Coin magnifier

What optical power do you recommend for a good coin magnifier?

It depends on where you are using it.

For desktop magnifiers the bigger the better with built in lighting a big plus.

10x seems to be the optimum for a pocket loupe. Anything above that is just to hard to keep in focus when holding it in your hand. I have a few different types but I keep going back to the one I've used for many years, a simple 10x fold out type made from reassuringly solid metal.

alright, thanks

I use a digital USB scope, 40-100x magnification for the majority of coins I inspect. seeing the image in a large size on the monitor is better than having to use a magnifying glass that can be a strain on the eyes, scope eliminates that from happening.

The one I have is a fairly cheap one, but its performance and clarity is surprisingly very good, I think I paid about £15 for it which comes with an adjustable stand for close ups or a tripod for larger coin images.

I do have a magnifying glass which is a 10x but it gives me migraines.

Quote: "Fluke"​I use a digital USB scope, 40-100x magnification for the majority of coins I inspect. seeing the image in a large size on the monitor is better than having to use a magnifying glass that can be a strain on the eyes, scope eliminates that from happening.
​
​The one I have is a fairly cheap one, but its performance and clarity is surprisingly very good, I think I paid about £15 for it which comes with an adjustable stand for close ups or a tripod for larger coin images.
​
​I do have a magnifying glass which is a 10x but it gives me migraines.

​thanks for letting me kow thatn. thats useful to know as seeing I actually get headaches easily

They are good; I bought a second hand one for similar price on eBay a few years ago and still use it.

https://en.numista.com/forum/topic11934.html
https://en.numista.com/forum/topic12901.html

That's the exact one I have in the second link.

A USB microscope is without a doubt my next non-coin purchase.

My eyesight has changed rather a lot in recent years, improved mostly apart from very close up, which is most inconvenient when you spend a lot of time looking at coins. I can now wear those sexy wrap around eye protectors at the shooting range but can't read the dates on most coins anymore. Hence the loupes in every room of the house.

Quote: "pnightingale"My eyesight has changed rather a lot in recent years, improved mostly apart from very close up, which is most inconvenient when you spend a lot of time looking at coins. I can now wear those sexy wrap around eye protectors at the shooting range but can't read the dates on most coins anymore. Hence the loupes in every room of the house.

Join the club. And it will only get worse over the years.

I have a loupe that's at home with all my coins, not sure of the magnification.

But what I carry with me is one of these:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/rolson-3-led-multi-function-magnifier-n43ju
Very cheap, has 3x and 10x magnifiers, and also has white LED and UV LEDs (handy for notes).

If anyone is considering upgrading their USB microscope and would be interested in exchanging the old model for coins I'd be happy to discuss the possibility. I don't need anything beyond the basics so as long as it's still compatible with current operating systems, a gently used model is just fine.

I've got this one a couple years ago. Very happy with it.

I also tried one of those that connect to computer via USB but the result was so crappy I returned it.

To give you an idea of what to expect.

British 1826 Farthing 22mm Diameter, Focussing is targeted on the '8' in the date for all 3 pics.

Almost farthest distance focus will allow, it can go a little further than this but not by much.



This is about mid way....



Finally this one is almost as close as you can get




Not bad for a cheap piece of equipment and can more than cope with any coin type/ID.