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Magifying Light For Coins

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Coinology's Avatar
United States
21 Posts
 Posted 03/21/2017  7:28 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add Coinology to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Hello,

I was wondering if this is a strong enough magnifier/light for seeing close detail on coins and stamps?

https://www.amazon.com/Carson-DeskB...le+Magnifier

If not, can you recommend one under $50.00?

Thank you,

Coinology
Valued Member
twdevoe3's Avatar
United States
71 Posts
 Posted 03/21/2017  7:32 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add twdevoe3 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
IMO No. is only 2X. My reading glasses are 3X Though. IOW I can see crap up close. lol
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twdevoe3's Avatar
United States
71 Posts
 Posted 03/21/2017  7:35 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add twdevoe3 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I use a USB 5MP Microscope.
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John1's Avatar
United States
56855 Posts
 Posted 03/21/2017  7:46 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add John1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
If your looking for errors and varieties you should use a jewlers loupe. I use a 14x doublet and a swingarm desk lamp.
John 1
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Crazyb0's Avatar
10197 Posts
 Posted 03/21/2017  7:48 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Crazyb0 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
You can purchase handheld 7x or 8x lighted mags for less than $10. I use one of those "Helping Hands" magnifiers that is 5x (no light) but with a good desk lamp this will do as a first time ID, for date/MM and other anomalities. Then I use a 7x handheld to check for CAM/WAM's then a 25X loupe for RPM's. Once I find errors/RPM/DDO / DDR indicators that way, use the USB scope to really check and document if necessary.
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Coinology's Avatar
United States
21 Posts
 Posted 03/21/2017  7:50 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Coinology to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thank you all.

Crazy, any links to what you have would be appreciated. I am very interested in your selections.
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moxking's Avatar
United States
17900 Posts
 Posted 03/21/2017  9:01 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add moxking to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Most collectors have a variety of strength and lighting situations depending on what you are doing. 2X isn't much help, though.
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spru's Avatar
United States
12477 Posts
 Posted 03/21/2017  10:25 pm  Show Profile   Check spru's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add spru to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
that 2x won't help much.

I have two cheapo loupes: a 10x/20x triplet and a 40x w/ LED (it works but has a tendency to blind me at certain angles). I would be surprised if it was actually 40x, but it helps and both were about $5 each.

I believe Crazyb0 has a topic (probably in the photography section) showing his microscope setup.

Edit: maybe I was thinking of this - http://goccf.com/t/283666
In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
Edited by spru
03/21/2017 10:34 pm
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John1's Avatar
United States
56855 Posts
 Posted 03/22/2017  04:52 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add John1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
IMHO,anything higher than 14x in a loupe will give you a distorted view. A Hastings triplet is the best, but a doublet will do. The ones with built in lights is just a pain,I tried them and now avoid them.
John1
Valued Member
United States
314 Posts
 Posted 03/22/2017  08:30 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add einstem to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I have tried out a few simple ones, but wasn't happy with the quality of some of the "plastic" magnifiers.

One I like and now use is the "Lighthouse Table Clip Magnifier" from WizardCoin and like it. It is a real glass lens, so quality is pretty good.

Here is the link:

http://www.wizardcoinsupply.com/lig...gnifier.html

It is a 2.5x lens, which is fine for general viewing, and then has a smaller "5x lens" as well for even more close-ups (although I usually will use a 7x Loupe if I really want to look at detail).

It has little 'legs' that pop-out (took me a bit to find them!) so you can set it up anywhere, or has a 'clip' if you want to clip it to a work surface. And it has a little built-in LED light. It is very light and portable (LEDs work off batteries) and comes with a nice little cloth cover to protect the glass lens.

What I like is that I can just grab it and some coins and set-up anywhere. It's pretty small (lens is only about 3 1/2 inches wide), but that is fine for me for coins. Just remember to turn off the LED light when you are done, since it is sometimes hard to see it is actually on.

It actually looks pretty similar to the one you linked to on Amazon, but doesn't have a "plug" and has a bit more magnification. But the one in your Amazon link says the lens is "acrylic", which means "plastic" and usually means 'inferior quality' compared to a "glass lens".

Regards,

Michael
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts
 Posted 03/27/2017  11:35 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add just carl to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
My way of looking at coins is if I need anything more than the 2 or 3 power glasses I need for reading, the coin is Ok as is.
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