Have you ever used a black light on coins?

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

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

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

roadrunner

I found a drunk fly on my coin.

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

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



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

<< <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.

Shows repair work well

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

never mind

<< <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.

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

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?

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.

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

@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.

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

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

@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.