My Setup

[Rhubarb]

I am new to coin collecting(2 yrs.)and very new to this board. I would like to know if my setup of how I view my coin's is a good way. I use a snake light that I can put close to the Brass Stock is a acceptable way. There are different and more expensive way's to do it but my budget say's no.

What do you guy's and girl's use or maybe suggest a better way to view a coin that isn't as antiquated as mine.

Thank's David

[eagames]

I'm assuming you do it like I do, a camera with a lense instead of a microscope. It works pretty good once you play with it enough to tweak everything in. I use a similar light, it seems to work well.

One thing you might try is look through the posts, Coop showed his cardboard ramps. Sometimes using a wedge shaped ramp to set the coin on helps because it allows you to get the coin to reflect more light back into the lens. It matters the most when you try to show something minor, you can get the light angle and shadows to higlight what you want to show. Lighting is one of the important factors and easy to chage for free, cardboard and something to diffuse the light if it reflects only costs the time to try enough things to get it working well.

It takes practice, there are folks with realy good setups but you can do a lot with what you have.

[Dick]

David, It seem you were wise to have used 1" thick-steel plate for your "coin cabinet"! It may come in handy, form the looks of it! LOL
Dick

[Gabe]

Very nice set up you have there. I think that it is perfect for lincoln cent and variety collecting. I also too use a snake light for variety searching. It seems like the better way to focus light an a specific place.