The Best Microscopes for Coins

It can be difficult to choose the best microscope for coins. If you have already tried to pick one out, you know how frustrating this can be.

There are many different types of coin microscopes. You can choose the best one based on price, quality, and how it works. In this review, we have chosen the best overall coin microscope.

Top 7 Best Coin Microscopes

1. AmScope SE306R-AZ Forward-Mounted Binocular Stereo Microscope


If you want to check out your coins, the AmScope SE306R-AZ has a good magnification range. With 20x, you can see most of the coin, and with 80x, you can see more detail.

The Amscope won't work well for looking at a whole coin. Even at 20x magnification power, the field of view is too small to see everything.

If you want to see a coin's mint marks or look for imperfections, then this is the best microscope for coins at this price.

The SE306R-AZ microscope has top and bottom 10W halogen lighting, so you can use it to look at any kind of sample. It also has a forward-mounted binocular viewing head that is angled at 45 degrees, making it easier for younger users to see what is going on. The lenses are also coated with optical quality glass, which results in high-resolution images.

The AmScope SE306R-AZ microscope is comfortable because it has an adjustable dioptric and eye guards. It also has a long working distance to easily view what you're looking at.

Pros

  • Can remove prescription glasses when using the microscope
  • 10W halogen lighting source
  • Can light from above and below
  • Price point
  • Optics are high-quality
  • Two interchangeable eyepieces
  • Long focal length

Cons

  • Screw holding lenses in place very tiny
  • Not useful for microscopic-sized objects
  • It can get hot because of halogen lights

2. Celestron – 5 MP Digital Microscope Pro


The Celestron – 5 MP Digital Microscope Pro is the best USB microscope you can buy for the price.

Do you want to take pictures and videos of your coins? If so, you need this microscope. It has a five-element IR cut high-quality glass lens that will give you clear and sharp photos.

This microscope is good for low power work and maneuverability. It works with both Windows and Mac, which is a feature that not many digital microscopes have.

The adjustable LED lighting makes it easy to provide extra light when you need it to see things better. The stand will keep the object still if you look at something closely.

The microscope has four different parts: the arm, the stage, the microscope, and the shaft. There is also a calibration ruler and Celestron's MicroCapture Pro Software. When it is assembled, it only weighs 2lbs.

The Celestron is a digital and handheld device. You see the objects on your PC or Mac screen with the digital feature. This allows you to take video recordings and still capture images of your sample.

You can also use the device as a handheld one. You remove it from the stand and hold it over the object you want to view.

If you are using the microscope to look at coins, it is best to use the stand. Place the coin on the flat plastic stage. Some built-in clips can hold the object in place, but you probably won't need them for coins.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble
  • 5MP sensor
  • It can be handheld or on the stand
  • Ease of use
  • Captures both images and video
  • Built-in intervalometer ( To create a series of pictures or video)
  • Power supplied via USB

Cons

  • The scope focus knob is difficult to adjust
  • The stand is a little too short
  • Software can freeze

3. Plugable USB 2.0 Digital Microscope


The Plugable USB 2.0 Digital Microscope is a great cheap coin microscope. It has a 2MP sensor and can magnify things up to 250x, perfect for coin microscopy at lower magnification levels.

The Plugable is a device you can use to live stream to TV, PC, Mac, or smartphone. There is no need for any software. You just plug it in and play.

This USB coin microscope is a great tool for viewing objects. It has high specifications and is much cheaper than you may expect.

The microscope is very portable, weighing only 10.4 ounces and measuring 9 inches in length. This means that it can be handheld easily. Another great feature of the microscope is that it is digital, so you view the subject on a screen.

The built-in LED lighting will help you see what you are looking at in difficult lighting situations or if you need to focus on one particular area.

The microscope also has a warranty from the manufacturer for 2 years.

Pros

  • Price point
  • No software necessary
  • Portable
  • Lightweight
  • Built-in LED lighting
  • Easy to assemble
  • Additional software, if necessary
  • Handheld use

Cons

  • Balance issue where microscope falls over
  • Not recommended for slides

4. Koolertron 7 Inches LCD Digital USB Microscope


If you want to view and photograph a whole coin, choose the Koolertron 7 inches LCD Digital USB Microscope. It offers a wide field of view to see the whole coin.

The unit has a full HD LCD screen that is 7 inches wide. The stand on the back of the unit lets you adjust how you see the screen.

The 12MP sensor and the ability to magnify an image up to 1000x means that the image will remain sharp and clear.

The stand on the microscope can be adjusted if you want to move it further away from the specimen. This will help keep the sample still while focusing on the area you want to see.

Choose a microscope that is easy to move around. You can do this by installing a rechargeable Li-ion battery. If you are working indoors, you can power the microscope by USB.

The 8 LED lights can help you capture sharp details, even when the lighting is not ideal.

The Micro SD card is needed to store the images and videos of your specimens if you are not using a PC. The unit can support up to a 64GB card.

This microscope is perfect for people who need a portable and compact microscope. It is ideal for hobbyists, students, and kids.

Pros

  • Support for Micro SD card
  • Portable
  • Built-in LED lighting
  • It can be used with a rechargeable battery
  • Tilt adjusting stand design
  • 7-inch large LCD screen
  • 1920 x 1080 HD screen resolution
  • Wide field of view
  • Wireless remote control

Cons

  • Poor quality Instruction manual
  • Screen resolution could be better
  • Micro SD card not included

5. Jiusion 4.3inch Screen Full Color LCD Digital USB Microscope


The Jiusion 4.3inch Screen Digital USB Microscope is a great value digital camera microscope. The microscope is easy to put together and is ready to use right out of the box.

This coin magnifier is one of the best available. It is perfect for blowing up pictures of coins so that others can see them better.

The 4.3-inch HD LCD screen on this device provides clear, sharp, precise images. Whether you're inspecting your coin collection or taking pictures of it, you can get up close and capture the details you need.

If you choose not to use the small screen, the microscope supports a PC webcam for use with your PC monitor.

The 8 LED light source helps when there is not enough ambient light. The magnification goes from 10x to 500x, and the stand can be adjusted from 0 to 7.3 inches.

Pros

  • Handheld
  • 10x-500x magnification
  • VGA lens
  • 8 LEDs – adjustable brightness
  • USB 2
  • 16GB Micro SD card included
  • Software and user manual
  • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery included
  • Windows and Mac compatible

Cons

  • Stand too flimsy
  • Instructions are not clear enough

6. Dino-Lite USB Digital Microscope AM4113T


The Dino-Lite USB Digital Microscope AM4113T is a great high-end USB microscope for coins. It is very small and light, making it easy to hold and carry around.

This microscope can magnify things 10x-50x. This makes it perfect for viewing coins. But if you need to, the microscope can also magnify things 220x by being directly above the object.

The image resolution on the AM4113T ranges from 0.3MP to 5.0MP, and it can record videos at 30fps.

One issue with many handheld microscopes is that you have to press a button to take a picture. This can cause the microscope to shake and the picture out of focus.

The Dino-Lite microscope has a MicroTouch function to avoid camera shake. When taking pictures, touch the sensor lightly for the best results.

DinoCapture for Windows and DinoXcope for Mac software can help you take pictures, videos, and time-lapse videos.

The software lets you put text and graphics on top of the image if you take a picture. You can do this in the built-in editing suite. After you are done, you can email the image from inside the software.

People can use Dino-Lite USB microscopes as webcams. They can use Skype to talk to other people and see what the microscope sees. This makes it possible for people to look at something together.

If you need a higher magnification level, using a stand is recommended. There are optional stands available for the AM4113T.

Pros

  • Small and compact
  • Extremely lightweight
  • Portable
  • Tremendous software package included
  • MicroTouch image capture
  • Live video (30fps) and time-lapse video
  • Webcam capability
  • Windows and Mac
  • 8 built-in LED lights
  • 10x, 50x and 220x magnification
  • 2-year warranty

Cons

  • Expensive

7. Aven 26700-209-PLR Mighty Scope Digital Handheld Microscope


The Aven 26700-209-PLR microscope is great for looking at coins. It has a polarizing filter to reduce the glare when looking at them.

The 5MP camera on the device will be great for taking pictures of your coins. The close-up light will make it easy to see small details and areas on a coin.

This digital handheld microscope lets you see what you're magnifying on a PC or laptop monitor, which gives you a much better view.

Magnification ranges from 10x to 200x. The Aven's equipment includes a 1/4″ color CMOS image sensor for superior image quality.

The tabletop stand is included with the equipment. This is very useful if you use high magnification levels and need more stability.

The base is removable, so it can be taken with you on field assignments. The six-white LED lights will help you see better when necessary.

Pros

  • Polarizing filter
  • 5MP camera
  • 10x-200x magnification
  • 1/4″ CMOS image sensor
  • 6 white LED lights
  • High-quality images
  • Portable
  • A light source close to the lens

Cons

  • Little heavy
  • Expensive

Conclusion

Low-power microscopes can be used to see objects like coins. They use two different paths of light to create a 3D view.

There are different types of microscope lighting. LED, halogen, and fluorescent are some of the most common. LED lights are brighter and last longer than other types, so they are the most popular choice.

It can be difficult to find the best microscope for coins. There are many different microscopes, each with its own set of features. You need to find one that is affordable and offers good magnification.

You might find that a microscope with different uses is beneficial in the future, even though you are looking for a coin microscope now.

To learn more information about microscopes, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Microscopes for Coins

What Microscope Is Used for Coins?

Dino-Lite digital microscope cameras are a popular device used to take pictures and inspect coins, coin slabs, currency, stamps, and other collectibles.

What Is the Best Way to Look at Coins?

If you're looking at coins, it's good to use a magnifying glass to see them better. For a general evaluation, use a 5-power or 10-power magnifying glass. If you're looking at a specific feature on the coin, use a 20-power magnifying glass as the mintmark.

How Does a Dissecting Microscope Work?

A stereo or dissecting microscope uses light that reflects off of the object. This makes it good for looking at things that are solid or thick. It also has a low magnification, which means it can be used for large and not too small things.

What Magnifying Glass Do Jewelers Use?

Jewelers use a handheld magnifying glass, called a monocular loupe, to inspect gemstones and other jewelry. A 10x magnification is good for inspecting jewelry for things like hallmarks and is the Gemological Institute of America's standard for grading diamond clarity.

Which Magnification Would You Select to Look at a Sample of Pond Water?

You can find tiny lifeforms in water by using a microscope. You will need to collect some water from one of your samples and put 1 drop of it on a microscope slide. Place the slide under the microscope and look at it.

How Do You Sell Old Coins?

The best place to sell your old coins is at a coin shop. They will be able to give you the best price for coins like Wheat cents, Buffalo nickels, junk silver, scarce silver coins, and silver dollars. Check online reviews and feedback for coin stores in your area before deciding.

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