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Question on lighting when coin roll hunting
CNCMACHINIST
Posts: 131 ✭✭✭
When I look through a roll of pennies lets say, my led light makes a fairly uncirculated coin look brand new. When I look at a penny I pulled lets say a 1974-d, under the led, its brand new, at regular room lighting you can see black dots, and legions. When a coin is graded, how is the coin viewed as it pertains to lighting?
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Hmmm...a subject not discussed...lol
The room the graders are in is darkened. The only light they have is the examination light that they use to grade the coins. The exact type of light I am unsure of, but I imagine it is a standard soft white bulb either incandescent or CFL. LED is possible too. With the advances of lighting technology over the past several years , even LED's can have the same look as an old soft white incandescent bulb. If you are using a loupe with one of the built in LED lights it can cause certain issues when viewing coins, because that type of light can be very harsh. It will make certain things show up and flood out other problems just like you are describing.
There is a video that shows PCGS process - near 2 minute marks shows graders
https://youtube.com/watch?v=hAQv6qmGcis
I use daylight mostly...natural light through the window by my desk. Of course, at night, I use artificial light... LED... and never more than a 10x loupe....Cheers, RickO
GREATCOMMENTS! THX
I am presently using a bright flourescent lamp that my grandmother bought to use for sewing.
@davewesen
Thanks for the link, I do not think I have seen that video before
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I believe graders use an incandescent 100Watt bulbs. I use a 60watt incandescent as 100 watts are hard on my eyes.
I also use an LED 60 Watt high color temperature daylight bulb.
I avoid Halogens as they are too harsh and are not good for your eyes as you get their reflection off the coins., though some folks use to like to them, but they will show way too much and make you hate your coins.
Krueger
I have heard, 75W to 100W ONLY in the darkened grading room. No clue about PCGS lighting in the grading room but I should be shocked if it was different. I believe I have seen halogen lights on the Heritage table at shows. Anyone know for sure?
@SaorAlba said: "I am presently using a bright flourescent lamp that my grandmother bought to use for sewing."
This type of light is not recommended for grading. While the Mint uses it for several applications (I have not been inside the working areas in about 12 years) - they are not grading. Florescent light allows the surface of a coin to be examined w/o the glare from other types of light. While that's good for determining the AU/BU line for our personal standards, the AU/BU line for dealers and at the TPGS's is not standard.
Incandescent light shows the marks and hairlines on coins. No light is any good if you don't remember to tip and rotate your coin while you examine it.
I'm roll hunting - not nitpicking points on grading. The post title did say roll hunting.
My mistake! Florescent is the best for that! Less eye strain and you'll see the varieties better. Car to say what magnification are you using?
led 60x loupe...but I am talking about looking at coins with naked eye.