Can anyone recommend a magnifying glass?

Poseidon · March 12, 2003 2:46AM

Most people seem to use a 5x glass to view coins, at least, that's my impression. Can anyone recommend a particular vendor, or model of magnifying glass?

Cameo CC · March 12, 2003 2:54AM

I have two.

1 - 7X Hastings Triplet Bausch & Lamb
2 - 10X Hastings Triplet Bausch & Lamb

Todd

Rittenhouse · March 12, 2003 3:02AM

I still prefer my old Bausch & Lomb 5x Packette magnifier for grading. Fits in your pocket nice & the 5x mag & large field of view seems perfect to me for grading. Higher mag reduces the field of view & is too close for accurate grading. I use a hastings 10X triplet for attribution.

solid · March 12, 2003 3:04AM

Can't go wrong with the Bausch & Lomb Hastings Triplets - I have the 10x

NumisEd · March 12, 2003 3:12AM

Best glass on the market (in this price range): Vigor 10X triplet (high quality optics with a 13/16" lens). $45

Avoid anything that is not a triplet (3 lenses)

wingedliberty · March 12, 2003 4:20AM

zeiss and bausch and lomb and costramus

I have all three.
5x minimum for grading and 7-10x optimum for closeups.
15x for die variety attribution.

Brian.

lathmach · March 12, 2003 4:27AM

I use a 16X Enco loupe. Cost around $10.

Ray

MadMonk · March 12, 2003 4:30AM

If you don't mind not having a built in cover, I use an engravers glass. If your intereste, PM me, and I get you the info.

mdwoods · March 12, 2003 4:58AM

Here is a 3x-4x/7x Bausch & Lomb. Plastic case, glass lenses which are about 1 3/8" diameter. Cheap, 20-25 dollars.

Lakesammman · March 12, 2003 5:55AM

Just bought the Zeiss 3X/6X/9X and love it. Threw the Bausch/Lomb away.

MrKelso · March 12, 2003 6:03AM

I use a GEM 30x with a coated lens. This is not for everyone it has a very small apeture and high powered but i have bad eyes so all the help i can get is always a plus.

cladking · March 12, 2003 6:14AM

I use several glasses and scopes for various purposes. Large glasses are good
for scanning dealer stock and small glasses with high magnification are good for
attribution and verification. Many glasses are available from cameras, industrial
equipment, telescopes and similar sources. They can be found cheaply in used
products.

coppercoins · March 12, 2003 7:08AM

I use a 16X Anco loupe for going quickly through show stock or dealer stock, and a 7.5X-35X stereo-zoom microscope at home. I grade with the naked eye, no magnification necessary.

fivecents · March 12, 2003 8:45PM

I use a video camera lens. You can find broken video cameras at thrift stores cheap and remove the lens yourself. Make sure the lens is fairly wide. This type of lens helps to not micro grade a coin. I also have a doublet for a close up look.

Paul

Gilbert · March 12, 2003 9:06PM

Lakesammman,

Finally, someone else who doesn't mind spending a couple of bucks for the Zeiss AND recognizes the quality of its optics; I however continue to use my B&L triplett too.

Just in case you haven't experienced it yet, with this Zeiss loupe, you can view some items still in a dealers showcase, if it isn't too deep. On more than a few occasions, I've passed the 3X lens over a dealer's case and been able to identify specific attributes I was interested in.

Try it.