I've found that a loupe and a magnifying glass are virtually NO USE at all especially when the inscriptions are all worn. Actually getting a better look farther away helps me make out the letters. Anyone else care to chime in in this? Bone
Hey Bone, I totally agree with you...at least as far as ancients are concerned. When trying to identify Latin or Greek text or something like that, often times the text is quite worn. So, I find that if I look at it from a slight distance, it's easier for my mind to fill in the blank or worn spots and make out the letters.
Yes, most definitely with ancients. All but a couple of my ancients are ones I've cleaned myself and discovered this. I HAD a good contact in Greece who would do some trading with me for raw ancients if I'd get him US Military memorabilia, but over the past six months my e-mails have not been answered? Bone
Take your worn coin into a dark room and use a flashlight to illuminate the coin with very low-angle light. You will see textural features that are completely invisible under normal light. Take photos with low-angle illumination, then use a computer photo-program to accentuate letters and surface features. I used to to criminal forensic work. It works. Kiss
I've got a nice crown sized x 10 magnifying glass that is far better than any loupe i've come across. Enables you to see a much larger area of the coin and get the numbers into perspective so much better. I've used it to interpret the remains of legends and numerals AND to detect fakes with great success. So for me, my cheap Chinese magnifying glass has proven invaluable. Ian Ian
It is because you are far-sighted. If you are near-sighted, you need glasses to see things at a distance. If you are far-sighted, you need glasses to see up close. Charlie
