How many times (X) magnifying glass that you use to check coins?.

are you using 5x, 10x or 20x magnifying glass to check your coins?. what exactly is the standard way to use magnifying glass?. can we just use our own eyes to see those coins?. if using magnifying glass?. what place we can shop it for better price and quality?. anyone?.

the thread should read how many times.......sorry i forgot to type in (many).

 

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7X is usually sufficient to see the whole coin at one time. Then 10-15X for fine details.

 

4X pocket magnifier for general observation of the coin. Using this magnifier I can see the entire coin (except large coins like Silver Dollars).

6X loupe for grading and authentication.

10X loupe for counterfeit detection, variety identification, etc. Also good for identifying RPMs, RPDs, doubled dies, etc.

20X loupe when I need more magnification than the 10X.

 

NOTE: I wear trifocal glasses and still have to take them off to see up close.
That explains why I have some of these magnifiers.

I have one 2x magnifier for identifying features like mint marks.
I have one 3x magnifier for a "first look" at potential DD's or other oddities.
I have a 10x loupe for serious evaluation of potential DD's or other oddities (I ID'ed my 1858 FE as an 1858/7 with this loupe. BIG jump in value.)
For shows I carry a two-piece loupe, 3x and 6x. And together they make a 9x. The 3x is really nice for looking at coins still in a dealer's case since I can lay it on the glass cover and see a coin perfectly. Sometimes dealers are busy and can't get right to you, so for a quick look it's ideal.)

I don't collect anything that would require magnifications higher than my 10x.
And I don't know of anything of significant value that couldn't be identified by a 10x (although the 1858/7 FE certainly pushed the limit.)

 

4x and a 10x.
I always have my 4x with me at wherever I am. The 10x I only take when going to a show, but normally just keep it at home.

Speedy

 

in this case. what exactly the professionals or dealers use. why i heard using so many kinds of magnifying glass being used?. like you all indicated 2x,3x,4x,5x,6x,7x,10x,15x, & 20x. i even see 30x and so forth. so there must be no standardization of using any one of it. isn't it?. example, if i use 7x to judge a coin and bring it to a dealer. but the dealer use 10x to verify its condition. so there must be a discrepancy between us. isn't it?. why not set a standard for it. like 10x for judging coins.

 

I use a nice antique 3x magnifying glass with a nice wooden handle. I have never needed any more magnification...I do have a 10x that I have used on ancients just to get a closer look at the surface to detect evidence of casting (which I have never found thank god) but on modern coins, I have never needed more than 3x. I dont carry either unless I know I will need it...I dont need it for the type of modern coins I buy...if I think I will be looking at ancients I bring the small 10x but seldom have needed it even then.

 

I use a 16x loupe most of the time if I find something that doesn't look right, and i want to see more detail i use my 40x loupe to make sure I;m not passing any thing up like a double die etc etc

Jazzcoins joe

 

any cheaper dealers handled those quality magnifying glasses?. and what (x) of magnifying glass did the slab people use?.

 

Grading may be done with a low power glass under one good light bulb. The good light source may be more important than what glass you use. (You really should turn off all other lights including overhead florescent but that is often not possible). You want to see most of the entire coin through your glass. Move the coin around under the light & just get comfortable looking at the coin. The only reason to pull out your 10x is if you need to look for details like full bands, die varieties, or diagnostics for counterfeit detection.

Very best regards,
collect89

 

what kind of magnifying glass you use to check general circulation uncirculated coins?. will 10x do a good job?. or lower?. or higher?. just curious.....

 

Well a 5x loupe will do the job for that
Jazzcoins joe

 

you use 5x to check. but let see the dealer use 10x. the result will be different. what you gonna said about this?.

 

I would think you will see the same things, just magnified more...10x is more than you need to check the general condition of the surface of a coin...

 

follow up: if you want to sell to them. the dealer might use higher x magnifying glass. so the grade will be lower. and if you want to buy from them. they gonna use lower 3x to 5x and let you see that the coin is grade higher. so you have to pay higher. will that be the case?.

 

If you have access to a Harbor Freight store, they have a 3-Loupe set for only $4. It has 2X, 5x and 10X loupes. They used to have a 5-loupe set which added a 3X and 7X to the mix.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=35450

 

three pieces for only $4.00. will it be a very low quality?. 2x,5x & 10x, wow.....

 

A lens is a lens, it's the packaging that changes the cost.. The 5-piece Harbor Freight set I have shows no distortion (chromatic, barrel or pincushion) in any of the magnifiers.

If you want high quality at a high price, try this one at B&H (NYC) http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=40720&Q=&is=REG&A=details

 

ha ha.... i think that might be use to check diamonds. well a coin worth $100,000.00 to over a million dollars might have to buy that one.

i have a 10x or 20x loupe magnifying glass. i never use it. i did use to check diamonds before. and i never sell those brilliant new coins. i will wait until i want to sell them and use mag. glass to check it. for the meantime. i use only my two eyes to check.

 

4X in general, 10X if I am looking for something in particular, 16X to check out very small details if I feel the need to. If it gets down and dirty I break out the 60x microscope.