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This may not be an ethical issue but sometimes it bothers me
Morganmanic
Posts: 1,343
Hey everyone
As someone who is only 15 years into the hobby and one that likes technology I love using my digital microscope to look for errors, die varities, and other fun issues with coins not visable with a 5X or 10X glass. Does this spoil the fun of coins or does it add to it. I am of the belief it adds to it but sometimes I feel guilty because those before this technology used only their eyes with a glass and persistance.
Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? What say you
Cliff
As someone who is only 15 years into the hobby and one that likes technology I love using my digital microscope to look for errors, die varities, and other fun issues with coins not visable with a 5X or 10X glass. Does this spoil the fun of coins or does it add to it. I am of the belief it adds to it but sometimes I feel guilty because those before this technology used only their eyes with a glass and persistance.
Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? What say you
Cliff
RACC
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then question the manner in which I provide it. I prefer you said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand to post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then question the manner in which I provide it. I prefer you said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand to post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!
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HOWEVER, that said, a 'naked eye error' is more interesting than a 20x loupe-only error.
Personally, i'd rather use a visual aid than stress the heck out of my eyeballs.
Years ago people had to grow their own food.
Traveling from the east to west coast took months and it could be deadly.
You didn't use google, you used a card catalog.
Etc etc.
Technology changes things and you don't have to feel bad about taking advantage of it.
EAC 6024
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
<< <i>Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? >>
Yes.
<< <i>Earlier collectors didn't worry about varieties that required extremely high magnification to see. The vast majority of today's collectors feel the same way. >>
I agree, but they are neat to look at.
I just don't want to pay any premium for anything that requires > 5x magnification to see.
you've been doing quite ewll spotting DDs.
Keep it up.
Finding them makes the hunt that much more fun.
In all seriousness, I see no problem in using the latest tools, but I do personally stop enjoying varieties when it takes that much magnification to see the error. Give me a solid doubled die or overdate, but don't bother with the RPM that needs 100x to be seen.
<< <i>Hey everyone
As someone who is only 15 years into the hobby and one that likes technology I love using my digital microscope to look for errors, die varities, and other fun issues with coins not visable with a 5X or 10X glass. Does this spoil the fun of coins or does it add to it. I am of the belief it adds to it but sometimes I feel guilty because those before this technology used only their eyes with a glass and persistance.
Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? What say you
Cliff >>
If it makes you feel any better, collectors have looked at coins under optical microscopes for at least 100 years, with
better image quality than you can get with a digital microscope.
can't do it anymore!
IMHO
bob
The harder that it is to see the variety, the less interest that it has, except to the variety specialists for that series.
Coins like the 17/3 half are far more popular than an obscure 1827 variety, although the BH series is replete with a large collector population and the rarest varieties do bring lots of money.
The same goes for early copper coins, but seated half dimes aren't as widely collected.
Easily seen varieties are also much more likely to make it into the Red Book and therefore make them more popular.
I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
eBaystore
<< <i>
<< <i>Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? >>
Yes. >>
What he said
Website-Americana Rare Coin Inc
molehill into a MOUNTAIN!
If you can't find something better to feel guilty about, you're not trying hard enough.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
The digital microscope can be very useful for easy die ID from die markers-especially for lincoln cent varieties. I have 12 --1972 Double dies that are not the die one variety but are one of the lesser varieties- It is hard for me to see the die markers with even a 10x loupe. The double dies are easy to see with a 3 or 10 loupe-but determining which one it is, is not. Double dies and shelf doubling is also much easier (At least for me) to differentiate with a DM. Also if you need close up pix for internet selling-The dm comes in handy. JMO-- Bob
<< <i>My personal rule, which runs afoul of many of the variety collectors, VAMheads, etc., is that if you need a magnifying glass to appreciate the coin, it is not for me. >>
At my age I need a magnifying glass just to see the date. If flyspeck errors turn you then go for it. It's a hobby, it's supposed to be fun.
Ron
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i will say i have been in numismatics for less than 3 years and one of the first things i did was get a digi-scope. it was right before they started being heavily promoted and i have loved every single second of using it. even take it on the road with me and use it with my notebook. it supposedly goes to 300x.
it is also much faster when i use the stand at home. set the right distance and start sliding coins under it. can fly through a bag of 5000 wheats rather quickly.
also is great for snapping images. i just use "snip" from windows and copy/paste with the coin image. works like a charm.
i can say i've been looking for a loupe that i like, bausch, zeiss etc that goes up to 30-80x? no luck thus far but i'd pay handsomely to get one. the real challenge is finding one that has a decent field diameter.
it is tough when we think about all those people using antiquated "technology" and how easy we have it today. especially with all the guides, internet sites etc. i don't feel a bit guilty since the balance is those guys without the technology were in a time that there was MUCH MUCH MUCMCCUCMCUCHCHCMCU more to pick that not many knew about. we dont' really have that as much as they did, so to heck with em ;-)
i'll conclude with this statement.
if a stereo-microscope is good enough for leroy van allen, it is good enough for me!......
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<< <i>if you need a magnifying glass to appreciate the coin, it is not for me. >>
i dont need one to appreciate it, i need one for reading the date/MM.
much like fingerprints, i appreciate i can see ridges, but @300X... w0w!
<< <i>if you need a magnifying glass to appreciate the coin, it is not for me. >>
i dont need one to appreciate it, i need one for reading the date/MM.
much like fingerprints, i appreciate i can see ridges, but @300X... w0w!