Imaging coins

[davidrj]

Most of us here have experimented how to get best images from our coins; using either flat bed scanners or cameras with varying decrees of success

I came across this link microscope, this looks as though it may be useful for examining die varieties or errors, but probably not for imaging whole coins (unless they are very small).

I suspect it may be useful to the bank note collector, but I foresee problems for examining with both depth of field and reflections from items with lustre.

Has anyone here tried this or similar products? - if so please post some pictures.

[RLC35]

Hi David,

I have seen the imager you show at coin shows, but have never used it. They are usually for sale at all of the larger coin shows here in the U.S.

I have a "Digital Blue" model QX5 didgital microscope that has three settings 10x, 60x, and 200x. It does a very good job of bring up closeups, and varieties, but will not capture the "whole" coin, even on a farthing.

I am attaching an example of the pics on the three settings. It will take 3 posts due to the size of the pic. Here is the first picture of a farthing triple 4 in the date.

[RLC35]

Hi David,

I have seen the imager you show at coin shows, but have never used it. They are usually for sale at all of the larger coin shows here in the U.S.

I have a "Digital Blue" model QX5 didgital microscope that has three settings 10x, 60x, and 200x. It does a very good job of bring up closeups, and varieties, but will not capture the "whole" coin, even on a farthing.

I am attaching an example of the pics on the three settings. It will take 3 posts due to the size of the pic. Here is the first picture of a farthing triple 4 in the date.

Here is the second pic (60x)

[RLC35]

Here is the third pic (200x)

[davidrj]

Hi David,

I have seen the imager you show at coin shows, but have never used it. They are usually for sale at all of the larger coin shows here in the U.S.

I have a "Digital Blue" model QX5 didgital microscope that has three settings 10x, 60x, and 200x. It does a very good job of bring up closeups, and varieties, but will not capture the "whole" coin, even on a farthing.

I am attaching an example of the pics on the three settings. It will take 3 posts due to the size of the pic. Here is the first picture of a farthing triple 4 in the date.

Thank you!

[Colin G.]

I also have a digital blue microscope...they are great, but a pain with windows vista.

[RLC35]

I also have a digital blue microscope...they are great, but a pain with windows vista.

You are right Colin. I have a new PC with Vista, and it does not work well with that program. I have a extra laptop with XP on it, and that is what I use with the QX5.

[Peckris]

There's rather too much noise on the 200 setting (can't think why anyone would need that anyway), but the 60 setting is a real beaut - as close as any coin probably needs, and really nice quality. The 10x can be simulated using a scanner at high res, but I'd say that gizmo is worth it for getting up close and dirty at 60x, especially for varieties.

[Colin G.]

There's rather too much noise on the 200 setting (can't think why anyone would need that anyway), but the 60 setting is a real beaut - as close as any coin probably needs, and really nice quality. The 10x can be simulated using a scanner at high res, but I'd say that gizmo is worth it for getting up close and dirty at 60x, especially for varieties.

They are a kids toy too, so you can pick them up real cheap!!