A Sound And Tested Method For Looking Through Lots Of Coins.

Okay, here's the setup I use to search through coins. First photo is the scope with one of the boards atop the base of the scope so you can see relative size:



Second image shows the two identcal boards laying next to each other on the pull-out drawer of my home-made desk. I use this pull-out to sit the boards while I load them for searching. I use two boards all the time when searching...I fill one, then use the other to flip the coins. Just lay one on top of the other and flip both over together.



The third image shows some cents laying on the board. Note that a shallow flute has been routed along the center of both boards with a 3/4 inch bit. This allows a 'ditch' the coins sit in so they don't slide off the edge of the board when I tilt it to get a better look at things.



The fourth photo shows the board being used. I just stick it under the scope and slide it from one end to the other looking at the coins rolling by underneath. It takes me about 30 seconds to check a half roll of cents. BTW, the board is just long enough for 26 cents, or 25 with some small spaces between them.

Invention is the brain child of necessity. I needed a really fast and good way to look through a lot of coins much faster than I ever had before, so I invented it. I figured it out. I tried new things, and didn't stop until I was satisfied that I had something that could not easily be improved upon.

I started with sorting coins by decade, then pulling each individual date out of those. It's tedious and takes a lot of storage bins. I changed how I did it by sorting the last digit first, and it went a lot faster. I refined it into a regular habit, and I'm now much faster than the average person at sorting coins.

I started with a loupe and a desk lamp. It took well over an hour to half-heartedly go through a single roll of coins. I needed better optics, so I got a scope. Once I got the scope I realized that one of the things that was slowing me down was having to pull my head back, grab a coin, look, pull my head back, grab a coin, look...it was a slow process. I needed a process that would allow me to look faster, and the only way to do that was to prepare more than one coin at a time to look at...that's where the boards came from.

Sit and think of the things you do that are tedious and take a lot of time. Think of ways you can improve the process and start working on them. I didn't pick up a digital camera and start taking expert photos of coins...it took four years, three cameras, and a LOT of this and that household supplies before I figured out the best method of lighting coins to search and to photograph.

Moral to the story is that if what you have is slow and substandard, figure out a way to make it better and faster. It's not rocket science, it's just filling a need with a little ingenuity.

No, I'm Ozark Hillbilly through and throughout. This is the last time, however, that I will have to tear this down. no more. Once I get back to my house and back to my office, that's the last time I'm unpacking.

Very nice. thank you for the pictures

I enjoyed seing Chuck's setup, and the optics he uses. while we don't use the same system, I did use his while doing the coin project. I had just begun checking varieties, and had much to learn, (still do, but it is a bit less, now)!
Not to beat a dog when it is down, but I wanted to show my method, and explain the difference. I have not had the time collecting coins, and much less, the time checking for varieties. while Chuck has the young eyes that spot the details easily, but I need a 10X loupe to see the MM, and/or date. Here is my setup. (Please don't qualifty the pictures).


The first two show the dual 20" monitors with a coin on site.

Yhis scope is 20X/40X. I use it while the other scope is tied up with the camera.

This scope is a Stereo-zoom , ,6-4.5, di-opt with 10X eye pieces, etc.


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I won't say my method is better, because both accomlish the same thing, even to the 26-coin obv/rev orientation sticks are different, but serve the same purpose. The rest of what is seen in the pictures is self-explanitory. Basically an old mans toys VS a young mans toys! Chuck is about half my age, maybe a couple years more, but we enjoy our toys! Hope this jelps, (someone)!
Dick

This thred is getting very interesting, does everyone sort, then look. Also could you post a pic of the camera scope setup with a coin on the scope

Good Morning folks!
This is getting interesting, (I hope) and for me, fun, and educational. Before I befin my explanation of the "how, and why". let me say this: I am legally blind. I have no focal point, so I can't see what Chuck sees. My vision, at best, with anything the DR's can do will be less than 20/200. So I'm not allowed to drive. Now to the subject at hand.
I use a 10X loupe just to see the date & MM.
TMy method, as with Chuck is used when the amounts are box, or boxes. bags in my area are un-heard of.
I begin by setting the sorting boxes close at hand, and open rolls. The date and MM determine in which tube the coin goes. 0-9, left to right, "P", "D", "S" front to back. As the tubes are filled, they are replaced with empty ones, and marked.
For storage and checking, the tubes are checked, and in h the case of the '82's, seven tubes are used, and marked. Each variety is kept in it's own tube, as marked. This applies to all varieties, other than RPM's obviously. If someone finds a new variety in the '82 zinc, large date, then those tubes are checked, not the entire bunch of '82's. The tubes are kept in the box, (of 100 tubes) they came in, and in date, and MM order. These are the ones kept close at hand for checking. The tubes that are filled after checking then are rolled, and stored in coin boxes by decades. The varieties are then placed in flips, which I keep in boxes I made for that purpose. Each box holds about 150 flips, and are easily srtacked, and, in my case, stored in a large cabinet safe, which is key-locked. Chuck, and others will return the checked, and not wanted, or junk coins, to the bank. I am a "pack-rat", and don't return any except the junk, culls, and those that are un-readable, except copper, which is kept in a can for melt, (if it ever is allowed). One never knows when someone may find something new, or a minor variety becomes more sought after, then the bulk storage comes in handy.
The camera set-up is essentially the same aas Chuck uses, but in my case the camera does not have the resolution his does, and my pictures show it, as well as my lack of experience). I have just purchased a Canon A690 Powershot, with 8MP, and 4X optical zoom. All I have to do is figure out what all the buttons, and wheels are for! I am in the process of using some of the different pictoral info that has been posted by the various members, and when I get somethng good, I'll post a picture, with notes.
There are members who have a visual problem of one sort, or another, and for those, I say, there is always a way to enjoy our hobby. It just takes a few adjustments, and a lot of help from the members, who are so generous in the giving. My thanks to all for the help you have given me. If anyone has questions, ask, and I'll try to make "cents", when I asnwer.
Dick

Does your neck get sore looking thru the scope for long periods of time, mine does. Have you found a remedy for this?

Yeah. Take a break. Nothing else helps.