Have you ever used a black light on coins?

MrEureka

If so, what have you found and what have you learned?

Regulated

It worked much better on my fuzzy Led Zepplin posters.

IGWT

Come, now. Andy is asking a serious question. Nice Somali coin in your sigline, by the way.

Longacre

Far out, man. I haven't seen one of those since the '60's.

mach19

Try it on a ASE & see if you can see the spot's

Regulated

My uncle had one when I was like 5. I was always puzlled by the ZOSO...

BAJJERFAN

What would you EXPECT to find on coins examined in this way? Someyhing similar to the "blue dress" mayhaps? You may learn that lots of folks don't wash their hands before handling coins.

roadrunner

Unless you dipped your coin into tracer powder or liquid I'm not sure what you would see.

roadrunner

Andrew289

I think youve been watching a little to much CSI.

RWB

Long- or short-wave UV can be useful in examining coins for alteration and to improve the visual definition of fine detail.

First a warning – although long-wave UV (as in a “black light” from a party store) is generally safe, prolonged exposure can make you eyes feel uncomfortable and should be avoided. Short-wave UV will fry your eyeballs and your skin – wear protective gear and know what you are doing in advance.

UV can stimulate fluorescence in certain non-metallic substances used to “putty” and fill defects in coins and medals. It can also help identify artificial coloring (not accelerated toning – AT).

UV can also improve the fine detail definition of a metallic surface when used with appropriate magnification. By itself, long-wave UV generally produces a fuzzy looking coin because the eye cannot focus well on the far blue part of the spectrum.

UV can also highlight resealing of some types of plastic slabs, and will help you tell if your laundry uses “brighteners” when they launder your shirts.

Almost forgot – “What have you learned?”
I learned that cats are not naturally fluorescent under UV, but they will glow like mad once washed in powdered laundry detergent.

AUandAG

Let us know what a black light would do....I didn't take the plunge and try it when my son had one years
ago. I could have really missed out? I've seen scorpions under a black light and boy do they light up!
bob

RWB

I've seen scorpions under a black light and boy do they light up!

Maybe UV will make the scorpions among coin dealers light up!! I'll have to try this at the next coin show.

Stuart

I believe that using a black light on coins is one way to determine if they have been altered via addition of putty or some other foreign substance. I think that some foreign substances may fluoresce when illuminated by a black light.

Barry

I found a drunk fly on my coin.

bushmaster8

I saw god...she had lots of bling!

Edit for gender correction (I think).

bidask

Only while listening to the Grateful Dead and pulling out some change for a bruski run.

MrEureka

You guys haven't been paying attention. There was a half page article on this subject in the May 28 issue of CW.

bushmaster8

<< <i>You guys haven't been paying attention. >>



You are right. I went back and edited my post.

MORGANHUNTER2

I did once- while smokin a doobie and listenin to 10 Years After= what a trip- Franklin was movin to the music....

66Tbird

<< <i>Long- or short-wave UV can be useful in examining coins for alteration and to improve the visual definition of fine detail.

First a warning – although long-wave UV (as in a “black light” from a party store) is generally safe, prolonged exposure can make you eyes feel uncomfortable and should be avoided. Short-wave UV will fry your eyeballs and your skin – wear protective gear and know what you are doing in advance.

UV can stimulate fluorescence in certain non-metallic substances used to “putty” and fill defects in coins and medals. It can also help identify artificial coloring (not accelerated toning – AT).

UV can also improve the fine detail definition of a metallic surface when used with appropriate magnification. By itself, long-wave UV generally produces a fuzzy looking coin because the eye cannot focus well on the far blue part of the spectrum.

UV can also highlight resealing of some types of plastic slabs, and will help you tell if your laundry uses “brighteners” when they launder your shirts.

Almost forgot – “What have you learned?”
I learned that cats are not naturally fluorescent under UV, but they will glow like mad once washed in powdered laundry detergent. >>




Great summation. I always wondered why my eyes felt odd after the monthly scorpion sweep. (It's the small ones with the long tails that your careful with) I have a pic around somewhere of this one over 6 inches long at rest. It lit up so bright you could read by it.. Traded it for a roll of 99 ASE's.

SUMORADA

last year i submitted (50-100) or so 2006w ase coins across the street for grade, before i go on ,i in no way claim that i on my best day could be on an equal level as far as grading coins with someone who does it for a living.at a reputable firm like pcgs or the guys across the street, however i have been a goldsmith and setter for over 30 years and i am familiar with a loupe, etc. to make a long story short,the bulk of these coins had no...marks hits, whatever under 10x.......i got my grades back.....around 8-10 i don't remember 70's...i couldn't believe it, so i hand carried 6-7 of the best coins graded ms69 back to Sarasota and said please show me why these are not 70's,they took another look and pretty much said that they could tell that these were going to get milk spots...............otherwise they were pristine, since then i've tried every kind of lighting that i know of including ultraviolet on these and nothing...........zip at the time i made a post about this on these boards and the general consensus was be happy with what you got and move on.....that was good advice..........

seateddime

Shows repair work well

darktone

I use a UV light to check stamp shades of colors such as the one penny red Australia KGV's.

ricko

I started using one on marbles... those with old glass will glow... and decided to try it out on coins. Found some strange debris on old coins, something in the crud coins collect. It will show puttied coins ... but not much help with other forms of doctoring. Chemical toning, of certain types, could be detected. Cheers, RickO

SanctionII

No, can not say I have (willhave to try it though).

However, I have used the small, white Xmas tree lights to illuminate Cameo and DCAM proof and SMS coins. I must say that the appearance of these proof and SMS coins under small, white Xmas tree lights is amazing. The coins contrast between fields and devices is magnified tremendously. When I do this, it is like having Xmas all over again (even if if is June 26, 2007)

I can only say "Try It, You'll Like It".

MrEureka

ttt

MadMarty

<< <i>You guys haven't been paying attention. There was a half page article on this subject in the May 28 issue of CW. >>



Ummmm, Andy it's Jan. A bit behind on our reading are we...

MadMarty

never mind

coinsarefun

<< <i>I saw god...she had lots of bling!

Edit for gender correction (I think). >>





Now that's funny

CoinHusker

<< <i>You guys haven't been paying attention. There was a half page article on this subject in the May 28 issue of CW. >>



Drats! Right after I did my year end dump of past issues.

Russ

<< <i>never mind >>





Russ, NCNE

Dennis88

I know I have some of those lights...somewhere. I think I will try it

CoinRaritiesOnline

<< <i>You guys haven't been paying attention. There was a half page article on this subject in the May 28 issue of CW. >>



OK Andy -- I think six months is enough time to wait for you to fill us in on what we all missed...

Myqqy

OK Andy -- I think six months is enough time to wait for you to fill us in on what we all missed...

Exactly- what did the may issue say about black lights and coins?

PerryHall

Black lights are good for detecting some forms of puttying on coins and starching of paper money.

Cam40

also if you look at yours or someones teeth under blacklights the natural ones will glow
and any crowns that might be there will not glow.

PerryHall

If you've ever seen the TV show CSI, black lights are good for finding "milk spots" at crime scenes.

saintguru

If this is anything like using a black light on hotel bedspreads I'm outta here.

YaHa

I use a blacklight before I settle for a room at Alantic City, some of them rooms have cool colors all over the walls and floors.

MrEureka

@YaHa said:
I use a blacklight before I settle for a room at Alantic City, some of them rooms have cool colors all over the walls and floors.

I'll have to try that!

Goldminers

I recently bought a Weltool, 365nm wavelength 3 led UV flashlight to see what it would do.

For one, it will light up and show all the dust on a slab, some spots are easier to see, and also all the dirt on your floor.

Some of the flower parts and plants in the garden shine differently at night. Also, good to check currency for identifiers, Halloween, and of course old vintage posters from the 70's.

I saw one coin under the UV with a small bright red glowing slightly curved line about 3/8 inches long on the coin. I did not notice anything under normal light at first, but with my magnifier, I could finally see a very thin piece of thread. It might show some other defects, but I haven't messed with it a lot yet. Brings back memories.

LanceNewmanOCC

@MrEureka said:

@YaHa said:
I use a blacklight before I settle for a room at Alantic City, some of them rooms have cool colors all over the walls and floors.

I'll have to try that!

i don't recall if it is a black light but that or something like it works well to highlight pvc iirc.

The_Dinosaur_Man

Old thread alert? I tried photographing some coins under blacklights. The results weren't all that exciting.

Mr_Spud

I used my 365UV on some coins and all I discovered was that the slab lot numbers glow, didn’t really see anything on the coins with the light

But the light works great at showing capsule product defects at my work, I use it all the time

jughead1893

It’s used to find touched up paint on toy trains

emeraldATV

A black light would be "Very interesting".
A micro version ?
Possible ?
I remember a key chain version....
Cool.

ricko

@MrEureka... I usually carry a small hand held UV light with me when I travel... and yes, some hotel rooms - particularly the bed or bathroom - can really light up. On coins, not so much, but occasionally I have found residues that glow, and I saw putty at a coin show once on a gold coin... encapsulated and not noted. Cheers, RickO

LanceNewmanOCC

@Mr_Spud said:
I used my 365UV on some coins and all I discovered was that the slab lot numbers glow, didn’t really see anything on the coins with the light

now that you do that and thanks btw, a local college museum uses a black light for their rock and mineral display to quite an effect with the public being able to turn off and on the light.

TPRC

Hang on! Let me go check. Its's in my lava lamp room!
But seriously, putty! Great idea and it makes perfect sense. And I have a tough time identifying puttied coins, so thanks for that.

PerryHall

Don't use a black light in a cheap motel room. You'll want to leave and go sleep in your car.

Joe_360

First you have to spray your coins with Luminol...