What type of lens should i be using

[Robcan]

Hey guys I'm very new to the Lincoln cents, but i've been reading diligently online for about 3 days now. I bought a Lincoln cents binder to collect them but realized i might have made my first mistake by not getting the one that had the section for proofs... So far I've found 16 wheat pennies none of which are rare dates according to this site.. I've also filled most of the 1960+ slots, I have a couple of questions I hope some of you can help me answer.

1. What type of lens should i be using to look at these pennies (magnifying glass etc)

2. Pennies should "NEVER" be cleaned?

3. 1960 = small, large,d or not, I looked at the pictures to better determine which is which, but I can't seem to tell, Something special im missing?

4. 1982 zinc and copper types, how do i tell which is which? I'm assuming its the weight, so do i need a scale?

5. What pennies should i be keeping no matter what, even if the spot in the binder is filled? 1965 or before?

Thanks, any additional newbie information is appreciated

[jcuve]

Welcome to the forum!

A loupe, maybe 7-10x, with a 20x on standby for close ups. Try a few at a coin shop to get an idea of what feels right for you in terms of magnification and overall size.

Don't clean coins. You can sometimes soak them in goo-gone or mineral oil. Be careful, search the forum for advice and never rub the coin for any reason with anything - not even lightly.

The large and small dates (1960, 1970 & 1982) take time to properly discern, I have thread on determining which is which: http://www.lincolncentresource.net/forums/showthread.php?t=6359

1982: weight alone. A digital scale or you can follow the construction outline on LCR by Brad here: http://www.lincolncentresource.com/smalldates/1982.html

Keep whatever interests you. It never hurts to keep small cups with a roll or two of each year as you find them so you can compare and contrast potential finds or answer questions with examples from that year.

Good luck!

[JeanK]

Welcome to LCR.
"All of the above".
Plus, H.E. Harris & Co., makes a 16X lens with a wider viewing area than most loupes. I found mine at Valleycoin.com., but I would think other coin supply dealers would also have them.
Keep asking questions and enjoy the hobby!
Jean

[lineop3]

Hello and welcome to LCR Robcan!
As Jason said, any camera you feel comfortable with will do. (You may want another down the line) The loupes are important for closeups.
And I clean "dirt" off my coins with a rose bush thorn. (green preferred because it won't scratch the coin)

Aisha

[Robcan]

Thanks guys, good to be here, i just got a box of pennies! :LOL_Hair: