Photograph the coin, including its problems

For an online buyer, the photographs are the coin. A hidden flaw does not disappear; it returns later as a dispute.

A repeatable setup

• Use natural daylight or a daylight-balanced LED; avoid direct flash.
• Stabilize the phone above a neutral background.
• Fill the frame without cropping the rim.
• Photograph straight-on obverse and reverse, then angled-light views of each.
• Add the edge, certification label, and close-ups of important details or problems.

What not to fix in software

Do not change color, hide marks, sharpen away hairlines, or use filters that alter the surfaces. Crop and exposure correction should make the evidence clearer, not prettier.