I was reading this thread: https://www.kitcomm.com/showthread.php?64413-Let-s-Learn-Morgans- Revised-and-Restarted-For-2010 and I remembered how good some coins looked in the local coin shop, but once I got home and looked at them under my lamp (either halogen or fluorescent, I'm not sure), I saw more problems. I have a few different loupes, but now I'm thinking it would be good to buy a small halogen flashlight. 1) Is this true? Will it show hairlines and other problems more readily than "normal" light? 2) If so, does it really matter how good of a halogen light you get? I would think they are all pretty much the same for this purpose. www.amazon.com/product/dp/B0006OKNMK/ - $6 www.amazon.com/product/dp/B002IEHIL0/ - $10
Halogen light is better than LED light for rendering color (like to check toning), but for any other handheld application, I think LED has run away with the market. The problem with halogen bulbs is that they have to run very hot (at full rated power), or the life-extending halogen cycle doesn't work. That means low batteries will not only give you dim light, they'll shorten the life of your bulb. Also, I don't really want to use a light that has to operate at 200+ degrees C, then stick it back into my pocket! To see hairlines, you need light that is bright and directional. I prefer LED light (I use a small but bright bicycle headlight) for this; there are some here who insist on incandescent (usually halogen), but I'm not convinced.
Just get yourself a small Maglight. Incandescent light will more readily show any problems a coin may have.
