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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,087 |
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New Member
United States
30 Posts |
When you need to really enlarge your coins and see those really fine details, what methods do you use. Today, a co-worker, showed me a doubled die mark on a particular coin by using two manifying glasses. I then started wondering what other people do.
Is is unheard of for one to use a microscope? Or will that get you too close? I'm just curious, what equipment do you use?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1934 Posts |
I have an Omano microscope. My eyesight is failing and it's the only way for me. Magnifiers do okay in a (traveling) pinch but a microscope opens up a whole new world.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1934 Posts |
p.s. if you type in "coin microscopes" into your web browser, you'll find an appropriate coin microscope as opposed to those more for biology/chemistry, etc.
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New Member
 United States
30 Posts |
Thanks, I'm going to look into getting one.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1130 Posts |
I use the naked eye under medium light to determine luster and eye appeal, then use a 3x magnifying glass to look at fine details. I go to a 10x loupe to get up close and personal.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
749 Posts |
A pocket sized 4X and a 10X jewelers loupe and lots of light helps a great deal
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19930 Posts |
I have a 4x, 6x, 8x pocket magnifier (2 lenses) and a 10x loope.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
I use my camera. No squinting.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1179 Posts |
I have a 60x-100x handheld microscope, its way overboard but it will show me anything my eye wouldnt normally see. I really want a adjustable around 6x-10x loupe for your everyday use.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1934 Posts |
There are some good point inferred here. "Eye Appeal" and "Luster" value do not include what's visible under a microscope. Under a microscope, it is hard to see what the eye appeal and luster really are. So, if you're seriously searching for errors and varieties on a regular basis, power loupes and microscopes are the way to go. If you're simply searching for damage and/or the most common and visible varieties and errors, loupes and magnifiers are probably sufficient. My eyesight is terrible and I can hardly read dates on "F" coins with my glasses on.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I just use a bunch of different magnifiers I purchased at the flea market. Some are only 4X and some go up to 20X. I would never waste time inspecting a coin with a microscope. I'm to old for that sort of dedication.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2600 Posts |
I agree that a 3 to 5X hand mag works well for grading. to study a coin, j h s has hit it on the head for me. I also have an Omano Tri-nocular scope and love it. I had a very hard time with Machine Doubling with had magnifiers. With the scope it is a piece of cake. Now I need to get it setup to take pics. Jim |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1934 Posts |
Jim, believe it or not, I just stuff my camera lens into the left eye of my microscope and, while it doesn't take pictures fine enough to determine the nuances of the MS Grades, it's adequate up to that grade, setting my camera on macro.
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,087 |
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Posted 01/22/2008 5:12 pm
