According to my eye doctor, my eyes have been getting better. The main thing that has changed has been the lowering of grading standards.
But yes, if you need glasses, use them.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
I am still as conservative a grader as ever and I can still see flaws such as cleaning, porosity, etc. I just need a glass and a red book to figure out what kind of coin I am looking at.
My philosphy: I ignore plastic from grades AG-AU58 and grade by my standards. If I like the coin and the price, the plastic grade is invisible to me.
If the coin grades MS-62-64 and I like the coin, I buy it. If a coin grades 65 or higher (for classics at least) I let someone else buy it because it was probably once a 63 or 64 and now gradeflated up. Price point for 65 higher is not worth it an any classic coin IMO. 64 can be a stunner and your pocketbook thanks you and you can avoid the registry set silliness.
It depends on the individual, their skill in grading, lighting and magnification. Deficiencies in any of those categories will affect grade opinion. Cheers, RickO
I think magnification helps. My usb microscope plugged into my Samsung s8+ is a great set-up. I also use a headset magnifier and a bronze German loupe from my photogravure days. Peace Roy
I suppose that deteriorating eyesight could alter one’s perception of value. Meaning that the harder it is to see minor differences in quality, the less it might make sense to pay extreme premiums for minor upgrades. And the more arm’s length eye appeal will take precedence over trivial technical surface quality issues like the lightest of hairlines.
Andy Lustig
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
@Intueor said:
Maybe the problem lies in the aging of what's behind the eyes.
I disagree. It is what goes into the brain in the first place. That's the problem, not the eyes which can be aided. Thankfully, the brain can become educated also.
According to the drivers license folks, I see better now than I ever have. I've worn glasses since I was in my late 20's and I couldn't pass the drivers eye test without them. I switched to bifocals before I was 45. Then in my late 50's I started to notice that I was seeing better. By the time I took my next drivers eye test at 65, I didn't need the glasses to pass. For the next year or so, I would still wear them for night driving since things seemed sharper. Now, I don't wear them at all.
I've always felt "comfortable" looking over the details of coins even when I wore glasses. What's changed in the last several decades of collecting is my availability to GTG pretty accurately. At least for the series I collect.
Comments
Without utilizing your tools i.e. eye glasses and loupe, yes.
This. Absolutely. +100.
Ownership sure does.
- Bob -

MPL's - Lincolns of Color
Central Valley Roosevelts
Mine seems better looking than others
Price alters perception of the market more than " mine eyes have seen the glory."
No. However, the added experience of age can greatly improve the accuracy of grading, provided one is objective.
Easily solved with high end resolution images on a big screen ....
Once you acquire your rose-colored glasses, it's all over!
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
No. Leniency and the purported "Gradeflation" might make your eyes perceive things differently, though.
Pete
Magnification is the great "equalizer." Then you'll need to learn not to "micro-grade" as you'll see more on a coin than most will.
No ... just the distance you hold the coin from your eyes! LOL
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
According to my eye doctor, my eyes have been getting better. The main thing that has changed has been the lowering of grading standards.
But yes, if you need glasses, use them.
Half dimes are out, Morgans are suspect. I now have an interest in $50 Pan Pacs and $5 ounce ATB quarters.
I am still as conservative a grader as ever and I can still see flaws such as cleaning, porosity, etc. I just need a glass and a red book to figure out what kind of coin I am looking at.
I got one of these as my coins got blurrier, and believe me my set looks fantastic now

Steve
Aging eyes don't alter the perception of grade but they do alter the ability to see the coin.
What's important is the next owner's eyes.
Maybe the problem lies in the aging of what's behind the eyes.
Or better yet, his dog's.
If I take my glasses off, everything looks MS70. The lines and ticks all blur together.
I think once you've seen enough coins, grading moves from Science, to an Art, and finally to a Philosophy.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
My philosphy: I ignore plastic from grades AG-AU58 and grade by my standards. If I like the coin and the price, the plastic grade is invisible to me.
If the coin grades MS-62-64 and I like the coin, I buy it. If a coin grades 65 or higher (for classics at least) I let someone else buy it because it was probably once a 63 or 64 and now gradeflated up. Price point for 65 higher is not worth it an any classic coin IMO. 64 can be a stunner and your pocketbook thanks you and you can avoid the registry set silliness.
No.
It depends on the individual, their skill in grading, lighting and magnification. Deficiencies in any of those categories will affect grade opinion. Cheers, RickO
The "look" is more important than the grade.
Experience alters your perception.
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
Aging eyes, no.
But if you need corrective lenses and not using them, yes.
I think magnification helps. My usb microscope plugged into my Samsung s8+ is a great set-up. I also use a headset magnifier and a bronze German loupe from my photogravure days. Peace Roy
BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW
I suppose that deteriorating eyesight could alter one’s perception of value. Meaning that the harder it is to see minor differences in quality, the less it might make sense to pay extreme premiums for minor upgrades. And the more arm’s length eye appeal will take precedence over trivial technical surface quality issues like the lightest of hairlines.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
If I take my glasses off, all coins look like doubled-die varieties!
I find that experience has overridden my aging and that I grade better now than when I was a kid.
Absolutely, why wouldn't it ? It's part of the process of getting old !!!
I disagree. It is what goes into the brain in the first place. That's the problem, not the eyes which can be aided. Thankfully, the brain can become educated also.
According to the drivers license folks, I see better now than I ever have. I've worn glasses since I was in my late 20's and I couldn't pass the drivers eye test without them. I switched to bifocals before I was 45. Then in my late 50's I started to notice that I was seeing better. By the time I took my next drivers eye test at 65, I didn't need the glasses to pass. For the next year or so, I would still wear them for night driving since things seemed sharper. Now, I don't wear them at all.
I've always felt "comfortable" looking over the details of coins even when I wore glasses. What's changed in the last several decades of collecting is my availability to GTG pretty accurately. At least for the series I collect.
What once was a 5 is now an 8, if egg nog goggles on everything suddenly becomes a 10. Ha
The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
BOOMIN!™