made me paranoid to show any potential identifying element of myself on the internet. Basically, I don't want my fingerprints to be visible. Without the gloves they showed very clearly. That's the only reason I wore them. Yes, paranoid, I know, but I've heard and read too many stories. I also didn't have any nice white gloves around, so I grabbed the somewhat awkward ones shown.

Edited September 26 by ewomack