How many use a microscope

coinkat · February 24, 2017 5:05PM

Anyone here use a vintage Steindorff microscope as a microscope of choice?

coinkat · February 26, 2017 4:37AM

TTT- edited to add question as to microscope use

PerryHall · February 26, 2017 4:47AM

I have a stereo microscope 7X-30X but rarely use it since it's easier to just get out my Zeiss loupe. If you live near a medical school, check with the local pawn shops near the end of the school year and the classified ads in the local newspapers. Sometimes you can find a nice one that's fairly cheap. Many times they call them dissecting microscopes.

jdimmick · February 26, 2017 6:18AM

I have one in my office, don't know the brand, but a pretty professional one. Bought it from a dealer in southern pines that went out of business years ago. I use it occasionally on checking authenticity or for varieties that a customer think they may have , etc. It might get used once a week at best.

BillJones · February 26, 2017 7:09AM

I have one that I use now and then, but I mostly use my hand held 10X Baush & Lomb Hastings.

ricko · February 26, 2017 7:11AM

I use either a loupe or electronic magnification.... Had a lot of opportunities to get a microscope (used in the company I worked for and old one's were available), just did not think it was worth the space. Cheers, RickO

MrHalfDime · February 26, 2017 8:08AM

In addition to the various loupes and magnifiers that I use, I have a nice Bausch & Lomb ~5x - 30x continuous zoom stereo microscope which I use frequently to identify, study, and attribute varieties in the half dimes. As I get older, and my eyesight continues to get worse, I find reliance on such optical devices essential, particularly when studying small denominations. I am not familiar with the Steindorff microscope mentioned by the OP.

nwcoast · February 26, 2017 8:22AM

Yes, I have a standard dissecting stereo scope that I use for coins. Picked it up for a song from The University surplus outlet.

At my previous work. I had and used a really sweet Nikon light microscope with camera. Loved that thing!

Have three scopes at home now, two lab standard scopes and one really nice though older Zeiss. None with dedicated photo capabilities though. Use these primarily for pathology and healthcare for my Koi.

WDP · February 26, 2017 8:38AM

Like @MrHalfDime, I have and use a stereo microscope on occasion when studying and cataloging half dimes and dimes. It really helps to see light die cracks that are important is determining the die marriage or remarriage, and the die state. I also use it when needed to study other early U.S. coinage on occasion.

I bought this microscope in the 1980s for around $1,000 if I remember correctly. It is a good one. @coincat, I don't believe it is a Steindorff microscope - this doesn't ring a bell for me.

I recently used my stereo microscope to to confirm the attribution for a very rare 1835 LM-5.1 Capped Bust Half Dime remarriage that I took in on consignment and sold to a want list customer of mine. I had to make sure there were no signs of any die cracks on this half dime.

Needless to say, third party grading holders (especially those with prongs) can make attribution a little more difficult!

I have a strong 10X loupe that I use when needed.

MrHalfDime · February 28, 2017 8:12AM

The thread on the use of microscopes in numismatics garnered just a few responses, and then died a slow death. There are two characteristics of microscopes that are important when used to study coins that I and others neglected to mention, however. The first of these is the magnification power. A few respondents mentioned using microscopes of 5x-30x power, and this would seem ideal in numismatic study. Microscopes of significantly higher power, while readily available, are not suited for the study of coins. After all, we are trying to study and identify elements of the coin design (e.g., letters, numerals, stars, etc.), and not the crystalline structure of the silver molecules. Magnification of higher than 50x is really not a good match for numismatic study.

The second characteristic of a microscope that really did not get mentioned, or at least emphasized, is the advantage of a stereo microscope vs. a monocular microscope. Coins are, after all, three dimensional objects, so it is important to be able to readily determine relief, or the third dimension. Otherwise, die cracks appear just like scratches on the coin's surface.

I hope these two considerations prove useful to those considering the purchase and use of a microscope.

oih82w8 · February 28, 2017 9:14AM

I use my B&L 10X loupe for free hand magnification and my dino-lite for further magnification and image taking.

messydesk · February 28, 2017 9:27AM

I have a Bausch & Lomb StereoZoom 4 (7-30x) on my desk that I use all the time for doing attributions. For photos, I aim a point and shoot camera through whichever eyepiece gives me the best 2D view.

KellenCoin · February 28, 2017 9:39AM

I do not.

Insider2 · February 28, 2017 12:02PM

I own several different zoom microscopes including one trinocular for micrographs. I use them daily to examine virtually every coin I can get my hands on. I use them for authentication, grading, and attribution. The main benefits of viewing coins with a scope is that I can actually see things with both eyes (depth of field) and ID things much faster with just a loupe because I have learned what they really look like.

There is a reason scopes are used in authentication seminars. wink:

How many use a microscope

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