I really encourage coin photographers to stop treating postprocessing of images as a sin and to avoid the term 'looks like the coin in hand'. I believe the first image could be darkened a
bit and possibly have a
bit more contrast added but stopping short of the very dark third photo. If the coin looks like that in hand, I suggest placing the hand with the coin in stronger light. When we hold a coin in hand we wiggle it a tiny
bit and see changing details. When we photograph a coin that same amount of wiggle (accomplished by placing something under the coin that allows a minute angle change) can make quite a difference. This, too, is not cheating. A high relief coin does not always lay flat on a flat surface. I accomplish this correction sometimes by having a
bit of play in the mounting of the dowel stick on which I shoot my coins. Other times a
bit of clay is needed to shim up the other
side of a high relief coin. I suspect this coin is flat enough that just playing with the postprocessing controls for contrast and brightness with the coin in
had to compare to the screen (but not lit by the screen) will get you what you seek.
After many tests I concluded that I was being unreasonable to be able to shoot the best shot on the first try every time. When it happens (with nice coins) we can rejoice but don't be defeated by the ones that ask to be reshot. Professionals will tell you that they get the best photo the first time every time. Believe them only after you see their
work. The important skill of a coin photographer is recognizing when it is time to reshoot and when it is time to accept what we have. If you shoot a thousand photos of anything and only show the best one, people may be fooled into thinking you are a
good photographer. Coins won't take all thousand tries. I generally give up at half a dozen or so and tell myself not to buy coins with that kind of surfaces.