What optics and tools do you use ?

Thanks Mountain Man! I forgot all about precious metals testing, appreciate that.

 

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www.wizardcoinsupply.com/lighthouse-high-performance-digital-microscope

 

yes, pics and video

 

I'm extremely nearsighted (opposite of you), so I just remove my glasses to use the magnifier, but I can tell you, a loupe with a larger lense is beneficial. The small Jewelers loupes are a nightmare!

 

When I am not using my stereo microscope, I use an enlarger lens for viewing. They are FAR better corrected, with no distortion or color problems, than any of the loupes being offered for sale.

 

Thanks for the replies. It is very individualized. When I started 25 years ago and took the ANA Introduction to Numismatics class all that was required was a 3X lens. We still use the Bausch and Lombe pocket case. (See Rushmore's above.) We were taught in grading that a medium incandescent light with natural eyes was all you needed to learn accurate grading. But as grading got tougher and as varieties exploded beyond VAMs and Wexler Cents, power became more important. So, I get that. I still keep to the elegant tools from the simpler times before the Empire, but here's what I have.



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And I have two pairs of glasses, "diopters" just basically 4x reading glasses, one with large lenses, the other with smalls.

The Leuchtturm Phonescope is fine for photographing tiny ancient Greek fractions with my iPhone 5. It does not work well for photographing larger coins, despite the image on the box. It is ok as a high power magnifier.

The Intel Play USB microscope (image from Florida State U Molecular Discovery) is fine for details on paper money.

The larger hand lens with the closing case (round) is 5x. I sometimes use the stand-up 5x lens. It has an open square base graduated in millimeters around the edges.

When I read, I have a few drugstore glasses 1.00 to 1.75 power depending on the light and what I am reading. I use the 1.25 or 1.5 when I go to the coin store and just want to look without a magnifier. (I also keep my prescription glasses 1.75 in their case on my bedstand. I am pretty hard on gear. For the drugstore classes, I finally went to Foster Grants as being durable enough for me after I broke four or five pairs of truly cheap ones.)

But as noted, it is all very individualized. You need to use whatever is best for you. So, I appreciated reading the responses here.

 

7x loupe after I use my (glasses) eyes.......Anything higher and you see pink elephants, though the scotch don't help.........

 

Thanks for that tip, Joshua. I was thinking of getting a loupe, but should probably try one out before buying.

 

Lol, I'll drink to that !

 

I'm such a devil at times.........

 

Thanks for the link, kaparthy. I was expecting to see a ms70 kinda price tag on that scope, but nope, very affordable.

 

My parents gave me this loupe in 1983 for my 10th birthday, along with a lightly circulated 1922 Peace dollar, my first silver dollar. Besides its sentimental value, I still find this loupe to be quite useful. It’s Japanese made and of much better quality than most of the junk I’ve seen for sale more recently.

 

I too find the usb (or Android) microscope is a great tool for a $15 investment that will take pictures and measurements too. I use a 55" screen so I split it with the micro image on one side and a copy of a cheat sheet on the right of the biggies in the series. Then use PCGS photograde for a comparable grade to get you close....

 

Lots of memories, very cool.

 

@Whodowl what the cheap micro do

 

That's awesome tammiGee. You've taken this a step further with the big screen and cheat sheet. Would never have thought of that. Thank you.

 

Vice job

 

tammi, just curious about your cheat sheet. Is that something you developed or is a downloadable form. I'm starting from scratch with collecting and know absolutely nothing of the hobby other what I have read lately. Thank you

 

What magnification do coin graders use? I had a 5X or 6X and I can't remember which it was. I just lost it and am trying to order the same magnification that coin grading companies use.