Best Microscope For Coins in 2020

Trying to choose the best microscope for coins isn’t going to be an easy task. If you’ve already tried to pick out one for yourself, you already know how frustrating this can be.

There’s a massive amount of choice, a staggering price range, different makes and models, different magnifications and well, I’m sure you get the picture.

In this review of the best coin microscopes, we’ve chosen the best overall for the price, quality and results.

Top 7 Best Microscopes For Coins

1. AmScope SE306R-AZ Forward-Mounted Binocular Stereo Microscope
2. Celestron – 5 MP Digital Microscope Pro
3. Plugable USB 2.0 Digital Microscope
4. Koolertron 7 Inches LCD Digital USB Microscope
5. Jiusion 4.3inch Screen Full Color LCD Digital USB Microscope
6. Dino-Lite USB Digital Microscope AM4113T
7. Aven 26700-209-PLR Mighty Scope Digital Handheld Microscope

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

The AmScope SE306R-AZ has an excellent range of magnification for checking out your coins, using the 20x to look at more or less all of the coin and 80x if you want to see in more detail.

The Amscope isn’t going to work well for looking at a complete coin. Even at 20x, the magnification is too much to have a field of view large enough. 

But for viewing a coin’s mint marks or looking for imperfections then this is the overall best microscope for coins at this price. 

Built into the SE306R-AZ is both top and bottom 10W halogen lighting, so it’s usable for any sample you can place on the stage of the microscope.

They are equipped with a forward-mounted binocular viewing head at a 45-degree incline to help younger users. They thoroughly coat the optical glass lenses, which makes the images high resolution.

There is a dioptric adjuster so you won’t need to use your glasses and for comfort, the lenses are fitted with eye guards.

The AmScope SE306R-AZ is a stereo microscope which means the magnification power is low. Still, it does have a long working distance so you will be able to manipulate whatever you’re viewing.

Pros.

Cons.

2. Celestron – 5 MP Digital Microscope Pro

The Celestron – 5 MP Digital Microscope Pro is the best USB microscope for coins for the price you’re going to pay.

Do you want to take high-resolution images and video of your coins? If so, this is the microscope you need. The excellent clear and sharp photos are down to the microscope’s five-element IR cut high-quality glass lens.

Great for low power work and maneuverability. Compatible with both Windows and Mac (which is not something you can say with a lot of microscopes).

The adjustable LED lighting makes it very easy to provide the additional lighting you’ll need to view some objects. If you’re viewing at high magnifications, the stand will offer a very stable platform.

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

The Celestron is both a digital and handheld device. Being digital, you see the objects on the screen of your PC or Mac. Thereby allowing you to take videos and still images of your sample.

You can also use it as a handheld device by removing it from the stand, and holding it over the object; you wish to view.

If you’re using the microscope for coins, then it’s best to use it with the stand. Simply place the coin on the flat plastic stage. There are some built-in clips for holding the object in place, but it’s doubtful you’ll need that with coins.

Cons.

Pros.

3. Plugable USB 2.0 Digital Microscope

The Plugable USB 2.0 Digital Microscope is the best cheap coin microscope available. The microscope has a 2MP sensor and a maximum magnification of 250x—ideal for coin microscopy at lower magnification levels.

The Plugable works as a live streaming device direct to TV, a PC, Mac or smartphone. There is no software necessary. Just plug and play.

There is its stage for viewing your object, and attaching the microscope to its flexible stand. With such high specifications, you would expect this USB coin microscope to be much more expensive.

Weighing only 10.4 ounces and with a length of just 9 inches, it’s certainly portable, so taking it from the stand and using it as a handheld microscope is no problem. Remember it’s digital, so you view the subject on a screen. 

The built-in LED lighting will enhance what you’re viewing in difficult lighting situations or if you need to focus on one particular area and need the extra light.

Setting yourself up and the specimen your viewing is on the screen you focus by turning the ring on the microscope. 

The microscope also has a manufacturer’s 2-year limited warranty.

Pros.

Cons.

4. Koolertron 7 Inches LCD Digital USB Microscope

Choose the Koolertron 7 inches LCD Digital USB Microscope if you’re looking for an excellent coin microscope that offers a wide field of view. For example, if you want to view and photograph the whole of the coin you’re assessing and not just a part of it.

The unit has a full 7-inch HD LCD screen and a stand which allows for angle of view adjustments.

A 12MP sensor and 1x to 1000x continuous magnification. Which means the images will remain sharp and clear up to its maximum magnification. 

The stand is also adjustable if you want to move the microscope further away from the specimen. By placing your sample on the stage, you can keep it nice and steady while you focus in on the area you wish to view.

Choose a truly portable option by installing a rechargeable Li-ion battery, or if you’re working indoors, you can power the microscope by USB.

Utilize the built-in 8 LED lights to capture sharp details even when in less than optimum lighting situations.

Because the unit stands alone and does not connect to a PC, you need a Micro SD card to store the images and videos you take of your specimens. The unit supports a maximum 64GB card.

This microscope makes an ideal, compact, and portable, depending on your needs, coin microscope. Excellent for hobbyists, students, and kids alike.

Pros.

Cons.

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

The Jiusion 4.3inch Screen Digital USB Microscope is another excellent value digital USB coin camera microscope. The microscope assembles quickly and easily straight out of the box.

For the price, it’s one of the best coin magnifiers available—an excellent device for blowing up pictures of coins, for others to see.

Images and videos on the 4.3-inch HD LCD screen are sharp with precise colors. When inspecting your coin collection, you can get in very close and snap off the pictures you wish to save.

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

A built-in 8 LED light source, helps when out in the field or when there is not enough ambient light. The magnification is continuous from 10x to 500x, and there is height adjustment on the stand, from 0 to 7.3 inches.

Pros.

Cons.

6. Dino-Lite USB Digital Microscope AM4113T

The Dino-Lite USB Digital Microscope AM4113T is the best high-end USB microscope for coins. At only  6 inches long and weighing 3.84 ounces, it truly is one of the tiniest handheld digital microscopes available.

The optimum magnification range of this microscope is 10x-50x, making it the perfect coin viewer. But it will go as high as 220x magnification for when the microscope is directly above the specimen.

The image resolution on the AM4113T is between 0.3MP to 5.0MP and will record your videos at 30fps (frames per second).

On many handheld microscopes, one issue is the button which requires pressing to take the image, which can result in a jerky motion putting the shot out of focus.

They fit the Dino-Lite with a MicroTouch function so that cannot happen. When operating the microscope, touch the sensor lightly, and it takes the image with no ‘camera shake”.

The enclosed software DinoCapture for Windows and DinoXcope for Mac enables capturing images, video and also time-lapse video streams.

If you capture a still image, the software allows text and graphics to be overlaid onto the image inside the built-in editing suite. The image can then even be emailed from within the software.

Users can utilize all Dino-Lite USB microscopes as a webcam. Using an application such as Skype, a group of individuals in the field can simultaneously view the output of the microscope, and thereby making it feasible to discuss what they see collectively.

For higher magnification levels a stand is usually recommended to obtain the best results. There are optional stands available for the AM4113T.

Pros.

Cons.

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

The Aven 26700-209-PLR is a handy microscope for coins particularly with the polarizing filter to reduce the glare throwback when lighting coins.

Because of its 5MP camera, images of your coins will be nice and sharp. Great for inspecting small coins and areas of a coin, because the built-in light is close to the lens. 

Using this digital handheld microscope means displaying your images on a PC or laptop monitor. Giving you a much better view of what you’re trying to magnify.

Magnification runs from 10x up 200x. Part of the Aven’s equipment is a 1/4″ color CMOS image sensor for superior image quality. 

Included with the equipment is a tabletop stand. If you’re using the higher magnification levels and need more stability, this is very useful.

The base is removable to make it easier to take on field assignments, and the built-in six-white LED lights will add additional illumination when necessary.

Pros.

Cons.

Conclusion

Low-power microscopes are useful for viewing objects like coins. To produce a 3D view they divide the light source into two separate paths.

Microscopes need a light source of some kind. Lighting can be LED, halogen and fluorescent. Because LED lights are brighter and last longer they are the most popular choice.

As we mentioned at the start of the article finding the best microscope for coins is not an easy job. There’s a considerable choice, based on price, quality, magnification, etc.

Also, even though you’re looking for a coin microscope now, you might find a microscope with different uses beneficial in the future.

We chose these microscopes as the best microscopes for coins because they are well built, have useful accessories, give tremendous optical quality and are great value for money.