Hi, my name is John Bailey and I am legally blind. I can see some things, but it’s easier to use adaptive techniques of blindness to do a lot of stuff where it is just too hard or impossible to do with my remaining vision.

What I am going to talk about is how anyone, no matter their visual acuity, can tell one coin from another. Knowing these little tricks can make life easier.

I am going to tell you about how to identify the four most commonly used coins: the penny, the nickel, the dime, and the quarter. I don’t remember the last time I saw a half dollar, and it was several decades ago since I saw a two-dollar bill or a Susan B. Anthony coin. I’m just going to stick with the four basic ones you are most likely to receive as change from a store cashier.

There are tactile clues you can use to determine the denomination of coins; they are very easy to learn and utilize if your vision isn’t what it used to be. These clues make it so easy to tell which coin is which without having to hold each coin up to your eye or having to ask others for assistance. So, when the cashier gives you your money back, breaks a dollar, or whatever, you can tell right away if you’ve received the correct change back.

Let’s start by pointing out there are two physical characteristics that are used by the blind to tell which coin is which. The first is the coin’s size. The second characteristic has to do with the coin’s edge. Using these two physical clues lets you know right away which coin is which.

Let’s start with the smallest denomination you can receive: the penny. The penny is easy to identify because it is one of the smallest coins and has a smooth outer edge.
The nickel is a heftier coin with a smooth edge like the penny.
The smallest physical coin you will run into is the dime. It is also the thinnest of the bunch. But, how can you be sure you are not mistaking it for a penny? Simple, the dime also has ridges around the edge. So, if the coin you are holding is small and has ridges, it is a dime. And, you didn’t even have to remove it from your pocket to tell!

Before knowing these techniques, I often mistook nickels and quarters. It is easy to tell the denominations if you are holding them side-by-side. But, how can you tell the difference just holding one of them? Simple, the nickel has no ridge along the edge. The quarter is the largest coin you are likely to receive as change and has ridges along the sides.

For some reason, sighted people aren’t aware of the tactile differences and I often amaze them by knowing which coin is which without looking. It is like the easiest magic trick ever!

In any case, coins to the vision-impaired don’t have to be a mystery. By using the tactile techniques outlined above, that mystery handful of metal can easily be identified and sorted by you. And, don’t forget to impress your friends with your new trick.

Often, what seems to be impossible to do by the blind can be easily accomplished by the vision-impaired by knowing just a few tricks and combining them with a bit of ingenuity.