What magnification do you use to view/grade coins?

RB1026

3x, 5x, 10x? What is your preference?

commoncents05

None. I only pull out a loupe to verify a variety or check on a spot that I see with my naked eye. 90%+ I do not use one.

-Paul

PerryHall

I'm myopic (near-sighted) so I can do a fairly good job grading with the naked eye. I have a 6X and 10X loupe to check for alterations and counterfeits.

guitarwes

10X


Edited to add: usually for coins smaller than a Quarter and any quarter sized coins that I need to check more closely. Otherwise I don't use a loupe for any other coinage for grading, just to check for counterfeits, alterations, die varieties, etc.

MsMorrisine

10x to look at 70's and 69's

MrHalfDime

I always carry a Bausch & Lomb 5x magnifier with me to look at and grade coins. I also carry a Zeiss 3x, 6x, 9x loupe with me to shows for close study of die varieties. Of course, I am looking at half dimes, so I need at least 5x just to see the things.

GeorgeKellogg

I do not use a loupe to grade. I have a two-lens (3x-6x-9x) Zeiss loupe to examine the coin for die variety, to make sure it's problem-free, etc.

STONE

<< <i>None. I only pull out a loupe to verify a variety or check on a spot that I see with my naked eye. 90%+ I do not use one. >>

PerryHall

Anyone know what profession graders use at the major grading services? Or, is each grader allowed to use whatever he is comfortable with?

silverpop

16x

coinbuf

<< <i>Anyone know what profession graders use at the major grading services? Or, is each grader allowed to use whatever he is comfortable with? >>



I seem to recal reading that thay sometimes use a 5x but not higher.

DoubleEagle59

I always use a 10X loupe.

I'd never make a purchase if I didn't have one.

LindeDad

Viewing I try to stay with no magnification but I am mostly interested in quarter size and larger coins now. But do give all coins a going over with a 5x before submitting then, looking for anything I missed that might mean a no grade still get burned once in awhile.
As for the pros I understand that they only use 5x when there is debate or question on a coin or the 70 grade comes into play.

messydesk

I'll usually grade without magnification, then pull out a 10x to look for varieties or to get a closer look at suspicious bits.

Barndog

<< <i>I always carry a Bausch & Lomb 5x magnifier with me to look at and grade coins. I also carry a Zeiss 3x, 6x, 9x loupe with me to shows for close study of die varieties. Of course, I am looking at half dimes, so I need at least 5x just to see the things. >>



I collect half dimes too, but my eyes are not so good. Here's my coin desk:

sparky64

I use a 7x B&L triplet I bought from astrorat.

BillJones

<< <i>I'm myopic (near-sighted) so I can do a fairly good job grading with the naked eye. I have a 6X and 10X loupe to check for alterations and counterfeits. >>



Ditto. This is pretty much the way I select coins also.

MidLifeCrisis

<< <i>None. I only pull out a loupe to verify a variety or check on a spot that I see with my naked eye. 90%+ I do not use one. >>


This.

Justacommeman

<< <i>

<< <i>None. I only pull out a loupe to verify a variety or check on a spot that I see with my naked eye. 90%+ I do not use one. >>


This. >>



That. MJ

Pokermandude

For grading EF and below, magnification isn't really needed. For higher grades I use my 4x6x10x loupe, mostly just the 6x.

WTCG

None unless I need to verify a variety on a very small coin.

tightbudget

None. I usually only use a loupe for authenticating and variety checking.

Weiss

10x. Big props to you guys who grade with a naked eye. But if it's worth me buying, it's worth using a 10x loupe. It's way too easy to overlook small deep scratches or PVC damage on coins smaller than a quarter and/or copper.

stman

I don't use much for grading, perhaps my 5X B&L packet glass. But, always and I mean always I will look very hard and up close to the surfaces with any magnification I need, that allows me to see what I need to see. Especially on circulated bust material.
Edit to add....... in the last 5 years or so I use the 6X on my Eschenbach 3-6-9 loupe.

ColonelJessup

I'm far-sighted so have always used a loupe. But naked eye more now than when my vision was better.

Eschenbach 5X. $80 or so but well worth the investment. Best undistorted range of vision I've encountered in 30+ years as a dealer. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Walkerguy21D

<< <i>Eschenbach 5X. $80 or so but well worth the investment. >>


Ditto. I bought mine as a present to myself last Christmas, based on some forum recommendations. I REALLY regret I did not make
the investment in a good loupe like this many years ago.
Actually I do quick scans on coins at shows, etc, with a large cheap 3X mag, to quickly weed out the obvious junk.
Then when I see something of interest that passes the first screen, out comes the Eschenbach.

Re: naked eye grading - I was quite surprised some years back when I offered a raw Unc 16P walker to one of the fellows at NorthEast Numismatics.....he did a quick naked eye scan and made an offer. I countered, he bought it. I then asked why no glass? He said he does not
need them for 'most' coins. Said he actually judges luster and surface quality better without one. But he's a real pro - this weekend warrior needs
his Eschenbach!

morgansforever

5x mostly, works for me.

Cameonut

I start with none. If a coin is of interest, then 6x. If still interested then 9x.

docg

6x. But if a coin is nice enough or is proof I use both 6x and 10x.

CEOcoinshopcom

Most of the TPG graders that I know use the standard 5X loupe.
I've had a few of them tell me to use a 5X for my final call on whether I submit the coin or not.
I use a 16X for varieties, and 5X for general grading.

astrorat

Reading glasses ... dang, whatever happened to my 20/20 vision? Oh yeah ... age.

I use various B&L loupes to check for varieties, etc. If I have a need for close inspection, I visit Barndog and spend time at his coin desk.

LanceNewmanOCC

.
3x6x9 zeiss and some knockoff 20x when i desire to see the electrons orbiting the atoms
.