How many times (X) magnifying glass that you use to check coins?.

well, what about put your coins at a very far area and use microscope to see the beauty of it........

 

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Surprisingly the graders at TPGs do not use a loupe to look at many coins. They only use a loupe for small coins (e.g., 3 Cent Silver, $1 Gold, etc.), varieties, etc. The rest they grade by eye. At least that is what I have been told on several occassions.

 

will it be then the slab companies did really check it right?. they just want to make money quick. that is why i don't buy slab coins. and i know how to grade with my two eyes.

 

I think its because, on the whole, one doesnt need high magnification to check most aspects of a coin, I see no reason why anyone would need more than 10x for even the most detailed observations...

 

Keep in mind the graders at TPGs grade several hundred coins every day. They know what to look for and can grade a coin very quickly without a loupe. They have a trained eye and only need to use a loupe when they need to see something in detail. We, on the other hand, see only a few coins and must study a coin in detail to see what the professional grader can see in a flash.

 

I agree. A 20X is useful for checking for an added mintmark or some other very small detail. In general, anything more than 6X is too powerful for grading a coin because greater magnification will make minor blemishes look worse than they are (and will cause you to lower your grade of the coin).

 

it looks like there will be no standardization regarding the using the mag. class. maybe 10x for uncirculated and 5x for proof. is that o.k.

 

I hang a pair of B&L Hasting Triplets on lanyard around my neck, 10x and 20x,
I have a 30X stereo microscope on my desk.

 

I've got that Harbor Freight 5 piece set that I rarely use. They were made in India. I just compared the HF 10x with another 10x that was made in China. It looks like the Chinese 10x-20.5mm is more powerful than the cheaper 10x Harbor Freight plastic one.

Anyway, I generally use this 3 lens piece that I'm guessing is 5x each piece. That way I can look and increase the magnification if I spot something worthwhile to enlarge.

I also have this 2 piece lens contraption that clips to the side of my glasses and I can swing one or both lens down into position as I need it. It's nice but it doesn't always stay clipped on thin sides of the glasses.

And lastly, if needed, there's the QX5.

Bruce

 

now i will buy some different (times) magnifying glass use for my coin collections. any suggestion? 3x. 5x. & 10x and maybe a 20x. i will use 3x for reading. 10x for uncirculated and 5x for proof. and use my 20x for diamond.

 

There are hundreds of camera stores in NYC. I'd suggest visiting several of them and see what they might have available. You could try them out on your pocket change and see what works for you. Don't worry too much about the number (3X, 5X, etc), just see what works.

I'm kind of partial to B&H at 9th and 34th. Their staff is knowledgeable and helpful.

 

Just remember, you put enough magnification on ANY coin and it's going to look bad.
Try scanning or imaging a good looking coin at 1200 dpi. You'll see.

 

it is hard to find a magnifying glass at 5x and yet it is big in diameter and cheap?.

 

I usually use a 10x loupe when looking for varieties and strike features (FSB, FBL, FS...), but I usually just grade without a loupe for circulated coins and even larger unc. coins.

 

I primarily use a 4x pocket magnifier and then a 10x loupe if I need to look closer.

 

IF I under stand correctly, the major TPG's work at 4x-5x magnification for grading.
9x-10x is my personal top when I'm looking for hairline indicating cleaning.
My understanding is that higher magnification is for variety detection and altered coins.

 

For general use an 8x pocket magnifier and 16x loupe will do about everything one needs in inspecting a coin. Too powerful a loupe over magnifies small non-important surface conditions.

 

so there is no official (how many times magnifying glass?.) we can use to check coins. the result for a coin grading condition might be different from each other. isn't it?.

 

maybe the NGC is using the 5x magnifying class to check all modern coins. that is why it can out so many ms70, ms69, pr70 and pr69. what you think?.

 

I use a 3 inch diameter 12X for a quick look.
Use a 16X loupe if I see any concerns using the 12X....:bigeyes:

Best $30 I ever spent.....