Help With Proof Like And Lighting

I've too little access to such coins for proper experimentation, but the results I've been able to get indicate that some form of ringlighting or axial is the appropriate solution for reflective coinage. I achieved my best results with Proofs using a simple circline fluorescent kitchen ceiling fixture - the kind with a single 9" bulb - with a hole cut into the center through which I pointed the camera.Does the "black and white" look very nicely. And I've also seen promising results here and elsewhere with axial lighting.

If you approach the latter, though, be aware that it requires precision in setup and use. Can't cut corners on the design of the rig, although you can create the setup cheaply if you don't use beamsplitter glass. Beamsplitter is nice because it can reflect a higher percentage of the available light onto the coin, but your rig is of sufficient quality to be able to go into the higher ISO's and slower exposures required of suboptimal, normal glass.

Axial lighting is particularly effective with proofs and proof-like coins.