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 Replies: 9 / Views: 974 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
603 Posts |
I am just wondering, how much magnification is commonly used during coin grading? is it 5, 10 or something else. Just wondering after looking at some of my collection under my microscope set at 60 power.
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Moderator
 United States
6563 Posts |
I use a monocular/microscope thingy that has about 24x magnification. It's perfect for seeing any bag marks or those itty bitty date marks on some Spanish coins.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
I don't believe the pros use more than 5x magnification, and that not often. I grade at actual size, with the coin in-hand, and only resort to magnification when surface originality is in question. If you use 10x to grade, it's doubtful you'll ever give an MS67.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Naked eye ,,5X up to MS-63 7X to 10X for above that grade level.
I also have a 16X doublet that I use for looking for and viewing varieties.and fine detail for some authentication purposes.
Metalman
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Forum Mom
United States
5877 Posts |
I also grade by my naked eye. I have used magnification for questionable surfaces and difficult dates and mint marks. I've never seen marks so small as those on Hong Kong coins. I needed magnification for all of those.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3234 Posts |
The pros generally try to use NO magnification at all. The grading system is built upon reviewing the coin with the naked eye with absolutely NO magnification. Magnification comes into play for problem coins, counterfeits, and possible 69/70 stuff. That's about it.
That said....if you want to use magnification to assist you in viewing a coin, it should be no more than 5-7X. The entire coin should be visible in the field of view of the glass.
Edited by Prethen
05/20/2007 11:50 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2600 Posts |
Thx for the knowledge everyone, I think I was getting ready to by too much scope. Great question, cpfull. Jim  |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
quote:
Thx for the knowledge everyone, I think I was getting ready to by too much scope. Great question, cpfull.
There is a place for "too much magnification." When researching errors, doubling and the like, the minimum magnification you're going to want is 20x, and 50-60x is not inappropriate in some cases. That has nothing to do with grading, though. |
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Valued Member
United States
411 Posts |
I use a low-x magnifier because my naked eyesight isn't all that great. It has a very big glass and I don't have to hold it up to my eye. Without it, I can't read the dates on lower grade coins (especially SL quarters and Buffalo nickels. I can't even see the designs on half-cents. I use a 7x glass to look for tiny die cracks, blemishes and/or signs of variety. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1283 Posts |
In a grading book I purchased they recommend between X 5-8 magnification.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 974 |
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Posted 05/20/2007 12:08 am
