Starting circ Ike set would you use microscope

Boothill40

Or just a loop when looking at coins, I have multiple rolls and mint sets to go through and pick which ones to send in for grading.
Also what type lighting is best---thanks tom

raycyca

Use a loop. PCGS will use nothing more than that. I use a 10X, and IF i'M NOT MISTAKEN, pcgs USES A 5x LOOP. i LOOK FOR PEG LEGS AND THE VERY HARD TO COME BY: 1972-p TYPE 2 iKE. so Far, I have found 6 type 2 Ike's that I have got from dealer's stock for less then $4 each! Good luck! Ray

DRG

Incandescent lights are the best. Start with the naked eye for overall eye appeal and then a 5X loop is really all you need for grading. A larger surface area loop gives you a better overall perspective.

The trouble I had early on was that I went straight to the 10X loop and would discard some nice coins because I would find what I thought was a major hit. When I looked back at some of these coins I realized that a hit that looked terrible under 10X might actually be insignificant to the naked eye.

I also found coins that looked good at 10X but to the naked eye had a poor overall appearance secondary to rough fields. Minor surface blemishes can actually be hard to see at 10X.

The 10X loop is needed for things like Full Step Jefferson's, but I never use it when looking at Ike's.

The microscope is great for documenting subtle varieties, things like the proof double dies, but is just not necessary for grading mint state Ike's.

Typetone

Use a good incandesent lamp in a darkened room. 60 watt is great. For IKEs you don't need much magnification. Look at them naked eye first. These are big coins, and the coin is best seen that way. Then perhaps low magnification (5x). If you are going through rolls, perhaps learn the varieties. You could easily end up with a very interesting set. I actually like to take IKEs outside and look at them under the sunlight. They will look terrible, up a lot of flaws will show up that way.

Greg

cladking

I've got a lot of glasses but the ones I use most are a wide-field low power, a wide
field higher power (~6x) and a little 18x loupe. Avoid magnification for grading and
use whatever power necessary for attribution.

I don't believe there are any Ike varieties in the mint sets but it can't hurt to look.

Gandyjai

The Ike is one of the few coins that you can grade with the naked eye and DON'T need any magnification to see if the coin is nice
enough to send in. A 5X magnifying glass is good for double-checking (especially on the Varieties), but really not needed.
Things to look for.....Peg-Legs, 72-P Type 2's, clashed dies, and don't forget to check for rotated reverses....they can be found!

Generally, if you find one or two good enough to send in out of an original roll....you've done well! The MS Clad Ikes are very tough
to find in great shape. I've looked at MANY rolls that didn't even have a single one nice enough to send in,...so, don't get
discouraged. If you find a nice one, post pics here and get opinions.

I use a variety of indoor lighting, (sepends which room I'm in) and then follow up with a quick look in natural sunlight.
The natural sunlight tends to REALLY bring out nicks and marks when tilted that you might have missed indoors.

Good Luck! MS Ikes are QUITE a challenge!!!

Brian

I LOVE PEG-LEGS, TALON HEADS & ERROR IKES!

bushmaster8

On the Ikes from mint sets, you have to really watch out for the damage caused by the mint set

packaging equipment. The damage will look like a file or rasp hit the coin on the high point(s).

Sometimes, this type of damage is hard to spot thru the cellophane... so you cut up the mint set...and then you see it and

Boothill40

Thanks for all the Info It helped alot, I appriciate all of you sharing your knowledge and will try to post pics at a later date (have to get a decent picture first)-----Thanks Tom

itsnotjustme

Many Ikes will exhibit exccessive left over planchet scars, particularly in the fields near the rims. If you find one where these areas are "hard" and clean, that is normally a very nice strike coin.

I once flipped quickly through a stack of Ikes, and thought nothing special. On second pass, I realized I had two REALLY nice coins, both 76-P type II. One of them was on display at Long Beach last week. The other at one point lower sits in my collection.