Posting a Coin on Reddit? Here’s How to Get Better Answers

New to coins? You probably took a picture, dropped it into Reddit, and waited for someone to tell you if you’d found something rare.

Instead, you got downvoted. Or ignored. Or hit with a one-word reply like “cleaned” or “PMD.”

That’s not bad luck. That’s Reddit doing what Reddit does when it sees the same post for the thousandth time.

Most new collectors ask the same question in the same way:

• No date or mintmark
• No clear photo
• No specific question
• No effort to look it up first

The coin might be interesting. But the way it’s posted guarantees it’ll get buried, mocked, or both.

This isn’t a post about how to make Reddit nicer. It’s about how to get real answers instead of silence or sarcasm. If you want to level up fast, avoid the common mistakes, and actually learn something, keep reading.

Step One: Try to Answer Your Own Question First

Most coins that get posted to Reddit could’ve been looked up in under a minute. Seriously.

Type in the coin’s date, mintmark, and type followed by “error” or “value.”

Example:

1982 no mintmark dime error

2009 Lincoln cent reverse types

1971-D Eisenhower dollar value

Chances are, you’ll find a page from PCGS, Variety Vista, or even a past Reddit thread with the answer.

If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, that’s fine too. Just say that.

But the more effort you put in upfront, the more effort other people will put into helping you.

Step Two: Make Sure Your Post Isn’t Trash

There are certain types of coin posts that get shut down immediately. Not because the coin is bad, but because the post gives people nothing to work with.

Here’s what gets ignored or mocked almost every time:

• No clear photos
• No front and back shown
• No visible date or mintmark
• No specific question
• No sign of research (this is the fastest way to get ignored)
• Clickbait titles like “Rare???” or “Found this. Help!”

Even if your coin is interesting, posting it this way guarantees it gets buried. Reddit users don’t want to play detective. They want to know what you’re asking and why.

If your post feels like a guessing game, most people won’t bother.

Avoid these traps:

• Don’t post just a photo with no text
• Don’t ask “Is this worth anything?” without context
• Don’t expect others to zoom in and figure it out for you

Instead, be direct. Say what caught your eye. Say what you’ve looked up. Say what you want to know.

You don’t need to sound like an expert, you just need to show that you care enough to ask the question well.

Also: take decent photos.

They don’t have to be perfect, just clear and focused. Use natural light if you can. Set the coin on a flat surface. Make sure the date and mintmark are visible. And always include both sides of the coin. No one can tell you what’s going on if they can only see half the story.

Use the zoom on your phone. Tap that little 2x or 5x button so we can actually see what the hell you’re talking about. If the coin takes up 10 percent of the frame, you’re wasting everyone’s time.

You don’t need a fancy camera. You just need to care enough to frame the shot.

Step Three: Ask A Specific Question

Once you’ve got clear photos and a basic idea of what you’re looking at, it’s time to ask the right question. This is where most posts fall apart.

Here’s what to avoid:

• “Found this in change. Thoughts?”
• “Is this anything?”
• “What do I have here?”

Those questions tell people nothing. They force everyone to do the work for you.

A better approach is simple: describe what caught your attention, include what you’ve looked up, and ask one specific thing.

Try something like this:

• “This 1964 nickel looks off-center. Is that an actual error?”
• “I see doubling on the reverse of this 1983 cent. Could it be the DDR?”
• “This coin has weird toning. Is it natural or did someone mess with it?”

Even if you’re not sure what you’re seeing, just say that.

Example:

“I don’t know what this mark is. I checked for known errors on Variety Vista and didn’t see anything close.”

You don’t have to sound smart. You just have to show that you’re curious and trying.

If you’re asking a real question, people will usually give you a real answer.

Step Four: Know When Not to Post at All

Some coins just aren’t worth posting. That doesn’t mean they’re worthless. It just means they’re extremely common, well-documented, or not interesting enough to crowd the feed.

If your coin falls into one of these categories, you can probably skip the post:

• Modern pocket change with no visible error
• Susan B. Anthony, Sacagawea, or Presidential dollars
• Bicentennial quarters
• “In Cod We Trust” quarters (that’s just how the G looks—it’s not an error)
• Coins with minor tarnish, toning, or corrosion
• Anything where the only question is “Is this worth something?”

These coins are still fun to find, and some have sentimental or educational value. But they’ve been posted thousands of times already. Unless you have a specific reason to post, like clear doubling, a known variety, or something genuinely weird, most people will scroll past without a second look.

The test is simple:

Would you stop to help someone else if they posted this coin the same way you’re about to?

If the answer is no, then maybe hold off and dig a little deeper on your own first.

Final Thoughts

Reddit can be a great place to learn about coins, but it works best when you meet the community halfway. Clear photos, focused questions, and a little research go a long way.

Not every coin needs its own post. Some are better as a learning moment for you than a teaching moment for everyone else. That’s part of collecting too.

If you take your time, ask good questions, and actually listen to the answers, you’ll learn fast. And the more you learn, the more you’ll spot the difference between something ordinary and something worth getting excited about.

That’s when it starts getting fun.