Hey everyone, As I´m getting back into the buisness of collecting coins again. I´m looking into getting a microscope or a magnifier. I love gadgets and I know I would have some fun with the microscope for the first few days but do are they usefull. I have read they can be sensitive and hard to focus. But if you want a good one you have to pull out 3-400 $. I was bidding on a new one that´s 2MB and they seem to be getting better at resulution. Now I scan my coins with a good scaner up to 9600 Px and I can get good pictures of the coins. Maby a good magnifier would be as good as a microscope or am I wrong. Need the good and bad from someone that uses one or has used one Thanks everyone Siggi
Spend your money elsewhere. You don't need a microscope for grading or authenticating coins. A good 5X and 10X Hastings triplet loupe is all you need. A 20X may be useful for variety attribution.
Lighted magnifier Hi, i purchased an adjustable arm, table mounted lighted magnifier. It has a 3 diopter magnifying lens & a 22 watt flourescent bulb. I purchased it a couple of months ago, i really like it. If you sort rolled coins its really a lot less fatigue than using handhelds.
Agreed. I keep thinking I'd like to have a stereo microscope, then I say 'Why?' Haven't come up with a legitimate answer yet, and probably won't.
With 3 Bausch and Lomb loupes you have it all. Get a 5X, a 10X and a 20X Bausch and Lomb Hastings Triplet and that is all (if you learn to use them well) you will ever need>
If you obtain a stereo microscope and have two good eyes, you can view your coins in 3D. I'm happy with my 10X/20X which was purchased very reasonably on eBay.
I agree generally with the advice provided. If you are moving toward attribution of coins, especially those with wear, a stereo microscope can be a very useful tool. Yes, prices on new equipment can seem pretty stiff. I lucked out with a nice stereo microscope at a most reasonable price by buying used. After using it for several months I wouldn't be without it. Just my $.02.
My personal opinion is that if you are searching some of the moderns for what they consider DDO or DDR then a cheap microscope is what you need. It makes everything easier to see - I can pop pennies under it quick to look at items. Plus my little digital blue lets me take snap shots.
I have horrible eyesight but usually use a 10x loupe and it does me fine. I also have my 16x loupe. These are fine for me when I'm "in the field". When I get home I have a QX3 microscope. I've had it for years now and it does what I want it too. Now they have the QX5 and I think they run about $100. It's nice for a guy like me. I don't have to be a genius and I can get easily uploadable pics on 60X. It's more than paid for itself for me but I couldn't see dropping $300+ for a new one to fit my needs.
have you tried the microscopes that connect to your computor, i have one and when connected to my computor i can look at what i'm viewing on my monitor screen up to 200x, it also can take a photo of what you are looking at and download to your hard drive. it's a 1.3 mega pixel camera i think it is well worth looking at and the total price delivered here in sydney was only $70 aus, it's just my thoughts. mike.
Zig - The trick is to look at old coins through a microscope that is over 100 years old. They really look much better that way. Here are some from my collection. Ripley :bigeyes:
..........it depends on what you want. in my case i have loupes and microscopes and digital dino's etc. some of us like coins AND TOYS!!
Microscope That sounds like a nice set up! So when i have the coin on my monitor screen, i can just right click on it & send it to my computer? What is this type of microscope called? Brand? Thanks for the great info! After searching on google i found some models! Thanks again for the info, i did'nt realize they had such reasonably priced USB microscopes.
I also have everything from a .99 magnifier ( fairly good for the price) that I can carry to meetings and clubs where people want to borrow, to my 10X long focal length loupe that I can hold the coin farther away for better light, to several different microscopes. I also have an USB computer microscope, but my most used is my 25 yr old B&L stereozoom binocular microscope ( 7-30 X, with reducer ( .5X) and a different set of 5X oculars so I can use it from 1.75X-30X to encompass all coins to morgan size. One of the eyepieces is adjustable to diopters so I can use it without my eyeglasses which is more comfortable when going through a lot of coins. My Canon 590IS can easily take quality photos through one eyepiece. I even bought a spare stereozoom off of ebay as I would be lost without one as varieties are my thing. Jim
I find a binocular microscope to be most useful, found on ebay for $129 , but a 10x loop is all you really need.
Hey Grizz I have an old 100 year old plus. Baush & Lombe Loupe. They do make the coins look so much better. Traci
