Why does a jar stay unsorted for years?
Because emptying it asks you to know which pieces matter. Most of it is ordinary change. A few coins are not. Photographing the jar postpones the verdict until you can see dates and mint marks as a list instead of a rattle.
How do you photograph coins so the catalog is useful?
One coin, two shots - heads and tails - in daylight on a white cloth. The app reads denomination, country, year and mint mark when the picture is sharp, and files the piece under Coins & Currency. Give the jar a place so "the kitchen jar" is stored, not remembered.
- Wipe the coin. Dirt is how mint marks disappear.
- Photograph slabbed coins through the holder. Do not crack a slab to catalog it.
- Ordinary circulation pieces can share one item with a quantity if you do not care about each date.
- Anything with a mint mark, an odd year or a story gets its own row.
When a piece looks scarce, the next step is a specialist or a listed sale with the catalog open. The estimate on the item is there to tell you which coins deserve that time.
FAQ
Will the app grade a coin like a slab would?
It can read a printed grade on a slab and offer an estimate from comparable listings. It does not replace a grading service.
What about banknotes in the same jar?
Photograph them flat, one note at a time. They belong in the same Coins & Currency catalog.
Are the estimates something I can take to a dealer?
They are estimates from comparable sales, for information. Fine for deciding which pieces deserve a specialist. Not a professional appraisal.
