Just Got A Jansco Lamp For Xmas..need Serious Photo Help!

Try shooting through a loop to get the close ups. If your camera has a macro setting (usually a tulip icon) use that. A tripod is also very useful. The phone camera usually isn't all that good fore closeups.
Practice and try different things and see what works.

Share some pics!

To start with I'd immobilize your phone somehow. Assuming there's no threads for a tripod or mount, you'll have to set it on a makeshift stand of books or something. I believe one of our members showed a stand made out of a plastic tupperware container. It's also helpful to have a timer so that you're not pressing the phone while it takes the picture--I don't know if that's available for camera phones or not.

For the light I'd start with it as close to 90* overhead as possible, probably bumping right against the phone, in the 10-12 o'clock position.

As for zooming, how large are your pictures? There's a limit when you simply can't get the coin any larger and keep it in focus. It's better to get it in focus and then crop away the excess than to fill the frame with an out-of-focus coin. With 8 mp even if you crop out 60% of the picture it will still be a good size.

Share some pics!
-wheatiefan