Accumulator

Didn't even work for me, at least not on the iPhone. I scrolled down through hundreds of countries to United Kingdom, then selected all regions (the only option). The only denominations then offered are Euros and it won't let you submit without completing this box, so you are snookered!

For comparison I have scanned (at 1200 dpi) and photographed the same 1895 penny, then cropped both to leave only the detail around Britannia's head. The photo (on the right) is far superior to the scan, so I'm very happy with the results.

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Thanks Peter. I've taken a few more for practice. Here's one of a coin with more lustre:

And a final pic showing a detail (the damaged die around '0') at 1:1 extracted from the original photo.

Here's one taken in better light in macro mode. The better light allows the camera to have the coin and focus at a closer distance.

Actually not any better. I need to play some more.

Plenty of A480's online (ie argos just over £80) However it gets slated on batteries and its viewfinder. Ok, here's my first attempt using the A3300 IS. I had the coin about 8cm from the lens, using fully auto instead of macro mode (it seems just the same and focuses better). The coin fills less than half the screen, but with 16MP I don't think that matters. On a windowsill in daylight, not sunlight as its a bit dull here today. I downloaded the image and cropped it to 1500 x 1500 pixels (but reduced it further for posting). Any comments, suggestions or otherwise much appreciated! **Since posting this I've noticed that macro IS better so will take a comparison shot and post below!

Went to Jessops today. They didn't have the A480 (they thought it was an older model) but suggested the A3300 IS, for £120, plus a mini tripod. I quickly set it up this evening, in macro mode, but can't take any close ups, presumably because the lighting isn't good enough. Will have a proper go tomorrow in daylight.

It may be like mine, the thumb print was on the scanner glass! Nice coin.

Myself, Declan and Hus all use a Canon powershot A480. It will knock you back around £60 Steve and ticks all of the above boxes. I don't use a tripod or any lighting other than natural daylight. Thanks John, I think I can stretch to £60! If no one has a better idea I'll get one next week. I'm fed up looking at me poor scans.

i know who bought You, Dave?

Can anyone suggest a cheap digital camera which I can buy just for photographing coins? I know it needs a macro mode and I will need lighting and a tripod as discussed above. I can't see me using the camera for anything else so possibly I could get something which plugs into the USB port and uses the pc screen for display? I presume digital microscopes are not suitable though?

I have an 1806 proof penny which I believe is either Peck 1326 (bronzed) or Peck 1327 (copper). Peck does give a guide to distinguishing between the metals but has anyone any further pointers? Here's a scan of the coin in question:

Small spot just in front of the nose, thumbprint on the reverse, the green(?) crud on the shield and at the first A. The toning streaks to both sides are not what you would expect on a bronzed proof either, as normally you would be looking for a smooth, even colour. I don't know if the edge looks good so can't comment. The estimate of £400-500 was too high if these factors are taken into consideration. I sold one with similar faults just over a year ago for £325 if I remember correctly, but it didn't exactly fly off the shelf. Fair comment, although the thumbprint must have been on the scanner bed (ooops!) as it doesn't appear on the coin. This makes me realise just how much I need a camera set-up. The coin looks so much better in hand than on the scans. As a comparison, here are the seller's photos:

He's sold a lot more than 39 items recently Rob. Maybe he discovered a stash he'd completely 'forgotten about' at the time of his divorce?

Are you referring to my coin Rob? What 'impairment'?

I was an underbidder... I'd spent far too much recently! Seemed like good value to me though.

Nope. He means the stays between the foremast and the pointy bit at the front. Surely they are rigging rather than stays? Anyway, yes, 3 extremely faint lines are there.

Interesting, Rob. The finish on your left hand piece is very similar to the finish on my coin which is a red-brown and very uniform in appearance. Certainly no evidence of mottling or discolouration whatsoever, in fact it has a beautiful even colouration (although this really isn't as evident in the scans as in hand!). As Derek says, Peck has bronzed as being rarer but this may be not be true. I'm tending toward P1327 then. One final question. Does anyone have a close-up photo (and it would have to be a close-up as it's practically invisible!) of the 2 or 3 stays from foremast to bowsprit? Even colouration would lean towards bronzed which is P1326. I don't have any proof 1806 pennies, so can't help on the stay front. Get a glass on it and count them. Obviously there should be 3 if Peck is correct, but the image in the book isn't clear enough. I've attached an image of the ship on a P1326 I used to own, but again it isn't clear enough. The ship punches are specific to the type or types of proof, but the currency pieces must have had the ship engraved by hand as over 50 ship varieties are recorded. Sorry, I meant P1326 (bronzed)! Even with a glass the stays (if I'm looking at the right things!) are hard to discern. However there are clear stays between the masts so possibly Peck was referring to these?

Interesting, Rob. The finish on your left hand piece is very similar to the finish on my coin which is a red-brown and very uniform in appearance. Certainly no evidence of mottling or discolouration whatsoever, in fact it has a beautiful even colouration (although this really isn't as evident in the scans as in hand!). As Derek says, Peck has bronzed as being rarer but this may be not be true. I'm tending toward P1327 then. One final question. Does anyone have a close-up photo (and it would have to be a close-up as it's practically invisible!) of the 2 or 3 stays from foremast to bowsprit?

Purely out of curiosity, have you just bought this coin? Yes I have just bought it. Were you after it too, or do you know something about it perhaps? Rob - thank you for the photos, very useful! I will have a proper look at the coin again tonight.

I thought the cat laid it. Or maybe the cat 'laid' the reproductive sixpence?

The trouble with scans is that while they are great for detail, they kill the tones. It looks from here like a copper proof, but that's a guess based purely on the colour - I'd expect a bronzed proof to be less red, but that could just as easily be your scanner software. You're right. I really must get a camera setup as the scans don't do justice to the coin at all, though colours are unreliable in photos too. I did wonder if the difference in relative density of the two materials might be a key. Does anyone have weights for the copper & bronze proofs?

Not a lot it would seem. According to the description it's "the withdrawn" type. The Pope would approve though!