My newest error detection apparatus and latst finds!

JUST got this yesterday, an absolutely BEST way to look at error coins. It's a pathology dissection microscope!

The typical high-powered microscopes produce too high of a magnification and tend to be TOO much, but a dissection scope is used for tissue samples and has a smaller magnification, PERFECT for coins.

Since plugging it in (it has a build-in light) I was able to REALLY get to my bag of "to inspect further" and go through two rolls of pennies I had laying around. Here's a pic of the microscope:




Don't mind the dirt, it's been sterilized and cleaned!

My finds so far, after pulling the usual wheaties out:

2 off-center cents
1 cent 1989 D - Repunched Mint Mark
1 cent 1999 - Doubling in "GOD" on the obverse

Possibles requiring further inspection:

1 cent 2002 - Reverse die crack through almost the entire coin
1 Cent 1989 - SSS punched on 4th left column of the memorial (could be post-mint damage)

Have one more class today, then I'm going to finish out 4 more cent rolls and go into 3 5c rolls I have been saving for the microscope!

Anyone have any idea on value of these so far?

 

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BIG $ for that but I wish I had one!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Big $ for what, Jello?

 

this?

 

I don't know if you meant the microscope or that any of my finds are in the "big money" category!

 

OK my bad!

 

So if you don't mind saying, how big of bucks was your scope?

 

rockdude, it was free for me

It's a former medical school scope that has been decommissioned many years ago and was destined for the dump (gotta love state schools and government's ability to waste our money)

But I assume it's fairly a expensive scope even with it's age. I'm sure you can find a comparable on ebay.

 

What is the power range?

 

I definetly got to get one of those.

Frankie Boy

 

in fact, here's one on ebay for $40.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/American-Optica...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca669b2a5

No clue about magnification, the sticker with that info fell off a while back.

 

Thanks, I guess that answers my previous question.

 

Nice addition MissSasha! That will help clear up a thousand questions...but create another couple thousand new questions - LOL. Try taking pictures through the scope and post the results.

FYI: You can get a decent scope on eBay for around $150-200; there might be a used one for around $100. Bidding is frequently competitive as these binocular scopes have so many uses. I think the one I use was around $150...

 

Hi Miss Sasha,

I don't want to appear to be cruel, but none of what you discovered has any value except possibly the 1989 D that you think may be an RPM.

One of the problems once someone starts to work with a microscope is that things that are nothing look bigger than they really are.

For example, the off center cents are probably minor misaligned die strikes.

The SSS coin that you mentioned is probably damage caused by contact with another coin having a reeded edge.

The 1999 cent with doubling on "GOD" is going to be some form of machine doubling or die deterioration doubling.

The point that I am trying to make is that the lighting and the greater magnification will trick your eyes for awhile. You will see more of the damages as bigger and think that they are something worth keeping.

I am just trying to be realistic so that you don't have a pile of worthless pennies sitting around in a box someplace. It is better, in my humble opinion to toss those back and use the money to get more coins to search through so that you can find the good stuff.

Please don't take what I said wrong. I am only trying to help.

Thanks,
Bill

 

One sure can't question your financial outlay on the scope. The lens system is far superior to any loupe. You can also find on ebay sometime 5X pair of eyepieces, which will reduce the magnification by half if yours has the standard 10X eyepieces. This site has info and service manuals for your scope.
http://www.xmission.com/~psneeley/Personal/Microscope.htm

Keep in mind that using the light source which is fixed at a specific angle can cause many normal appearances to appear doubled or altered. Keep rotating the coin so you see the area of interest from different light angles. This is especially the case with proofs or bright uncirculated coins.

Jim

 

What Bill says is correct and good helpful information.

What Bill says is correct and good helpful information.
I would never use anything like this for general looking for errors or varieties. It's overkill to say the least.
I use 10x & 20x Baush/Loumb Hastings Triplet only. If it can't be seen by that then the chances of it being anything valuble are 0%.
These higher power do have uses such as for photos and extreme attributuion, overlays and such but I have never needed one at all.
The strength of or sight of an error or variety should be closer to 5x to be very valuble but I just got hooked on 10x.
A scope like this should only be used as a backup for an already found variety or to find die markers for same.
Still even after 15 years of searching I have never felt the need to have one but you may find it useful and if so then fine.

 

"it's overkill"

No, it isn't. It has the magnification of 8x to 10x, less then you loupe.

 

This is great, I see nothing wrong with it. A very useful tool.

 

I use a 30x36 magnifier to view what I have and will be looking in to this type of scope.

 

I have a B&L scope similar to this one. It is adjustable from 7x-30x as it comes. A secondary lens of 0.5X attached to the objective makes it 3.5X-15X.

The ability most are not aware is that this is a "stereo" microscope. With the 2 eyepieces spaced correctly, the image viewed has depth perceived, even at high power. Loupes only allow 2D vision, so the coin must be tilted back and forth to see if a structure is raise or inclused. You might not be aware of doing this, but you are. After much experience you have learned to tell, and might think all can do so easily, but many may still have problems. With a stereoscope, it is apparent.

Loupes are a necessary piece of equipment, because you don't want to cart a scope to a coin show but if you find a piece of plastic such as used to hide the edge of a 3/4 in. plywood or particle board shelf, you can lay 10 coins down and push all across the scope stage, one at a time, and all of the time is used to look at the coin, and not twist it around under a loupe.

Once a variety hunter uses a stereoscope, I think very few would want to give it up.
IMO.

Jim