5. Most of my images are made using a Canon digital SLR mounted on a stand made from parts saved from a broken photographic enlarger I used in the 1960’s. When I want a white background, the coin is placed above a piece of glass supported by an old refrigerator pan with white paper at the bottom. When I want black I eliminate the glass and put black material at the bottom. Usually I surround the dowel with a can that shades the background making it a darker shade of black in the photo. I prefer coins on black backgrounds but many people like white. The lights shown here are daylight balance twist compact fluorescent bulbs. Depending on what you are shooting and your personal preferences you can use one or more bulbs placed as you find pleasing. With ancient coins, there is no single best way to arrange lights for all coins. My limited experience with US coins suggests most do well with either one or two bulbs placed close together. My camera is shown with a 100mm macro lens capable of focusing closely without accessories. Other lenses may require extension tubes or auxiliary close up lenses to fill the frame with smaller coins.