How To Identify Your Coins

Table of Contents:

Guide to Understanding Your Coins 

• How to Get Started 

• How to Inventory Your Coins 

• How to Handle Your Coins 

• How to Identify Your Coins 

• How to Grade Your Coins 

• How to Sell Your Coins 

• How to Store Your Coins 

Identifying your coins will be something of an initial challenge.  I did not know the difference between an Indian Head Penny and a Wheat Penny when I started.

As you learn more about the coins and gain experienced, it will get much easier to identify and inventory the coins.

Some helpful tools are included here:

Examine Basic Coin Details

• Look at the obverse (front) and reverse (back) of each coin and note:

• Country of origin (name or symbols/emblems)

• Denomination (e.g., 1 cent, 5 lire, 1 yen)

• Year of issue

• Mint mark (usually a small letter or symbol near the date — e.g., “D” for Denver)

• Language (Latin, Cyrillic, Arabic, etc.)

Utilize your Inventory tracking to store information about the coins

• See the earlier section about Inventorying your Coins

  • Create a spreadsheet or tabled list that includes:

    • Country

    • Denomination

    • Year

    • Mint mark (if present)

    • Material (silver, copper, clad, etc. — you can guess based on color and weight for now)

    • Any inscriptions or symbols

• This helps you group coins for further research.

Use Identification Tools

• Use various search engines such as Google, Bing or DuckDuckGo to help you search and identify coins.

  • Google offers a search by image feature called Lens.  You can take a picture of the coin and utilize Lens to determine what it is.

• Online Coin Identifier Tools

  • NGC World Coin Price Guide – Search by country, year, and features.

  • Numista – Excellent for foreign coins. You can search by:

    • Text on the coin

    • Country

    • Year

    • Coin size, shape, and metal

  • PCGS CoinFacts – Best for U.S. coins with detailed images and grading info.

• Coin Identification Apps

  • CoinSnap (iOS/Android) – Uses image recognition.

  • Coinoscope – Point your camera at the coin, and it suggests matches.

• These may work well for common coins but may miss rare or obscure types.  I personally have not used these apps as I have relied on the methods I first listed above.  I have read online/social media that others experience with these apps are less than desirable.

Use Physical References

• “Red Book” (Guide Book of United States Coins) – A must-have for U.S. coin collectors.

• Standard Catalog of World Coins by Krause – Best for foreign coins.

Use Clues to Identify Metal Type

• Silver coins often have a high-pitched ring when tapped.

• U.S. coins from pre-1965 (dimes, quarters, half dollars) are often 90% silver.

• Tarnish or patina may indicate age or silver content.

• For unknown coins, consider using a magnet (most silver/gold coins are not magnetic) or weigh them with a scale.

Ask for Help with Tough Ones

• Post photos (obverse & reverse) in coin communities:

  • Reddit’s r/coins

    • • /r/coins Frequent Coin List (FCL)

      • I just inherited/acquired a collection. What do I do? 

  • CoinTalk forum

  • Facebook groups like “Coin Collectors”

    • • Be sure to include:

        • Clear photos (front and back, flat angle)

        • Dimensions (diameter, weight if possible)

        • Any readable text or symbols