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Coin enthusiasts tend to be uncompromising in their quest for quality. This pertains to the materials themselves but also to the equipment that is used to view it. In that vein of thought, we’ve taken a close look at some of the best magnifying glasses on the market.
All of the products on our list have been vetted on the basis of how well they provide the user with a crisp, dependable viewing experience. If you want the best coin magnifying glasses out there you could certainly do worse than the products found on our list.
Read on for a list of the best magnifying glasses for coins!
Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall | Fancii LED Lighted Magnifying Glass |
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Best Value | Carson LumiLoupe Magnifier |
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Premium Choice | Satechi ReadMate LED Magnifier |
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iMagniphy LED Magnifying Glass |
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JARLINK Illuminated Eye Loupe Magnifier |
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The Fancii FC-MP20X features an onboard LED light that will enhance your viewing experience. It also comes with a compact build that will easily fit into your pocket and a textured grip for comfortable user experience.
It can be effortlessly adjusted thanks to a clearly labeled dial that allows you to choose between magnification levels in the 10X-30X range. This feature will make it easy to effortlessly view any imperfections that a coin might have.
For a truly detailed user experience, this will be the magnifying glass for you. However, it is also among the pricier options available. If you don’t have a ton of money to spend you may need to consider a different product.
The Carson earns the distinction of being our best magnifying glass for the money. The unit is unique for the fact that it is able to autofocus. This will be a nice feature for people that aren’t necessarily well versed in how to handle a magnifying glass.
It is also extremely compact. The unit itself is hardly bigger than a large coin. With a one-inch diameter, it should be able to easily fit in your pocket, making it the perfect product for coin shows. And of course, given the low cost, it is a true bargain for people that want to save money on a reliable product.
Unfortunately, though, it is fairly limited in the department of versatility. It can only magnify up to ten times the normal viewing angle making it considerably less useful than many of the other options on our list.
It is good for taking a quick peek at a coin, but it may not be optimal for taking the in-depth look that many collectors require.
The Satechi features a durable stainless steel build that will ensure it is able to last for a long time. It also comes with a 5X magnification capacity, and an onboard LED light that will make it easy to get a good look at the coin. The lights feature three different settings, making them good for a variety of different environments.
Even though the magnification range is not as high as some of the other glasses on our list, it is a durable, reliable piece of equipment that will be good for people who need something that will last. Unfortunately, this is also among the most expensive products on our list. If you are on a restrictive budget this won’t be the coin for you.
The iMagniphy features a comfortable handle that will make it cozy and effective to view your coin collection. It also features two different lenses that give you a variety of options for how detailed you want to be in your viewing. The first lens has 5X magnification while the second one has 10X.
Finally, it also features an LED light that further enhances your ability to enjoy a beautiful look at your coins.
These things said, there are a couple of issues that we noticed. For one thing, it is among the pricier options on our list. It is also on the fragile side. If you are looking for something with durability, this isn’t the right product for you.
The Jarlink features several onboard lights that will provide a good look at coins as well as other priceless materials. The unit can be adjusted for multiple view settings. There is a 5X magnification setting, as well as a 10X magnification for when you really need to take a close look.
This unit benefits from two different lens sizes. The dimensions are 30x22mm and 60x12mm. The diversity of options may not be necessary for everyone, but they do lend more utility to the glass.
The Jarlink also has a unique “Swiss Army knife” style design that allows the magnification component to slide in and out of a case. This makes the product a little bit easier to transport in your pocket.
Unfortunately, though, this component of the glass also reveals a vulnerability. This magnifier is not extremely durable and will wear down under pressure.
The Kare and Kind features an extremely detailed magnifier that allows you to look up to 40X closer than the human eye is capable. Like the last unit that we looked at the magnifier folds directly into the handle to make it more compact.
It also made of durable stainless steel and benefits from an onboard LED light that further increases your viewing capabilities.
Unfortunately, though, it does have its limitations. We were particularly troubled by the actual viewing quality. Even though you have a large range, you don’t benefit from a crystal-clear lens. This means that the actual view can be fairly cloudy.
The Insten is what you might call a more traditional magnifying glass. It features a black plastic handle and a glass that views at 5X the level of the human eye. It is a decent product for people that want something cheap and at least moderately effective.
However, it won’t be the tool that people looking for the best of the best will reach for. For one thing, it isn’t extremely durable. The plastic is cheap in quality and may break down under duress. The viewing quality is also pretty lacking. The lens is fairly cloudy which may be a problem for the ardent collector.
The SeeZoom is like the last unit we looked at in that it features a fairly traditional design concept. The lens is attached to a plastic handle. You also get the same 5X magnification capacity. The main difference is that this unit also includes an onboard LED light for a slightly enhanced viewing experience.
Unfortunately, the SeeZoom also features many of the same cons that we found with the Insten. For one thing, it is not extremely durable. The view quality is also pretty mediocre. In this case, you don’t benefit from the budget price tag. This is among the pricier choices on our list.
It’s not a bad magnifier but you may find that there are better uses of your money, especially when the other options on our list are taken into consideration
If you want to learn a little bit more about magnifying glasses read on for some handy buying considerations.
As a coin collector, you may be wondering why you even need this piece of equipment in the first place. After all, why spend good perfectly good coin money on an unnecessary accessory?
The truth is that the value of a coin is in the details. The smallest sign of wear and tear can significantly decrease the value of your materials.
Consequently, a good magnifying glass may actually save you money in the long run. With a portable glass, you can make sure that you only invest in glasses that are up to snuff.
You can also maintain your collection and catch problems before they arise.
Naturally, you want something with a good magnification level. The majority of glasses feature something in the 5X-10X range which should be adequate for the majority of coin hobbyists. However, there are also more powerful options available for the person that would like it.
Some of the glasses seen here feature magnification levels of up to 40X.
It can also be very handy to invest in something with a built-in light. Though non-essential the onboard light will give you a much clearer look at the time you are studying. They tend to add slightly to the cost of your magnifier but it will be a worthwhile expense to the person that wants the best viewing experience possible.
You may be wondering how long you can expect your LED lamp light to last. Good news for you—they last a long time. In fact, a good LED bulb can run for thousands of hours without interruption.
It’s likely that the other internal electrical components will give out before the bulb ever does.
You’ve read our magnifying glass reviews but did one of the products speak to you in a significant way? If you are having trouble choosing between the eight products on this list, we get it. In that case, it may help to consider a couple of options that we considered standouts.
Our top choice, the Fancii FC-MP20X LED Lighted Magnifying Glass will be great for people that want something really high end.
On the other hand, if finding a budget-friendly product is more your concern, you could do worse than the Carson LL-10 LumiLoupe Series Magnifier.
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Robert’s obsession with all things optical started early in life, when his optician father would bring home prototypes for Robert to play with. Nowadays, Robert is dedicated to helping others find the right optics for their needs. His hobbies include astronomy, astrophysics, and model building. Originally from Newark, NJ, he resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the nighttime skies are filled with glittering stars.
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