Microscope and Scale

mickeyd415

Just curious, what are some fairly decent microscopes and scales to use in coin collecting ? And are they really necessary ? Thanks once again for the help.

Veep

Funny that you should post this question. I'm in the market for the very same items myself and will be interested in the responses.

mickeyd415

Well hopefully Veep we will get some great responses.

JJ69

I've found that those little digital scales are great for weighing coins.
I bought one last week for $35.00,it will weigh up to a pound in grams or ounces,and has the abilty
to be zeroed out and calibrated.
Sorry,don't have a name brand as there wasn't one on the package or scale itself,but they typically
can be found in 'head shops',where they sell 'tobacco' accesories - Or of course ebay,where a search
of 'digital scales' in bound to yield some results.
Microscope couldn't tell ya about that,though I imagine having to much magnification would be counter
productive at some point.

1jester

Both of these are fantastic and useful items. I don't have a microscope yet, or a digital camera, but I did buy a high-grade (and expensive) scale earlier in the year. Although I don't use it very much, I feel it was a good investment. Mine cost over $600 and goes up to 2 kg and has accuracy to 0.01 grams. So it's perfect for coins.

beartracks42

I bought a stereo Microscope about a year ago. After searching the internet, I settled on a scope from C&A Scioentific Co. in Manassas, Va. I bought their SMJ-02 model in 10X and bought a second 30X lens. It ran me around $140, which is not a whole lot for this type of equipment. I have been very pleased with it, it does everything I want, even though I do not use it every day. I do not have a phone number or website, but if you are interested, you can find them via the web.

wingedliberty

I have the $29.99 microscope that goes from 7x to 40x and also has a slide out magnifier. Its a plastic rectangle and very accurate with low distortion. Its surprisingly good. They have them at Radio Shack.

MJPHELAN

I bought a microscope from coinoptics.com. Larry was very helpful. He kept talking me out of more expensive models. He asked a lot of quetions about my needs. He is very helpful with photography questions too.

mark

Veep

Thanks guys.

mickeyd415

Yeah I really appreciate all and any info. Thank You.

tlhoy

A good scope is worth every penny!


Glenn

Gandyjai

I bought a stereo microscope a couple of years ago......Model MP-513 from Applied Scientific Devices Corp.....(I think through Coin Optics)
I got it on the last day of the FUN show. It was a display model on the table......got a cut in price so they wouldn't have to pack it up and take it back home slightly used. It has paid for itself MANY, MANY times over and is probably the best investment I have ever made.

Warning!....It will open up a whole new area of coin collecting for you!

It also saves LOTS of time and guesswork when deciding which coins to send in to be graded.

GOOD LUCK!
Gandyjai