Recently I purchased a vintage 1940's Bausch & Lomb magnifying glass, which I use almost everyday for viewing my coins. This new purchase has peaked my curiosity wondering what magnifiers do you folks use to view your coins. Here is my basic set up. Nothing fancy. From left to right: Bausch & Lomb 2x magnifying glass - good for getting an overall look at a coin. Bausch & Lomb 5x Packette magnifier - nice for getting a little closer look and for use at coin shows Bausch & Lomb 10x Hastings Loupe - used to help authenticate and identify tricky mint marks No brand name '45'x hand microscope - I got this one for free and use it on occasion to help with authenticating and identifying. It comes with its own LED light. Doubtful that it's 45x, seems closer to 20x or 30x. I don't clean coins, so I don't really require anything more than the above and considering they are ancient probably wouldn't want to! What magnifier do you use to view your coins?
My favorite is a Bausch & Lomb 3X,4X,7X combo I received in a grading seminar. Lets in plenty of light and you can almost see one side of a Silver Eagle (7X) at the same time. I have use a 10X and a 20X B&L Triplet for varieties but you need lots of light to brighten their tiny field of view.
1) My carry magnifier (@John Anthony inspired me...) Used to have an unlighted magnifying glass... $15.00 delivered. 3x magnification 8 LEDs 2-1/8" diameter glass lens Zinc alloy finish Also included: carrying case, lens cloth, two AA batteries Lens glass diameter: 2-1/8" Overall dimensions: 8-3/8" L x 3-1/8" W x 15/16" H 2) At my desk I use a lighted medical magnifier on a rolling base: 5 diopter and 2.5cm sized 8 diopter lens. Seems to cover everything I am looking at/for. Easy, and always right there. 3) Sometimes for mobile phone photos when traveling... Sometimes a macro lens for my iPhone. 4) Lotta Eyeball too... When I am serious... after some drinks... When I am thinking... Ptolemy I Soter AR Tet Designer signature DELTA behind ear.
Hastings Triplet (Bausch & Lomb) 7x and Leuchtturm 20x Loupes........the 7x gets most of the use.......
Funny you should mention the B&L 7x. I was thinking of getting that or the BelOMO 7x. I want something with a slightly larger field than the B&L 10x.
I am very fond of 3d viewing of coins. While I do have the exact 45x unit shown in vespasian70's image and use it at shows for checking tiny details, my main use is my Dollar Tree $1 +3.5 diopter reading glasses (used at home and shows) and the stereo microscope for use at home. I have shown the glasses before as I use them over my regular trifocals giving me a view about 3" from my face and, most significantly, in full three dimensions.
Yea, the 10x is great for getting into the nooks and crannies, but I also would like something close to that power than can 'see' the overall coin. The 7x BelOMO apparently has a larger lens than the 7x B&L ...
I love using the vintage 2x B&L glass for that very reason. Never thought about using reading glasses for the same purpose!
Don't have any of them fancy stuff, at home I use my iPad. The zoom is actually pretty good provided I place the coin on a stable area. Don't really have the need for a loupe outside yet, not too many coin stores by me and they have a magnify glass free to use.
The Bausch & Lomb 10X Hastings is a childhood treasure from my younger days when I enjoyed peering at rocks and bugs. The vintage 2X with the nice curvy handle was a souvenir from a visit to London's Portobello Market 5 or 6 years ago. AmScope 40X-80X Stereo Microscope is for the up close and personal look.
It's interesting to see the vintage Bausch & Lomb 10x Hastings. Nice to see it really hasn't changed all that much.
I did indeed buy a B&L 7x triplet this past week and love it! The larger field of view and lens size is perfect for viewing coins and quite comfortable for everyday use. This will be my go to loupe from now on. The 10x will be used for closer inspection.
