I originally posted this topic in April 2013, but the photos have since been mucked up by Photobucket.  I am reposting the general content with some updates/modifications in hopes that some may find it helpful.   Preface:  I have been photographing my coins for nearly 12 years and I'd say 9.5 of those years I have been happy with those photos.  At the beginning of 2011 I was fed up, and wanted to figure out how to get “professional quality” coin images, but I did not want to purchase a