FAQ

The AI grades from photos only. Obverse is required; reverse is optional but strongly recommended for accuracy. No text context — no coin name, no description, no notes, no filename — is fed to the model. Identification and grade are derived entirely from what the camera captured.

This is a change from earlier versions. Previously the model received a coin-name hint along with the photos, which made it easy to bias the grade by typing a more (or less) optimistic identification. Now the same images will produce the same identification every time — and the same grade most of the time.

We also pin the AI's sampling temperature low (≈ 0.1), which cuts out most of the run-to-run randomness that even identical inputs used to produce. Expect occasional small variation on borderline grades; expect zero variation on identification.

What the AI returns

• An identification line (year, mint mark, series, denomination) — derived from the photo, prominent in the result card.
• A numeric grade (e.g. MS-63) and grade name (“Choice Uncirculated”).
• A confidence score 0–100, plus a plausible grade range (e.g. MS-62 to MS-64).
• Five sub-grades: strike, luster, surface, eye appeal, and rim — each 0–100.
• Modifier flags: + designation, ★, Proof-Like, Deep Mirror PL, Details (problem grade) with a reason.
• A brief variety attribution (only when the model is reasonably sure).
• Three short observations, a 2–3 sentence narrative, and a certification recommendation.
• Price estimates: Greysheet bid, CDN retail, and a recent eBay range.

When the AI's identification disagrees with yours

If the AI identifies the coin differently from the name you typed (e.g. you wrote “1881 Morgan”, AI says “1881-S Morgan Dollar”), you'll be asked which name to save under before the coin is added to inventory. You can always change it later on the coin's edit page.

No-photo coins

Coins without photos cannot be AI-graded. Bulk regrade jobs will skip them and report the count; add a photo first if you want them graded.

Good photos are the single biggest lever on grading and identification accuracy — the AI sees only what your camera captured. A few habits go a long way.

Background. Use a solid color that contrasts with the coin. Neutral gray or black velvet works well for silver and clad — pure white blows out the luster. Use white or light gray for darker copper or bronze. Avoid busy patterns and glossy surfaces, which reflect light back into the shot.

Lighting. Keep it indirect and diffused. Direct flash kills luster and creates hot spots that hide surface detail. Best is two soft lights at angles, which brings out luster through “raking” light. A single desk lamp angled at about 30 degrees from the coin works too. Avoid warm yellow incandescent — daylight or neutral white LED gives the most accurate color. Avoid fluorescent if possible.

Framing. Fill the frame so the coin occupies 70–80% of the shot. The in-app crop tool helps with this.

Angle. Hold the camera directly above, with the lens perpendicular to the coin face. Tilted shots throw off both grading and AI identification.

Focus and steadiness. Tap to focus on phone cameras. Brace your elbows or rest the phone on something. Camera shake is invisible on the preview but ruins fine detail like luster, contact marks, and hairlines.

Both sides. Always photograph both obverse and reverse. Edge or rim shots only if relevant — for certain coins, mint marks live on the edge.

Resolution. Shoot at your camera's highest quality setting. The app compresses photos for upload, so it's better to start big and shrink than to start small and lose detail.

TODO: explain Free (50 lifetime), Dealer Pro (200/month, anniversary reset), Dealer (none), and how packs stack and consume after the tier allotment. Mention Profile as the place to see what's left.

TODO: walk through the cancel-at-period-end flow, 90-day read-only grace window, and the eventual account lock. Mention that pack credits survive cancellation.

TODO: short answer — no. Spell out that packs stack on top of tier allotments, are consumed only after the tier bucket is drained, and travel with the account across tier changes.