USB microscopes

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DSCoins
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USB microscopes

#1 Unread post by DSCoins »

I had to step away from coin roll searching and coin collecting in general for the last four or five months due to health issues. When I started back up I took something that Paul continually made mention of, on a lot of his posts to heart. We are looking to hard when using a USB microscope, in that you will see things that are really not there. I had slowly gotten away from using my USB microscope before my health issues. Having this time away from searching, it gave me a opportunity to think about all that Paul had said in the past. I had finally made up my mind because this, to stop using my USB microscope to search coins and purchased a 5X 10X 15X combo loop. My total thinking behind this (including what Paul has said), is that I have heard (on a YouTube channel), one of the authors of the Cherry Pickers Guide state that if they can't see it with a 10X loop, then it's not there (and won't make the book). Taking that into account plus, I'm pretty sure that I have heard in the past that when they grade coins they also use a 10X loop: I think this maybe the case when you want a variety/error authenticated also. So why use a USB microscope? I could find no good reason to use it any more and have started using my 5X 10X 15X combo loop. I have not destroyed my microscope, although I had removed from computer. Upon further thought, I tried to figure out if my microscope would be useful or not. I came to the conclusion that yes the scope would still be useful but not for searching coins for errors/varieties. I would use it for the soul purpose of taking close up photos that maybe needed in the future. It may take me longer to search but all in all I think this is a good thing, for when I think I have found something with the 15X I can move to the 10X to see if I can still it. If it's good enough for the authors of the Cherry Pickers Guide and for the graders, then it should be good enough for me.

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Re: USB microscopes

#2 Unread post by SensibleSal66 »

I just use my Microscope for very detailed issues . I actually use the light to see my keyboard at night . LOL
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Re: USB microscopes

#3 Unread post by txparka »

The USB microscope is more of a convenience factor for me. It gives me a free hand or two to write things down or search online while still looking at the die variety.

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Re: USB microscopes

#4 Unread post by monsterbug1 »

I find the microscope more convenient, it can also be useful for confirming whether a 72D half has any FG remenants or if it is a NO FG

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Re: USB microscopes

#5 Unread post by DSCoins »

monsterbug1 wrote: Fri Apr 23, 2021 11:57 am I find the microscope more convenient, it can also be useful for confirming whether a 72D half has any FG remenants or if it is a NO FG
You have to keep in mind that if really a No FG, you only need at a max 10X. Although you only need a 5x loop to verify that it is not there. I can use my microscope and not see it, yet when I move to my 5X, 10X loop I will see it. I just had a experience using a microscope to see if I had a 1983 no FG, Under a microscope I could not see it, when I moved to the loop, low and behold there was a faint FG, not a no FG.

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Re: USB microscopes

#6 Unread post by RevlisAg »

I am curious about what PCGS, NGC and others use when grading ?

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Re: USB microscopes

#7 Unread post by DSCoins »

RevlisAg wrote: Fri Apr 23, 2021 4:48 pm I am curious about what PCGS, NGC and others use when grading ?
Both the writers of The Cherry Pickers Guide use 10X, and the TPG use 10X for both grading and variety attribution. So basically as was put by one of the writers for the Cherry Pickers Guide "If we can't see with a 10X loop it doesn't make the book".
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Re: USB microscopes

#8 Unread post by monsterbug1 »

DSCoins wrote: Fri Apr 23, 2021 4:40 pm
monsterbug1 wrote: Fri Apr 23, 2021 11:57 am I find the microscope more convenient, it can also be useful for confirming whether a 72D half has any FG remenants or if it is a NO FG
You have to keep in mind that if really a No FG, you only need at a max 10X. Although you only need a 5x loop to verify that it is not there. I can use my microscope and not see it, yet when I move to my 5X, 10X loop I will see it. I just had a experience using a microscope to see if I had a 1983 no FG, Under a microscope I could not see it, when I moved to the loop, low and behold there was a faint FG, not a no FG.

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My USB microscope can do far more than 10x- it is supposed to do up to 200x on max settings, although I would never need that extreme of a magnification

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Re: USB microscopes

#9 Unread post by Daniel »

You're not understanding here, anything over 5x or 10x isn't good here, you don't need it.

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Re: USB microscopes

#10 Unread post by Earle42 »

I may as well add here that most alleged No FG halves can show their initials with no magnification at all. Just tilt the coin to various light sources and a polished-off one typically shows its ghosted self.
Common grading company shortcomings & resulting co$tly mi$take$ to collectors (using Kennedy No FG halves):
https://tinyurl.com/y7rksxu8

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Re: USB microscopes

#11 Unread post by Mrweaseluv »

I used a 10x loop for many many years the only reason I use a "USB microscope" is my vision has gone to blazes and i can barely read a date some days with only a loop.. My standard has become takeing a good picture that I can blow up enough to properly grade the coin but still using the 10x loop as well on the coin... the pic's/USB micro are great tools but you are 100% correct... If it can't be seen by a 10x loop it ain't gonna make the book/grade/error you're hoping for :D
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