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 Replies: 9 / Views: 2,262 |
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Valued Member
 United States
119 Posts |
I have seen where people use microscopes to look at coins. Please give me advise of what they are used for and the type you use. I want to purchase one.
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Pillar of the Community
7234 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
 to the CCF! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I'd say save your money and buy coins instead. I've got microscopes, all sorts of magnifiers, even a USB microscope for the computer. They all sit on a shelf. I like coins and basically not interested in small almost invisible little quirks.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1261 Posts |
I do not own a microscope and have been collecting since my childhood. I guess if I were trying to buy uncertified key dates then I might want one to study mint marks and things but short of that I just own a 5x magnifier and 10x loupe.
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
1358 Posts |
I do believe that, for grading MS-70, a coin should be scratch-free under 5x magnification, when using Sheldon scale. So having a look under a microscope with much more zoom is just not adding any value according to the most used scale nowadays. We can of course always extend the scale or start a new one with perfection at higher levels, but for now, using a microscope on coins is overkill.
Edited by UltraRant
10/07/2017 12:15 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
24885 Posts |
To the Forum. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1119 Posts |
When I am just observing I use the naked eye. for grading or closer looks I use a 7x Hastings triplet from Bausch and Lomb
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Valued Member
 United States
119 Posts |
Thanks, I did buy a plugable digital microscope from ebay, I didn't pay much for it because Like Carl I'm afraid it might sit on a shelf. |
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
It all depends what you do. If you have no interest in error coins, whether to collect them or not, or RPMs, then Loupes under 12X are fine for any coin observations. I use my scope to ID errors and mostly RPMs. I find when attributing coins the Mark 1 eyeball and 30x loupe is a bit rough. With the scope and computer I can do side by side analysis to get the accurate comparison, too many errors when you eyeball it. Some of these above 100X tho get crazy! TMI to distinguish, you have to know metallurgy. Here's my setup works fine for RPMS.  |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 2,262 |
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Posted 10/06/2017 4:04 pm
