Front and back
A loose coin needs two photos: the front, then the back.
On a Morgan or Peace silver dollar the mintmark is on the back, so a photo of the front alone leaves it out.
If an album or holder hides one side, photograph the side that shows.
Light, focus and background
Each photo needs good, even light with no glare, the coin in sharp focus, and a plain, uncluttered background.
- Work by a window in daylight and turn the flash off. Flash causes glare.
- Lay a plain, soft towel on a table. It gives you a plain background and a soft surface.
- Hold the phone flat above the coin and keep it still. A steep angle makes a coin look stretched.
- Tap the coin on your screen so the camera focuses on it.
- If the picture is blurry, lift the phone a little and try again. A phone can’t focus when it is too close.
- Look at each photo before you send it. You should be able to read the date.
The date and the mintmark
Take close-ups of the date and the mintmark. A mintmark is a small letter, such as D or S, that shows where the coin was made. No letter usually means Philadelphia.
Collectors look at the date and the mintmark together, and some combinations are scarcer than others.
Where to find the mintmark on coins people often have:
- Lincoln cent: on the front, under the date.
- Morgan dollar: on the back, below the wreath and above the D and O of DOLLAR.
- Peace dollar: on the back, below the word ONE.
- Wartime nickel, 1942 to 1945: on the back, a large letter above the dome of Monticello. Some 1942 nickels were made before the wartime change and don’t have it.
Edges, holders and rolls
Leave everything as it is and photograph it that way. If you need to move a coin, hold it by the edges.
- Loose silver coins: one photo of the edges. A short stack is fine. A copper stripe on the edge of a dime or quarter means it is clad: copper-nickel over a copper center, with no silver.
- Albums, flips (small plastic sleeves), holders and Mint packaging: leave the coins in. Original packaging can matter to collectors.
- Rolls: don’t open them. Photograph the ends.
- Graded coins: the front and back of the holder label, including the certification number. If the plastic shines, tilt it until the glare is gone.
- Bars and rounds: the stamped weight and purity.
Then take one photo of the whole lot together, so we can see how much there is.
Sending your photos
When your photos are ready, open Get a quote from photos on your phone and fill in the form.
Say what you have
Tell us what you have, roughly how many, and where it came from if you know.
Add your photos
Choose them from your phone: both sides of each piece, the close-ups, and the photo of the whole lot. For a large collection, start with the whole lot and the pieces you’re least sure about; we’ll ask if we need more.
Leave your email
We’ll reply to that address with what we would pay. Your town is enough to start; we don’t need a street address.
If your browser can’t add photos to the form, send the message anyway, then reply to our email with your photos.
Rather show us in person? Walk in to our Garden Grove store; no appointment needed. You can also see today’s prices before you drive.
Questions
How many photos should I send?
Two of each coin, front and back, plus close-ups of the date and mintmark and one photo of the whole lot. For a large collection, start with the whole lot and the pieces you’re least sure about; we’ll ask if we need more.
Should I take coins out of their holders to photograph them?
No. Leave everything as it is and photograph it that way. If you need to move a coin, hold it by the edges over a soft towel.
Do I need to give my address?
No. Your town is enough to start, and we reply by email.