App Showcase: Coin ID

What it does

Coin ID is a specialized tool for coin collectors and enthusiasts. Using a phone's camera, the app identifies coins from photos, providing detailed information such as their country of origin, denomination, year, and composition. Its core function is to quickly give users an estimated market value for their coins and allow them to organize their findings into digital collections.

Where it shines

The app's onboarding is a highlight. Instead of a passive tutorial, it immediately launches into a dynamic demonstration of its AI identifying rare and valuable coins (00:04 - 00:37). This creates a 'wow' moment that builds excitement and justifies the subscription model. The actual coin identification process is straightforward: after granting permissions, the user snaps a photo of the obverse and reverse sides (01:26). The results page is clear, presenting the best match first, followed by other possibilities (02:02). Managing collections is also simple, with intuitive actions for creating, naming, and deleting folders for your coins (04:02).

UX highlights

• Value-first onboarding. The app shows its most impressive capability first (00:08), building user desire before asking for any commitment.
• Clear scanning guide. Before the first scan, a helpful 'Snap Tips' screen shows visual examples of good and bad photos (01:19), setting the user up for success.
• Interactive cropping. After taking a photo, the user can pinch and zoom to perfectly align the coin within a circular frame (01:31), ensuring accurate recognition.
• Structured results. The identification results screen (02:02) provides a 'Best Match' at the top, which is a smart way to give a confident answer while still providing other potential matches below.
• Embedded feedback loop. After providing a result, the app asks "Was this result useful?" with a simple Yes/No prompt (02:14). This helps refine the algorithm over time.
• Clean information hierarchy. The coin detail screen (02:10) organizes information into logical cards for 'Information,' 'Size,' and 'Coin's Info,' making it easy to digest.

Monetization & growth

The app presents its monetization strategy early in the user journey. After the initial value demonstration, it displays a paywall (00:37) with three options: a yearly plan, a weekly plan with a 3-day free trial, and a unique 'Enable Free Access' option. This third option is a soft paywall approach, allowing users to proceed for free but requiring them to actively opt-in. The free trial is the most prominent call to action, and the user completes the subscription using the standard Apple payment sheet (01:07).

Who it’s for

This app is clearly designed for two main groups: seasoned numismatists who want a quick digital tool for on-the-go identification and value estimation, and casual hobbyists or inheritors of collections who are curious about what their coins might be worth. The treasure-hunt framing in the onboarding appeals directly to those hoping to discover a hidden gem, while the detailed information and collection management features cater to more serious collectors.

Notes & opportunities

The onboarding flow is strong but could be slightly undermined by the immediate App Tracking Transparency prompt (00:01), which appears before the app has established any trust or value. Delaying this prompt might improve opt-in rates. Additionally, the camera interface for taking a picture (01:22) is very basic. Adding features like automatic edge detection or guides for optimal lighting could further improve the accuracy and user experience of the core scanning feature.