My newest error detection apparatus and latst finds!

I mean it's overkill for general looking, not for a second look.

I mean it's overkill for general looking, not for a second look.
Looking for errors it may be alright but for varieties you need to learn to use a loupe. The art of learning how to pull lighting into the coin is a must to look for doubled dies at the same time turning your coin. This cannot be over stated - it's a must.
But if you want to use this scope have at it - it's just that there is people on here that have found thousands of doubled dies trying to give you the best advice they can, you can heed it or not it's up to you.

 

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My old eyes would love one!its not overkill its using what you have on and!:thumb:

 

To each his or her own.

One has to be able to search with a loupe, as stated by someone else, if you are away from home looking at coins in a shop or a show (maybe out of town), whatever - yes. But if you are comfortable using a scope at a lower setting, and it works, so be it.

Once I figured out how to effectively use my binocular microscope (which lens, what type of light source etc.) for my variety searches, I started using it all the time. It is so comfortable (for me). On a 20x setting (where I can see the whole coin), similar to Jim, I have 10 coins on a black piece of mat board that I push along - a search of 3-5 seconds on the obverse, then carefully flipping the coins looking for rotated dies, searching the reverse (which takes more like 5-10 seconds).

What is more important then the tools (which I feel are personal), is to know what and how to search for varieties and errors. One really needs to figure out what a RPM looks like, what different classes of doubled dies appear like, as well as Split Plate Doubling, MD, DDD, MADs and a whole host of other anomalies.

I wish everyone success in their searches - no matter how you do them...

 

I'm sorry to brush you off, I know you are trying to give me the best advice you think is worthwhile, but this is just incorrect.

A microscope is easier to use and makes me work LESS. Using a loupe (which I do have for travel) requires 3 to 5 times more work and time spend.

I like to work smarter, not harder. There's no point in flipping a loupe around in an archaic method just because it's what's people were doing before. That's like saying "don't use a match to light a fire, keep striking two rocks together for hours, that's the only way to do it".

As another poster pointed out, a real microscope (stereoscope) allows both eyes to see things, thus giving it a true multi-dimensional view, just magnified. And there is a light source build in at the exact precise best lighting pointto boot.

I use a microscope at my labs in college for identification and sorting. If I or anyone else was to use a loupe, no one would ever get any research done. It's just a faster more efficient way.

As much as it is fun to carry a loupe and look at coins at the shop with it, when I am at home and have a bag of stuff to go through, doing it the smarter faster way seems much more productive to me.

I do appreciate ALL the advice everyone had taken time to give me.

 

Holy cow!! That's an awesome tool. almost blew my socks off!

 

That's a pretty sweet piece of equipment, I'm jealous!

 

When are you going to get me one?

 

I'm a big fan of the stereo microscope! I use a 2-90X with an x-y stage, LED ring light and a 5 megapixel usb camera. It can make MS-70s look bad! LOL

 

Well as soon as Miss Sasha gets bored with this and puts in up in her trade post on the Open Forum, I'm going to be getting myself one

 

Ok well share it with all of us ok?

Just joshin ya

 

Wow did that all come togetheR?

 

All I was trying to suggest is that it actually is more efficient for some to use a loupe when it becomes a habit I can look through an entire roll of cents, both obverse and reverse in 4 minutes flat and never miss a thing.

I know another variety specialist that has a neat little board thingy set up and he slides the coins down the board and passes each coin under his microscope in a very rapid manner and he never misses a thing. He can run at about the same pace.

Using a loupe, I've found thousands of doubled dies, repunched mintmarks and even repunched dates on Indian cents as I search through rolls. Many have been new discoveries. I really catch everything with a loupe.

It's a personal preference.

I'm not against a microscope but the temptation is to look at a fly speck and think it has to be an error. 7X to 30X is good I would just suggest sticking closer to the lower end of the magnification scale.

The concept of becoming an expert with a loupe has great merit. My eyes work differently with a loupe than they do with a microscope. I guess that's because I've used one of three loupes for most of my life

Again, I'm just trying to offer helpful advice.

Thanks,
Bill

 

Perhaps this will help you "write the book" on modern die varieties...most people don't even bother to look...I've found minor die varieties on coins just looking at them with my eyes and nothing else...for instance two 1979 nickels with different sized mint marks...but...nobody cares.

I saved both of them anyway...I care!

 

I appreciate your experience Bill! Thanks for passing it along. I am on the other side, I have used stereo microscopes for close to 40 years, so it is second nature for me. There are a couple of other notes on stereo microscopes.

The higher grade ones have one eyepiece tube that can adjust the diopter value. Usually from about +5 to -5. Since this is on one eyepiece tube only, If you wear glasses and your 2 eyes are not more than 5 diopter different, you can set the adjustable one, so both eyes focus the same and you can leave your glasses off.
Much more comfortable!

These are often cast offs from engineering and manufacturing companies and if you find one with an extended arm ( like the handle of the microscope), you can use it like a macro lens for the digital cameras that do not have a removable lens, just shoot through the eyepiece.

Jim

 

I've also heard good things about these for viewing coins... seems cool as it automatically flips the coin over for you so you can see both sides!

Scan-o-Matic

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110448098527

 

I cant live with out my scope. I save so much time when going thru coins. And my eyes no longer go funky after about a half hour...loupe eye...

 

I must admit that I do get a fair case of loupe eye too

 

Nope it was scattered all over my desk and they just found each other.:smile