DIGITAL COIN GRADING MICROSCOPE LAUNCHES

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V29 2026 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 29, Number 5, 2026, Article 8

Quantitative Collectors Group's new IoT-based digital microscope for coin grading is a very interesting new device. An Indiegogo fundraising campaign is set to start this month. Found via the February 2, 2026 Coin World. Here's the company press release. -Garrett

Coin collecting enters a new era this January as Quantitative Collectors Group, or QCG, brings its groundbreaking, science-based coin grading technology to the annual Florida United Numismatists (F.U.N.) Coin Show — the largest coin collecting event in the United States. Taking place January 8–11, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center, the event will feature QCG's OCS200 on display as the company begins its launch phase ahead of a broader market rollout in February, offering media and collectors an early look at a device designed to enhance subjectivity and introduce unprecedented speed, consistency, and transparency to the numismatic marketplace.

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based entrepreneur Richard Colonna has developed a first-of-its-kind device designed to transform how coin collectors grade and value their currency. The OCS200, introduces a cutting-edge, technology-driven approach that provides the foundation for subjective coin grading, making it faster, more consistent, and more accessible than ever before.

Developed by a team of experts in manufacturing, technology hardware, and software, QCG's breakthrough technology provides collectors with a science-based analysis that ensures consistent, repeatable results, a dramatic shift from the traditional grading process, which depends on individual interpretation, often resulting in different grades based who is reviewing the coins.

For generations, coin grading has relied on a handful of third-party graders. Collectors mail their coins away, wait weeks, and receive a subjective Sheldon Grade, which varies depending on the grader's opinion. QCG changes that paradigm with the OCS200, an IoT-based digital microscope that uses precision internal lighting and high-resolution imaging to analyze coins across five key grading areas: wear, surface preservation, luster, strike, and eye appeal.

Once scanned, QCG's proprietary software generates a detailed report in less than 15 minutes, emailed directly to the user. Each report includes the coin's unique digital fingerprint, featuring a Quantitative Sheldon Grade and current estimated value based on marketplace data.

"QCG isn't here to disrupt the art of coin collecting; it's here to make coin grading trustworthy, accessible, and affordable for all collectors," said QCG founder Richard Colonna. "Today, traditional coin grading depends heavily on subjective expertise, while QCG introduces a quantitative approach using scientific instrumentation to support and complement that process. Using a mixed-method approach of quantitative analysis and subjective interpretation in coin grading encourages greater confidence and clarity for each coin grade."

The QCG team, based in West Michigan, brings together decades of experience in manufacturing, software development, and optical technology. Their shared mission: to take the guesswork out of coin grading and build a more transparent, trustworthy standard for collectors worldwide.

With more than 139-million-coin collectors globally, the opportunity for growth and innovation is enormous. QCG's cloud-based platform allows individuals to scan and grade their own coins without relying on costly third-party submissions, building a global database of standardized, data-backed coin assessments.

"Each scan not only provides valuable, transparent, and visual insight," Colonna added, "but also contributes to a worldwide network of consistent coin evaluations, strengthening trust and accessibility across the hobby."

We are offering early supporters of our technology a machine for $795 from $1195, and we have also added a subscription model to our service plan, which will be part of our reward. The first 100 supporters will receive a 6-month free subscription, and the next 1000 pledges will receive a 2-month free subscription. Our subscription model allows the user to scan as many coins as they would like for the month. The regular service fee is $69 per month, but if you sign up for a yearly subscription its $29 per month.

West Michigan-based Quantitative Collectors Group is a new era of quantitative collectible assessment. By blending technology, transparency, and trust, QCG invites coin collectors to embrace the future of numismatics, where accuracy meets accessibility. For more information or to support the campaign, visit www.qcgcoins.com.