Reply to Thread

Message:: [QUOTE="Insider, post: 8199260, member: 24314"]charley, posted: "blahblahblah,point made?" Yes, you don't have a clue.  <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie104" alt=":yawn:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />  Please pardon my juvenile "girlie" emojis. GoldFinger1969, asked:  "What about a fluorescent light ?"  and...TPGs don't use a 10x lens do they ?"  No, no, and sometimes.  Graders are allowed to use a hand lens for authentication.  I use everything I can get my hands on.I have a trinocular scope 7X-90X, used with a 2 bulb fluorescent jeweler's lamp; a 10X hand lens, and a 3X-4X-7X combo (my favorite) used with a 100W incandescent lamp. fluorescent is the ONLY light recommended to examine a coin or die's surface for defects.  Used by U.S. Mint technicians from before 1972 and at least until 1975 (the last time I was inside the Mint's Department of Technology).  Also used to detect the first trace of wear on a coin SO its use is forbidden for TP grading.  <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />  This type of light is Not recommended to see hairlines on a coin UNLESS you are using a stereo microscope. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie57" alt=":jawdrop:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]