Magnifying Glass

The high res scans are great for seeing the coin with all the warts and all and is great to use to find them tiny nicks and marks that you are unable to see with a Lupe.
The wee USB gizmo's can be used with great effect if you elevate it 6 inches or more off the desk and use the screen to evaluate the coin

I used a 10x loupe with a built in LED that I got from Dick Smith of all places. I find those teeny tiny jewellers loupes almost impossible to use.

Yeah,USB microscope is the way to go but for initial & bulk examining of coins a large magnifying glass is the easiest on the eyes IMO.Any coin/stamp dealer or ebay have them.

I have about 12 or more Loupes, several different types. The one I use the most is a real cheapie that I got from a Bargain Mania shop for $2.95.

It has 2 x 5 times magnifying lenses that flip out, use 1 and it's x 5, use both and it's x 10. The best part about it for me is the size of the lens, 26mm, and with just one lens in use I can see the whole side of the coin, even a 50c. The smaller loupes have between 18 - 22 mm lenses, and for me are just too small.

I have at least 4 of these cheapies, and do all my noodling with one of them. Folded up they measure 52 x 36 x 25 mm



I'm quite prone to mislaying loupes, at present I know where 6 of mine are. They're all in the house, just temporarily lost.

These are cheap, and sometimes when using one lens, from the continual folding and unfolding, the hinge gets loose and to combat that, I wind a thick rubber band around the base as many times as it will fit, and just don't ever fold it up again.

Mind you, a couple of my more expensive loupes bought from Coin Dealers have worn hinges as well, so a higher price does not guarantee better quality.



Other stores that might carry these are possibly $2 shops, Dollar Dazzlers, Dollars and Cents and whatever the names of similar interstate shops are.

Thanks very much for guys for the great answers ! Esp. Nancy for doing the pics and details, cheers

I got the silver 20x zoom in the mail, and have had a quick play with it.

Its all made from metal which was a nice surprise as I only expected the outer sleeve part to be metal and the inside part to be plastic that held the lens, but its all chrome, so it should cope a bit better with wear.
It stiff opens too, so it doesn't flop around when holding it.

As a first proper loupe I am happy with it, I am sure it will be better than what I have been trying to use. (A normal magnifying glass, it was probably 5x strength at best) and best of all I don't have to share anymore :)

Larger coins it works like a charm, good for florins and 20c, looked at threepences and you can see the dates well on the early ones, just not quite enough for over dates, will have to see if the 30x ones can manage it when they arrive.