How to Photograph a Coin for Error Identification

The quality of your photo directly determines the quality of the analysis — whether from AI tools like ErrorHunt or from human experts. A sharp, well-lit photo can reveal errors that a blurry or dark photo would hide. Here is how to get the best results with whatever camera you have.

Lighting

Lighting is the most important factor in coin photography. Poor lighting hides details, creates misleading shadows, and makes errors impossible to identify.

• Use indirect, even lighting. Position a desk lamp at a 30–45 degree angle to the coin. Avoid pointing light straight down, which creates flat images with no depth.
• Avoid harsh direct sunlight. It creates bright reflective spots (glare) on metallic surfaces that wash out detail.
• Use an LED daylight bulb. Cool white or daylight color temperature (5000–6500K) gives the most accurate color reproduction.
• Try different angles. Slowly rotate the light around the coin while looking at the surface. Die cracks, doubling, and subtle errors often only show under specific lighting angles.

Background

• Use a plain, solid color. White paper, black felt, or a gray card all work well.
• Contrast matters. Dark coins show more detail on a light background. Light-colored coins show more detail on a dark background.
• Avoid patterned surfaces like wood grain, fabric textures, or printed materials. They distract from the coin and can confuse image analysis.

Focus and Sharpness

• Tap to focus. On a smartphone, tap the coin on the screen to tell the camera exactly what to focus on.
• Hold steady. Prop your elbows on the table or use a phone stand/tripod. Even small movements create blur.
• Minimum focus distance. Do not hold the phone too close. Most phone cameras cannot focus closer than 3–4 inches. If the photo is blurry, move the phone farther away and crop the image afterward.
• Use the 2-second timer. This eliminates shake from pressing the shutter button.

Angle

• Straight-on for overview. Hold the camera directly above the coin, perpendicular to the surface. This gives the most accurate representation of the design.
• Slight angle for depth. A small tilt (10–15 degrees) can reveal raised features like die cracks, cuds, and doubled elements by creating shadows that highlight relief.
• Edge shots. For quarters, photograph the edge to check for silver vs. clad (copper stripe visible). For dollar coins, capture edge lettering.

What to Photograph

1. Full obverse (front side) — The entire coin, centered, in sharp focus.
2. Full reverse (back side) — Same setup, flip the coin carefully.
3. Close-up of the area of interest — Zoom in or move closer to the specific area where you see a potential error.
4. The edge — Especially important for silver detection and edge lettering.
5. Comparison shot — If you have a normal coin of the same type, photograph both side by side. This makes differences obvious.

Best Practices for ErrorHunt Submissions

• Upload the highest resolution image your camera produces. Do not downsize before uploading.
• The coin should fill most of the frame. Too much background wastes resolution.
• Avoid filters, auto-enhance, or color adjustments. The AI needs to see the coin as it actually looks.
• If you are checking for a specific error, include a close-up of that area in addition to the full-coin photo.
• For edge analysis (silver vs. clad), prop the coin on its side against a dark background.