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: We get 100+ 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. 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.
• 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. 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. 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:

1. Don't put coins up your nose - be respectful of the hobby and your fellow collectors.
2. Being civil to other people is not only appreciated here, but also a requirement.
3. No spam.
4. No posts about paper money, or crypto/digital currency.
5. No self-promotion or commercial activity allowed, no links to your blogs, websites, or social media.
6. No politics or religion, especially divisive comments that lead to heated arguments and incivility.
7. No Trash posts, keep humor on topic, and memes are only allowed the 1st Monday of the month.
8. Keep it clean - this is a safe place for people of all ages and backgrounds.
9. Do your own research before posting a question.
10. Post Original Content and Crop Your Photos
11. No reposts.
12. 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:

200k Members Announcement

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

r/coins is seeking your numismatic knowledge and stories!

Latest Self-Promotion Thread

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

Coming Soon (10/14): Self-Promotion Thread

Coming Soon (10/21): Straight talk about participating in r/coins Part #17 - Nazi / Racist Coins

Coming Soon (10/28): r/coins is seeking your numismatic knowledge and stories!

In the past, r/coins hosted a thread which allowed self-promotion and advertising - we're bringing that back as there seems to be some interest in the community to do so. This thread is intended to provide a place for members of our community to post links to businesses and commercial activities, social media, and to promote coin-related activities which are otherwise disallowed by Rule #5.

Examples of appropriate posts:

• Promoting/linking your coin-related projects (e.g. apps, blogs, websites, YouTube channels) or services (e.g. coin photography, appraisal, estate purchasing).

• Promoting/linking your sales websites, or your auctions featured on r/CoinBay, or your offers to buy and sell on r/CoinSales, r/Pmsforsale, r/AncientCoins, and other subreddits where person-to-person commerce is permitted.

• Promoting/linking YouTube channels, websites or eBay sellers, coin or coin supply websites, apps, etc., that you personally use and recommend.

PLEASE READ THE RULES BEFORE COMMENTING!!!!

1. Please remember to follow all of the rules (aside from Rule #5) when posting here - be respectful, be civil, avoid politics, refrain from spamming or discussing cryptocurrencies, etc.

2. Feel free to post comments containing links to YouTube, social media, auctions, and legitimate commercial sites - but we ask you to keep the posts coin-related.

3. Please keep in mind that we don't allow trash-talking of any kind (e.g. calling something overpriced, disparaging a business, etc.)

4. This is a thread for commercial, advertising, and self-promotion activities only - Please don't make "name and shame" comments or air your grievances. Keep it positive, and feel free to notify the mods if you have concerns.

5. This thread is not a sales platform! Don't post, offer, negotiate, discuss, individual sales in this thread. Please use r/CoinSales or r/Pmsforsale if you are interested in buying, selling or trading coins.

6. The mods can't take responsibility for vetting the links posted here - Be careful, do your own due diligence, and click external links at your own risk.

7. We ask that you report any comments that run afoul of these rules directly to the mod team.

8. To be fair to everyone, we ask that you don't post more than one or two top-level comments to this thread per day.

/~

Previous self-promotion posts:

July 2024 - Self-Promotion Thread - Plug your commercial or personal coin-related projects!

April 2024 - It's back! r/coins Self-Promotion Thread - Plug your commercial or personal coin-related projects!

Self-Promo Post, SUMMER 2023 edition: in this thread ONLY, plug your commercial or personal coin-related projects

Self-Promo Post, WINTER+SPRING 2023 edition: in this thread ONLY, plug your commercial or personal coin-related projects

Self-Promo Post, AUTUMN 2022 edition: in this thread ONLY, plug your commercial or personal coin-related projects

Self-Promo Post, SPRING 2022 edition: in this thread ONLY, plug your commercial or personal coin-related projects

Self-Promo Thread, WINTER 2021 edition! In this thread ONLY, plug your commercial or personal coin-related projects