Coin Photographic Apparatus

The principal object of my invention is to enable one to photograph the relief and wear places on a coin that another is allowed to borrow or otherwise have, and upon its return rephotograph it in exactly the same position it was in when first photographed, to thus identify the coin as either the original one or a substitute. This avoids eye strain and great expense as in the use of high-powered microscopes.

Another object is to provide a carriage or support for a coin with recesses that will receive different sizes of coins, and which carriage can be slid to an exact, predetermined position for photographing by means of indents in the carriage and a detent in a guide.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and operative arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawings. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawings nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of my photographic apparatus, and including a camera and lighting means that are positioned for use outside said apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view; but omitting a grid holder, and showing four posts in cross section that are set in said base.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, top plan view showing a coin to be photographed and a grid above it.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 2, omitting the posts.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 4, and including a fragmentary view of a coin support, showing a spring positioning bar extending into a detent in the coin support.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of my apparatus, including a grid holder with a grid in position of use over a coin recess, and showing a camera and lighting means in positions of use.

As illustrated, my coin photographic apparatus has a coin holding device having a coin support or carriage 12 that is provided with one or more recesses into which a coin or medal fits. In the drawing I show four recesses 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d, of different diameters and depths to receive four sizes of coins or medals. Each recess has one or more fiducial marks M or points so that a coin's design features can be positioned exactly in the same place each time a photograph is to be made. Said carriage 12 has locating indents made along its outside edge positioned opposite each of said recesses, these intents being identified as 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d on the drawing.

A stationary guide 20 having a cutout or runway 22, is fixed on a base 23, being held by screws 25. This guide is positioned along and outside of one side of said support 12. Another stationary guide 24, having a cutout or runway 26 is similarly fixed in position on said base along and outside of an opposite side of said support. The side portions of said support 12 extend into said cutouts 22 and 26 so that it will freely slide lengthwise in said guide cutouts.

A spring positioning bar 18, which could be made of metal, extends into said cutout 22 and is set in a slit 18a in said guide 20 as shown in said FIG. 5. Said bar 18 has a catch portion 19 that is adapted to enter an indent, such as 16a, as shown in said FIG. 5, thus keeping the slidable coin support in any position selected, depending upon the coin to be photographed.

A well-known grid 30 of glass substrate, that is ruled, sets on a holder 31 that is separate from said coin support 12. This holder with the grid may be kept suspended during movement of said coin support by holding it slightly elevated by means of a lever 33 fixed to it. When the carriage reaches a predetermined position with a coin or medal 32 set in a said recess, said grid will be allowed to rest on a said coin. Since said grid 30 is greater in area than any of said recesses there will be a border portion outside of any coin. Said coin 32 has relief or raised face surfaces 34 which will show in a photograph and which serve to identify the coin.

As shown, four posts 36 are set in said base 12 and they project upwardly, loosely extending through four holes 38 in said holder 31, thus serving to position said holder and grid.

A well-known camera 44 having the usual lens 46 is positioned above said carriage 12, whereby it can be focused on a coin or medal 32 as indicated in said FIGS. 1 and 6. A well-known illuminating means 40, having a condenser 42, is located at an acute angle to said camera lens 46 and can throw a beam of light directly on the entire face of coin 32. Said support is positioned as shown, so that the camera lens will strike said coin perpendicularly.

Said grid has the usual closely spaced parallel lines, such as 150 per inch, which serve to cast shadows on the exposed surface of said coin. The shadows are photographed by said camera 40, thus providing a unique photograph of said coin that identifies it in much the same manner that a person's fingerprint identifies him. This photograph, when compared with another or second taken of the same coin later on in the same position, enables the user to determine whether or not the coin photographed a second time is the identical one that was first photographed. Thus, by means of photography the customary use of a microscope for the same purpose is unnecessary.

In use a coin or medal is placed in one of said recesses in said support 12, and so positioned that a fiducial mark M is opposite a selected portion of said coin. Said support 12 is slid in said runways in said guides until the coin is in predetermined position and said catch portion of said spring bar extends into an indent in said support. Thereafter a photograph is taken with the light shining on the entire face of the coin. When the coin is later to be re-photographed it is first placed in the same recess and the fiducial mark M is opposite the same selected portion as it was first photographed. Said support 12 is slid to the same position as before and a second photograph made. By comparing the two photographs one can tell if the coin is the same in each instance.