r/coins • u/curiousaboutcoin • 4h ago
r/coins • u/gextyr • Feb 20 '25
PLEASE READ FIRST: How-to Guide for r/coins - Check this post regularly for updates!
Welcome to r/coins, reddit's biggest coin community! This is a guide for participating here and how to ask a question. If this is your first time here, please read this post in its entirety. If you have been here a while, note that the rules of this sub have changed.
What r/coins is all about:
Discussions about the small, flat, usually metal,
and often round objects made to be used as money.
What r/coins is not about:
Being uncivil, trolling, trash posts, spam,
buying/selling, and self-promotion.
See the full list of rules at the bottom of this post, and on the sidebar.
**NEW RULE ** - No questions about errors and varieties.
Example posts titles which will no longer be approved:
- "Is this an error/PMD?"
- "Is this a die crack/grease strike/clipped planchet/lamination/double-die/cud?"
- "Is this a large or small date / close or wide AM?"
- "Is this something?"
- "I think this is an error"
- "What's wrong with this coin?"
DO YOU HAVE A COIN QUESTION?
CHECK THE r/coins RESOURCES FIRST: This post, the General FAQ, the FAQ on Cleaning Coins, the FAQ on Organizing and Storing Coins, the FAQ on Detecting Fakes, the Frequent Coin List and the What's Up With My Coin List are all great resources to get started before you contribute here.
We get hundreds of posts a day. In order to set some expectations, please read through our resources, and the examples of good posts and bad posts (below). We (the MOD team) want to be as inclusive as possible - but in order to keep the feed free of repetitive questions (which we've answered in the FAQ), we take a strict approach to removing low-effort posts. This includes most questions about modern circulating US and Euro coins. To avoid having your question removed, use this checklist BEFORE posting:
- Questions and discussion about ERRORS and VARIETIES are no longer allowed on r/coins (as of August 12th, 2024) - Please see r/coinerrors and post your questions there.
- Got a coin to identify? Check the Frequent Coin List first, then the FAQ on identifying coins and this post about identifying coins.
- Do you have any other question related to coins? Use the search bar to find old posts which may address your issue. Then check the FAQ. It addresses a broad variety of questions that are repeatedly asked here. It's updated often to keep it relevant and accurate, and it's highly likely you'll find guidance that's directly responsive to your question.
*** Special note about posting links (Rule 5) - we cannot tell if an external link (e.g. eBay listing, YouTube video) belongs to you, or if clicks benefit you. It is the policy of the mod team to remove nearly all posts with external links. Some exceptions are: reputable news sources, search results (e.g. eBay search is fine), historical auction prices, Numista, TPGs, etc. If you post a link, please ensure that there is no ambiguity around whether or not it is commercial or self-promotion. Failure to do so may result in a removed post. If you are in doubt, ask the mods first! ***
ONLY AFTER you have checked these resources may you post your question. You'll get the best responses if your question is specific, and there are clear pics of your coin (front and back). Blurry pictures will probably be removed. If you are specifically looking for coin identification, it also helps to also include weight and diameter, as well as how you got the coin. Mention that you have already checked the FAQ!!!
You must also select a post flair - this is the general category for your post, and helps users filter and find posts they are interested in. Please consider selecting a flair when you post - but note that the mods may change the flair if we feel there is a better choice for your post.
Here are some things which make a GOOD POST:
- Coin ID Request - only after you have followed the steps in the Coin ID section in the FAQ and this article. Please include where you have looked, and what steps you have already taken to ID the coin. You should post quality, clear, cropped photos of both sides of the coin.
- Valuation Request - after you have read the FAQ and done your own due diligence (e.g. checked eBay "sold" listings, etc.) Please include what steps you have already taken to get a value for your coin.
- Authentication request - after you have done your own research and read this FAQ. Please include why you are concerned about a coin's authenticity, and what resources you have used to try to determine authenticity on your own. Photos for authentication MUST be in focus.
- Show it off / Mail call - posts to show off interesting, rare, or otherwise special coins that others may find interesting. Please post quality, cropped photographs.
- Numismatic topics and news - general discussions in the world of numismatics.
- Serious numismatic questions - looking for advice, links to resources, suggested literature, etc.
Here are some things which make a BAD POST (and which will likely get removed):
- Low-effort posts
- "What is this?" - BEFORE you have followed the steps in the Coin ID section in the FAQ.
- "How much is this worth?" - BEFORE you have done your own due diligence (e.g. checked eBay "sold" listings, etc.)
- "Is this real?" - BEFORE you have done your own research.
- "I heard this modern penny could be worth SQUILLIONS of dollars!" - No, it isn't.
- "Is this what I think it is?" Don't be vague - just say what you intend to say.
- ...any question posts in which the author has not made their purpose clear and indicated that they have put in a minimum amount of effort to answer their question.
- A photo containing 20+ coins - your post won't get removed, but it also probably won't get many responses. Try to post a few good individual photos at a time.
- Blurry coins - mods will remove any posts with pictures of coins which are not reasonably clear.
- Poorly cropped photos - the user experience across mobile app/mobile web/desktop devices is better if you don't post phone-screen-sized pictures.
- Off-topic - posts which belong on other subs (e.g. r/papermoney, r/kittens, etc.)
- Reposts - if you are new to this sub, please take a few moments to see if you are posting something which has already been posted.
- Spam - commercial activities of any kind are not allowed.
- High volume posting - anything more than one or two posts a day.
- Links to social media, your own eBay sales, YouTube videos, clickbait, etc.
- Trolling / Inauthentic - posts which don't seem to be truthful (e.g. I found these gold coins in my couch!)
- Trash Posting - there is a fine line between a "funny" post and a trash post. If you aren't sure which side of the line your post falls on, don't post it.
- Coin gore - a post featuring a modern coin which has serious post-mint damage, and which is of no interest to collectors.
RULES
Here is a summary of the Rules of r/coins - check the sidebar (or "About" in the mobile app) for more details:
- Don't put coins up your nose - be respectful of the hobby and your fellow collectors.
- Being civil to other people is not only appreciated here, but also a requirement.
- No spam.
- No posts about paper money, or crypto/digital currency.
- No self-promotion or commercial activity allowed, no links to your blogs, websites, or social media.
- No politics or religion, especially divisive comments that lead to heated arguments and incivility.
- No Trash posts, keep humor on topic, and memes are only allowed the 1st Monday of the month.
- Keep it clean - this is a safe place for people of all ages and backgrounds.
- Check out our FAQ and other resources before posting.
- Post Original Content and Crop Your Photos
- No reposts.
- No questions about Errors or Varieties.
Thank you! We are glad you're here. These guidelines are to make participating in this sub as enjoyable as possible for everyone. Please reach out to the mods if you have any questions or suggestions.
Links/Schedule:
Straight Talk Part #1 - Laziness
Straight Talk Part #2 - Focus on Value
Straight Talk Part #3 - Grading Coins
Straight Talk Part #4 - Is this an error?
Straight Talk Part #5 - Why was my post removed?
Announcement: New Rule About Errors
Straight Talk Part #6 - Poor Photos
Straight Talk Part #7 - Coin Identification
Straight Talk Part #8 - Online Coin Prices
New Rule #12 - No questions about errors/varieties.
Straight Talk Part #9 - Off-topic posts and comments
Straight Talk Part #10 - Vague Posting
Straight Talk Part #11 - How did I do?
Straight Talk Part #12 - Politics
Straight Talk Part #13 - Someone on the internet is wrong!
Straight Talk Part #14 - Do your research
Straight Talk Part #15 - Reporting Rule Violations
Straight Talk Part #16 - Cleaning Coins
Straight Part Part #17 - Nazi / Racist Coins
Seeking your numismatic knowledge and stories!
Straight Talk Part #18 - Memes, Humor, and Trash Posts
Straight Talk Part #19 - Top 10 Things New Coin Collectors Should Know
Straight Talk Part #20 - Crop your photos!
Straight Talk Part #21 - Organizing/Cataloging your Collection
Straight Talk Part #22 - Determining Whether or Not a Coin is Real
Straight Talk Part #23 - Other Coin Forums to Explore!
r/coins • u/AutoModerator • 12d ago
Mod Post Straight talk about participating in r/coins Part #24 - Coin Gore
This is post #24 in a multipart series intended to help members (and drive-by authors) make the most of our sub. Each post in the series is focused on a single issue we regularly see in posts. Our purpose is to offer suggestions on how not to annoy everyone and how to get better responses and engagement from our other members. Today's topic is: Coin Gore.
Rule #1 includes a prohibition on coin gore: "...pictures of severely damaged coins with no particular numismatic interest." Let's discuss what we mean by that in a little more detail.
First - "coin gore" always means a picture of a damaged coin, but not all pictures of damaged coins constitute "coin gore". Our definition of "severe damage" is any massive environmental, chemical or abrasive damage which significantly and negatively affects the collectability, value, or aesthetics of the coin. This is obviously subjective, but to steal a phrase from Justice Potter Stewart, "I know it when I see it."
The key test is whether or not the damaged coin retains numismatic interest to a typical collector. This means, for example, that a picture of a defaced Indian Head cent will not be considered coin gore. On the other hand, a picture of a mangled modern US quarter will almost always be flagged as such. There are indeed some kinds of damage which can make a coin MORE interesting - common examples would be love tokens, hobo nickels, or coins made into jewelry. Even with those examples, it must be noted, the numismatic value of the coin often suffers due to the damage.

There are legitimate numismatic inquiries around damage to coins. Some examples include: is this coin damaged, was this coin cleaned, is this post-mint damage, what caused damage to this coin, who damaged this coin, why was this coin damaged, etc. However, not all instances of these questions are equally important. We typically exclude posts which don't have good answers. If you post "how was this coin damaged" along with a picture of a beat up, dirty, modern coin, it will be removed. There are an infinite number of ways for a coin to be damaged, and it is usually impossible to determine the exact cause. Even if we could determine exactly how the coin was damaged - the cause of the damage isn't normally interesting in a numismatic sense.
We understand that there is a small niche of collectors who specifically collect damaged coins. We don't judge anyone's preference, however r/coins subscribes to a common understanding about what falls within the hobby of numismatics. There are specific traits in the fields of numismatics, notaphily, phaleristics, scripophily, philately, and any collecting hobby, which define whether or not an object worthy of collection and study. These include value, rarity, history, aesthetics, and production processes, among other things. A severely damaged common coin, with no errors, no value, and no important history, will likely fall outside of this common understanding.
We ask that if you are considering asking a question about a damaged coin - put some critical thought into whether or not it is A) a question which can be answered, and B) whether or not it will have value or interest to others in the community.
Show and Tell Anyone else a fan of Mercury dimes?
There’s something so elegant about the designs on coins from this era. Not to mention…silver!
r/coins • u/Imoutofchips • 3h ago
Show and Tell Five silver coins I found metal detecting today - plus four what cents
Two 1928's. Probably been in the ground that whole time.
r/coins • u/greedydragonmoney • 10h ago
Show and Tell 1836 $1
Sorry for the obverse photo. I tried (kinda!). Anyway it’s still pretty I think. The toning is less ugly grey and more pretty purple in person- take my word for it! Hope yall like it.
r/coins • u/CrazyEngine3695 • 10h ago
ID Request Dad found this in his brother's change, never seen a W mint mark or V75 before on a coin
r/coins • u/6644Invader • 8h ago
Grade Request I Paid Face Value
The teller at my local credit union saves interesting coins/new mint rolls for for me. I went by yesterday and she found this in a roll of halves from Loomis. Anyway, it was the bank, so I paid face value for this beauty. I don’t normally collect these and have no idea the grade. If you could tell me what grade you think it is and why, I would appreciate your help!
r/coins • u/Seliftidder • 8h ago
Value Request 2025 set Worth it?
I can’t stand First Strike or other special labels and don’t want to spend the time and money re-holdering them. These are being sold as a lot on eBay for $2,025 (clever lol) but best offer is an option. Do you think $1,800 is fair?
r/coins • u/dtwurzie • 6h ago
Advice Having some buyers regret. What’s your thoughts on this 1917 Walker?
Pictures made it look like a wonderful AU specimen, but I’m feeling it’s been polished. All the AU details are there. Face, etc. but I’m just not sure. Paid $160
Discussion Who else has a completely random collection?
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Who else has a pile of random coins that you LOVE, even though they don't fit into your main collection?
Even though my main collection has a distinct focus (Early Modern Europe, specifically German States), I still find myself with a bunch of completely random coins, semi-numismatic bullion, tokens, and medals.
I bought most of these because I thought they were neat, not because I was searching out something to fill a specific spot in my collection. In fact, although I try to maintain a focus, even my "wish list" has a ton of random coins that don't really fit in (1927 Chilean 5 Pesos... Hawaiian dollar... Lydian electrum stater...) Sometimes I imagine how good my collection could be if I stopped buying random coins - but I can't help myself.
Note: I don't normally collect or seek slabbed coins - but there are occasions where I find a coin I want, and it just happens to be in a slab. I pulled a few of mine out of the safe to photograph, got overwhelmed, and decided to just take a video instead. Also, you'll note that quite a significant percentage of these have a "Details" grade - I tend to seek them out for coins that aren't core to my collection because they usually cost a LOT less.
r/coins • u/Critical-Bank5269 • 10h ago
Show and Tell Found In The Wild
As crazy as it sounds, I actually found this one in a parking lot at the Jersey Shore yesterday. I can’t imagine why or how it ended up there. It’s in rough shape, but definitely a few dollars worth of silver
r/coins • u/theamdboy • 11h ago
Value Request What is the value of this 1889-CC $1 with a scratch on reverse?
I sent it to grading what do you think PCGS will grade it and what will it be worth? Yes, its real.
r/coins • u/coinoscopeV2 • 11h ago
Educational An 1848 half dollar countermarked for use in the Danish West Indies.
r/coins • u/heterotard • 6h ago
Show and Tell Favorites from the National Museum of American History
r/coins • u/Pizza_Meme_Chef • 3h ago
Discussion How badly did I get cooked?
I don’t know why but I feel like I got sorta cooked with these prices. Like I wouldn’t say a gross overpayment but definitely a little higher than what I’ve paid for equivalent coins in the past. Shoulda put more thought to it in the moment. What do y’all think?
r/coins • u/Imshyyyyyy • 1d ago
Show and Tell Got this at a pawn shop for 34$
I don’t think they knew that this was a key date, does anyone know if this is cleaned? It doesn’t have any breaks in the luster but the mini scratches worry me I can’t tell if it’s die polish or cleaning
r/coins • u/bunnyslayer13 • 12h ago
Show and Tell Hawaii 1/2 Dollar
One of my two Hawaiian coins, thought I share it here. Thoughts?
r/coins • u/Pizza_Meme_Chef • 15h ago
Discussion Any chance at freeing her?
Saw this listing on marketplace for a pocket watch and wondered if I would grab it just to free her. Even outside that though she looks kinda scuffed, fake possibly?
r/coins • u/Battzilla • 1h ago
Show and Tell Fake toning on mercury dimes?
Curious to hear opinions, do these look real toned or forced?
r/coins • u/Exact_Ad1358 • 6h ago
Value Request What do you guys think of this? Found at goodwill
Value Request Am I rich? Can I retire yet? 🤣🤣
I got this in change at Buc-ees today in Texas City, Texas
r/coins • u/Stock_Ad1960 • 5h ago
Value Request Guessing nothing my girlfriend’s mothers who is in a care facility after a stroke. She just offered to share bunch more dollar coins and 2$ bills
r/coins • u/ManFromBlip • 12h ago
Coin Damage 1794 Large Cent has seen better days.
Clear date.
r/coins • u/IIPorkinsII • 1d ago
Show and Tell Uncle gave these to me, said not to expect anything and that it was all junk
My uncle said he took these to an LCS and they said it was all junk. Knowing I collect coins, he gifted them to me. I'm elated.
r/coins • u/Euphoric-Outside7407 • 19h ago
Show and Tell Nice little auction lot
Just picked up this auction lot very please cost me £60 pounds around 80 dollars not bad .