What microscope would you recommend for viewing coins?

Joe_360

Not sure if this topic came up before, but I am interested in purchasing an inexpensive microscope (Amazon/eBay) that is good for viewing and taking pictures of coins.

Does not require a display, just something that is quality, reliable, and can be used to view close/wide AM's and such...

Thanks and Happy New Years to this great bunch on coin enthusiast! Joe

Coinscratch

I got this Opti-Tek Scope for like 80 bucks on Amazon. Its a cheapie but you can dial it in pretty tight.

messydesk

If you're searching through coins with a microscope, I wonder if this accessory or one like it might be a rather valuable purchase.

Put several coins on the stage and then just pan the stage under the scope. This one has a 40mm range of motion, so not a lot of coins, but it also eliminates the need to move raw coins around on the stage.

https://www.amazon.com/Supereyes-Z006-Microscope-Lightweight-Adjustable/dp/B00W3HVWM8/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=xy+table&qid=1609434137&sr=8-13

coinbuf

My advice would be to save your money and not buy one, the number of people that claim to have something spectacular and amazing that they found with a microscope which then turns out to be just strike doubling or some other uneventful anomaly is crazy high. I always say that if you cannot see it with a 5X loop it is not worth seeing, I also say that everything looks like something at the atomic level.

Coinscratch

@coinbuf said:
My advice would be to save your money and not buy one, the number of people that claim to have something spectacular and amazing that they found with a microscope which then turns out to be just strike doubling or some other uneventful anomaly is crazy high. I always say that if you cannot see it with a 5X loop it is not worth seeing, I also say that everything looks like something at the atomic level.

The only problem with that is you cannot post a good pic here for advice. Then everyone piles on about the quality of pics.

Joe_360

@coinbuf said:
My advice would be to save your money and not buy one, the number of people that claim to have something spectacular and amazing that they found with a microscope which then turns out to be just strike doubling or some other uneventful anomaly is crazy high. I always say that if you cannot see it with a 5X loop it is not worth seeing, I also say that everything looks like something at the atomic level.

One on the main reasons that I want one is to save time.. Looking with a magnifiy-glass is too slow and time consuming, but thanks for your input. Joe

yosclimber

For viewing die cracks on half dimes, I prefer using a stereo microscope (with a good light source).
Because of the stereo aspect, it is very easy to tell if the feature is raised above the field.
I have this model:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/American-Optical-Spencer-Stereo-Microscope-5-MAGNIFICATIONS-15x-eyepiece/184580722435

I don't know if it would be fast for searching for close/wide AMs, though.

JBK

To help with photos - great.

To help search for microscopic anomalies, not so much.

rec78

I use a dino-lite. Puts the image right on the computer and easy to use and photograph small things. Not too expensive now and work quite well. I bought mine abt 10 years ago-still going strong.
https://ebay.com/itm/Digital-Microscope-Dino-Lite-USB-AM211-10-200x-Magnification-Big-Catch-New/114593210805?epid=22042877129&hash=item1aae49a1b5:g:N3MAAOSwqBFfxtbt