Welcome To My Coin Blog
The Lighting Setup No One Expects to Work on Ancient Coins
Not all coins want to be lit directly. Some resist, reflecting harshly or flattening the moment light hits the surface. This 4th-century BC silver stater from Larissa, Thessaly, was one of them — a piece with brilliant silver breaks beside deep, oxidized fields that made every highlight a challenge.
In this behind-the-scenes post, I share setup photos, lighting angles, and a closer look at how indirect lighting allowed this ancient coin to speak for itself.
Ontario’s 1873 Wilder Medals and the Origins of Pomology’s Highest Honour
In 1873, the American Pomological Society introduced the Wilder Medal to honor its founder, Marshall P. Wilder. That same year, the Ontario Fruit Growers’ Association made history by receiving three of the first medals—for pears, native grapes, and plums. This article explores the medal’s origins, design, and enduring significance in horticultural history.
The Hidden Value of Holder Shots
When collectors browse coins online, one question always lingers: Can the photograph be trusted? This challenge is at the heart of coin photography, and for the collector assessing certified coin images, it’s where the hidden value of holder shots is found.
Shipping Coins From The US to Canada for Photography? No Tariffs Apply.
Shipping your collectible coins to Canada for photography is more straightforward than you might expect. Unlike many other industries facing complex and uncertain tariffs, coins shipped from the U.S. to Canada benefit from clear duty-free treatment, making cross-border shipping simpler and more cost-effective than you may think.
A Coin Collector's Guide to Coin Photography Expectations
In this collector-focused guide, Coin Photography Studio outlines what services, standards, and emotional connections collectors should expect—whether for registry sets, insurance, resale, or pure enjoyment.
How To Take Better Coin Photographs
Wondering how to take great photos of your coin collection? In this guide, professional coin photographer Denis Richard answers the 15 most common questions collectors ask — from lighting and lens choices to how (and when) to photograph slabbed coins. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your technique, you'll find practical, easy-to-follow tips tailored for hobbyists.
Coin Insurance 101: Photography and Protecting Your Valuable Coin Collection
Curious if your coin collection is properly insured? This post breaks down what coin insurance really covers, what it doesn’t, and how professional photos can help—but not every coin needs one. Whether you're a casual collector or a seasoned dealer, get smart about protecting what you’ve got.
The Emperor’s True Face: Realism and Image in Ancient Coin Portraiture
Why did Rome, a civilization capable of sculpting divine perfection in marble, often choose to immortalize its emperors with raw, unflatteringly realistic portraits stamped into Roman coin? What message did those wrinkles carry? This is the story of verism—a uniquely Roman aesthetic that turned age into authority and made coinage a canvas for truth, propaganda, and political survival.
The Godless Coins: When Money Lost Its "Grace"
What happens when a coin leaves God off entirely? This article explores the fascinating history of so-called “godless coins,” from Canada’s 1911 design scandal to Theodore Roosevelt’s controversial omission of “In God We Trust” on U.S. gold coins. We trace the role of religious inscriptions like Dei Gratia in coinage across the British Empire, Europe, and beyond—revealing how politics, faith, and public sentiment shaped the words engraved in metal.
Top 10 Museums with Remarkable Numismatic Collections
From ancient Greek drachmas to the largest coin ever made, museums around the world safeguard the stories of civilization through their numismatic collections. This article explores ten of the most significant coin cabinets, offering a global tour of history through money.
A Capital’s Birth, A Nation’s Pride
The 1927 Canberra Florin is more than just a coin—it’s a sterling silver milestone in Australia’s political and numismatic history. Commemorating the opening of Old Parliament House, this article explores the fierce rivalry that birthed Canberra, the rush to mint the nation’s first commemorative coin, and the legacy both coin and building hold nearly a century later.
Beyond TrueView
While PCGS TrueView and NGC PhotoVision provide impressive coin images, their services are limited to coins submitted for grading. This article explores how private coin photographers fill that gap—offering professional, customizable images for the millions of raw and encapsulated coins that grading services will never photograph. Collectors and dealers alike will discover why hiring a private photographer can be more practical, flexible, and cost-effective.
The Coin Color Illusion: Simultaneous Contrast in Numismatics
A coin collector gingerly places a shining silver coin on black velvet and marvels at its brilliance, while on a white tray, the same coin seems to lose a touch of its luster. It isn’t imagination – it’s a quirk of vision known as simultaneous contrast, a color theory discovery that’s as relevant to coins as it is to art.
A Tale of a Tea Merchant Token
During the early industrial age, tea and exotic spices arrived in England from across the empire. Still, ironically, it was often easier to find these items in stores than to obtain the coins needed to purchase them. In this era of coinage chaos, trade tokens became the people's currency.
Coins of St Helena: A Tale of Unfortunate Timing
As the saying goes, timing is everything. This was certainly true for the governors of St. Helena when they found themselves with an excess of copper halfpennies, thanks to the death of Napoleon Bonaparte.
The Roar Heard Around The World
As we near the 100th anniversary of the British Empire Exhibition and look back on its many exonumic contributions, one medal, in particular, stands out as a symbol of the event's grandeur and legacy—Metcalfe’s Lion.
A Different Kind of Easter Story
Easter is renowned as the Christian holiday celebrating Jesus's resurrection. However, this post delves into a different Easter rising, a tale unfolding in the heart of Ireland.
Canadian Association For Photographic Art
There is an art to Coin Photography. In this article in the Canadian Association for Photographic Art’s monthly magazine, Canadian Camera, I discuss coin collecting and coin photography and my inspirations for both. Since this was published, I’ve discovered Jack Black is another famous coin collector.
Photoshop Actions and Coin Photography Editing
In coin image editing there are a lot of tasks that are repetitive, and thanks to Photoshop, they can be made into actions. If you’re only editing one image at a time, you might think actions are more work than they’re worth, but I think you’d be surprised.
Advanced Coin Photography | Capturing Detail in Dark Coins
It can be tricky to capture detail in dark coins, but under exposing a dark coin is not a problem you can fix in post-production. If you don’t capture the shadow information when you click the shutter, it’s lost for good.