What kind of optics do you use to look at coins??

I would be interested to hear what kind of optics people use to look at coins.

I personally use 3 different glasses. My old trusty is an 8mm 10X Tripplet loupe. I also have a Bausch and Lomb 5x for less intensive gazing. When it gets really ugly and I need to see something really close I use an 17x Bausch and Lomb loupe. I hardly ever use the last one because there isn't usually much I need to look at harder then 10x.


So what kind of glass do you use for looking at your gems?

 

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I usually just eyeball it, but when I do need a glass I use a Zeiss 12/24.

 

OK! I will give you my odd ball. I use a thread stitch counter. It is only about 5X, but it is nearly 1 1/4 inch lens and it has a base you can set on a card (or whatever) so I do not have to hunt for the focal length. I have used several different ones in coin stores and I have never seen anyone else use one like mine, but I definitely prefer mine.

 

I use an Achromat 3+6=9. The optics are really great but it was $99 a few years ago.
It was the best thing I ever did for my eyes. Nice optics make a big difference.
I also keep a 3" magnifying glass laying around for a quick look at something.

 

I use a cheap 99 cent magnifying glass and a nice, bright desk lamp for most coin inspections. I firmly believe the light is as important as magnification when detecting flaws, cleaning, details, and authenticity of a coin.

 

I have a 3X lighted cheapo glass for general eyeballing a Baush and Lomb 5X glass , a cheap 10X Loupe and a decent Baush and Lomb 20X Loupe my son just bought me , which is nice for looking at varieties , though I think a nice 14X Would be better due to a larger viewing area .
rzage

 

I use a scope. I have a 10X and 16X, but they just collect dust.

 

I use the same.

If I need something more powerful than a magnifying glass to see an error, it is not an error woth seeing or collecting.

 

Nikon 200mm lens.

 

10x and 16x loop, then a digital blue microscrope to search for really close-up action.

 

I am using my dads old 2 inch magnifying glass in a leather holder, I am not sure if it is 2x or 3x

 

5x Bausch & Lomb.

 

Yeah but I'll bet you had to pay sales taxes so the 99 cent is probably over a dollar.
I too use several really cheap magnifying glasses purchased at flea markets. Also, there is a scientific supply place near me where there is an entire row of magnificartion objects. One really nice one was a large, about 5" diameter one on a stand, with a smaller built in about 1" diameter one. I think the larger part is about 3X and the smaller one about 6X or something like that. I have a large assortment on a table and change back and forth, pending on what I'm looking at. I'm not sure about total cost but I suspect for about possilby 10 of these I didn't spend more than $40. Of course none are famous brands and possibly not worthy of use on the Hubble telescope.

 

These are what I keep within reach, nothing too sophisticated but something for most occassions:

• Agfa 8x Lupe,
• a tiny collapsible 26x piece,
• Tasco Illuminated 30x pocket microscope,
• a standard 10x glass (Branded "Los Angeles Times"),
• a larger 4" magnifier at 2.5x with a 5x bi-focal insert by Electro-Optix Inc.

 

You know, I used to use an old 35mm lens and look through it backwards to see my coins when I was a kid.

 

Amen to that.

 

10x Hastings Triplet Bausch & Lomb

 

Sometimes I use an old Nikon 5X (when I can find it) but lately I just shove my camera about 2 cm above the object then transfer the image to my computer so I can take a tour at my leisure as I magnify & scroll around the image.

 

i have a cheap combo 30x (10+20) loup, a more expensive 30x loupe, and a few higher magnification 'things' The cheaper 30x loupe has a 1" lense. The expensive 30x loupe has a 1/4" lense, and the edge of the lense is very blurry, making the actual viewing about 1/8". it seems to get a good loupe search the cheap bins!

 

I use my eyes and my very thick perscription glasses. LOL.

I really think anything else is overkill. Occasionally I will pull out a magnifying glass but only very, very rarely.