Adverts
You know that drawer? Yes, that one drawer. Everyone has one. Mine is the third one on the nightstand, a veritable portal to a dimension of random things.
Adverts
That's where pens that no longer write live, a single-ended earphone, mysterious hair ties, and, of course, a handful of coins.
Strange coins, left over from some old trip, or that simply appeared in change and were too different to be spent.
Adverts
For years, they sat there, silent, each with a story I didn't know. They were just... old coins.
Until one day, curiosity got the better of me. One afternoon of productive boredom, while tidying up this mess, I picked up a dark, somewhat worn coin.
It was from a country I didn't even remember visiting. It had a face I didn't recognize and symbols that meant nothing to me. "How much is this worth?" I thought. My first response was: "Probably nothing." The second was a quick search online, typing "old coin with a mustachioed guy and a ship." The results, as you can imagine, were a useless mess.
Download on Google Play 
Download on the App Store It was in this moment of frustration that a friend, overhearing my saga, asked me the question that would change everything: "Have you heard of CoinSnap?" I hadn't. And, to be honest, it sounded like another one of those apps that promises the world and delivers a one-room apartment.
But boredom still lingered, and so did curiosity about the mysterious coin. I decided to give it a try. Little did I know I was about to unlock a hobby I hadn't even known I had.
The Moment of Truth: A Simple Photo
I downloaded CoinSnap, and the interface was clean and to the point. The main function was right there, prominently displayed: a large button to take a photo. I grabbed the dark coin, placed it on a white sheet of paper for contrast, as the app suggested, and centered it in the camera. Click. Flipped the coin. Click again.
The app started processing the image. I swear it took about five seconds, but in my head it looked like a scene from a spy movie, with satellites aligning and databases being searched. And then… BEEPThe result appeared on the screen. And it wasn't just a name. It was a complete dossier.
My "dark coin with a mustachioed face" was actually a 20 Centavos de Escudo coin from Portugal, minted in 1943. The "mustachioed face" represented the Portuguese Republic, and the ship was a caravel, a symbol of great voyages. Suddenly, that seemingly worthless piece of metal acquired an identity, a nationality, and a date of birth. It was like discovering the birth certificate of an object lost in time.
Diving into the Details: More Than Just a Name
The truly impressive part came next. CoinSnap wasn't content to simply tell me what the currency was. It opened up a wealth of information that kept me engaged for nearly an hour. This is where the app's "serious" side shines, but in a way that fuels the fun of discovery.
1. Numismatic Specifications: The first thing I saw was a technical sheet worthy of a professional catalog. The app gave me the coin's exact weight (4.5 grams), diameter (22 mm), composition material (Bronze-Aluminum), and even the engraver's name. For those unfamiliar with numismatics (which I was), these details might seem excessive. But in reality, they're what give the coin its "personality." Understanding its composition and dimensions makes it more real, more tangible.
2. Historical Information: This was my favorite part. The app gave me a brief overview of Portugal's historical context in 1943. The country was under Salazar's Estado Novo regime, attempting to remain neutral in World War II. That small 20-cent coin, which likely passed through thousands of hands to buy bread, newspapers, or coffee, was a silent witness to one of the most turbulent periods in world history. Suddenly, I wasn't just holding metal, but a small historical artifact. A 4.5-gram time capsule.
3. Pricing Details: The million-dollar question (or, in this case, a few cents of Escudo): how much is it worth? CoinSnap offers a value estimate based on the coin's condition. It shows a price scale for different "grades" (such as G – Good, VG – Very Good, F – Fine, XF – Extremely Fine, AU – About Uncirculated). This was educational. I learned that a worn coin, one that has circulated extensively, is worth much less than one that looks fresh from the mint. My coin, visibly worn, was worth… very little. Maybe a few reais. I didn't get rich, but the clarity was liberating. The value wasn't in the money, but in the discovery. The app taught me to visually assess condition, which is a fundamental skill for any enthusiast.
4. Supported Countries: After identifying my Portuguese coin, I went on a hunt through my drawer. I found a US quarter (a quarter) from 1999. CoinSnap immediately identified it, showing me that it was part of the 50-state commemorative series, and this one, in particular, was from Georgia. I found Argentine pesos, Spanish euros, and even an old Brazilian Cruzeiro coin that I hadn't even remembered existed. The app's ability to recognize coins from around the world is vast, transforming any random collection into a geographic and historical atlas.
From Curious to Collector: Organizing My “Museum”
The feature that really hooked me and turned me from a one-time user into a fan was the collection tool. For each coin I identified, the app gave me the option to "Add to My Collection."
With a few clicks, I was creating digital albums. I sorted my coins by country, then by decade. The app automatically filled in all the information: the photo, the year, the estimated value, the specifications. In less than an hour, my junk drawer had transformed into a "World Coin Collection – Post-War Period," organized and digitally cataloged on my phone. This is incredibly satisfying. Seeing all those coins, previously anonymous, now organized with their complete "biographies" gave me a sense of accomplishment and pride. It's your personal museum, portable and always accessible.
The Verdict: Is It For You?
After using CoinSnap extensively, I can confidently say that it caters to different audiences, and that's what makes it so brilliant.
- For the Accidental Curious (as I was): Did you find a coin on the street or at your grandmother's house and just want to know what it is? This app is perfect. In seconds, it satisfies your curiosity with impressive accuracy.
- For the Hobby Beginner: If you're thinking about starting to collect coins, CoinSnap is your teacher and personal assistant. It teaches you about conservation conditions, numismatic terminology, and helps you organize your collection from day one, avoiding the mess of notebooks.
- For the Experienced Collector: Even those with extensive knowledge can benefit from the speed of identification and, especially, the digital cataloging tool. Having your entire collection in your pocket, with updated value estimates, is a great help for fairs, exchanges, or simply for personal control.
Of course, not everything is perfect. The app operates on a subscription model to access all unlimited features. The free version allows for a few identifications, which is great for testing. Furthermore, the accuracy of the identification depends heavily on the quality of your photo. A dark, blurry photo, or one with a confusing background can yield inaccurate results. However, by following the app's own tips (white background, good lighting), the accuracy rate is extremely high.
In the end, the CoinSnap did something I didn't expect. It gave me a new set of eyes. Now, when I receive change, I look more closely. When I visit an antique shop, my eyes turn to the coin trays. That small piece of metal stopped being just money and became a gateway to history, geography, and art.
My junk drawer still has a few pens without ink, but the coins now have a name, a surname, and a story to tell. And all this thanks to an app that, with a simple click, transformed chaos into knowledge and curiosity into passion. If you have a similar drawer, I challenge you: take a look. You might have a treasure waiting to be discovered.
