Before children can count money, add prices, or give change, they need to recognise coins. Which coin is which? What is each one worth? Why does the small coin sometimes buy more than the big one?
Coin recognition is the foundation of all money skills, and it’s best learned through handling and play — not flashcards.
Why Coin Recognition Is the Starting Point
Every other money skill depends on recognising coins quickly and accurately:
- Counting coins requires knowing each coin’s value on sight
- Adding money needs instant recall of what each coin is worth
- Giving change demands fast identification to select the right coins from a till
- Real-world confidence comes from recognising coins without hesitation
Children who spend time with real coins develop this recognition naturally. But many children today have less exposure to physical money as contactless payments become the norm — making deliberate practice more important than ever.
What Makes Coin Recognition Tricky
Coins don’t follow intuitive rules. Consider what a child has to deal with:
- Size doesn’t equal value — A 5p coin is larger than a 10p coin. A US dime (10¢) is smaller than a nickel (5¢).
- Colour varies — Some coins are silver, some copper, some gold, some two-toned. The colour doesn’t consistently indicate value.
- Multiple features to track — Size, colour, thickness, edge pattern, and the design on each face all help identify a coin.
- Different currencies look completely different — Euros, pounds, dollars, and other currencies each have their own designs and logic.
For adults, this is automatic. For children, it takes repeated exposure and practice.
What to Expect at Each Age
Ages 4–5: Can sort coins by appearance (colour, size) without knowing values. Starting to name common coins (“that’s a pound coin”). Can match coins to pictures of coins.
Ages 5–6: Knows the names and values of the most common coins in their currency. Can identify coins by touch as well as sight. Starting to understand the relationship between coins (two 10p coins make 20p).
Ages 6–7: Recognises all coins in their currency instantly. Can identify coins from other currencies they’ve encountered. Understands that the same value can be made with different coin combinations.
How myplayshop Teaches Coin Recognition
myplayshop uses real coin designs from 16 different currencies. When your child plays, they see and interact with the actual coins they’ll encounter in real life:
- Coins appear in the till — children see realistic coin images and select them during play
- Repeated exposure — every transaction involves identifying and handling coins
- Multiple currencies available — if you travel or want to introduce world currencies, children can switch between them
- Context gives meaning — coins aren’t shown in isolation. They’re used to pay for things, which connects the coin’s appearance to its value
- No memorisation required — children learn to recognise coins through use, the same way they learned to recognise letters through reading
The game creates the kind of repeated, meaningful exposure that builds automatic recognition.
Activities to Try at Home
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The coin sort — Empty a handful of coins on the table. Ask your child to sort them into groups. Let them choose their own sorting method first (they might sort by size or colour before value). Then sort together by value.
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Coin rubbings — Place coins under paper and rub with a crayon. This creates detailed images children can label and study. It’s also satisfying and fun.
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The feel test — Put different coins in a bag. Ask your child to feel one coin without looking and identify it. This builds recognition through touch — a skill shopkeepers use daily.
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Coin snap — Make pairs of cards: one with a coin image, one with its value written out. Play snap or memory matching games.
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The coin museum — Ask your child to arrange one of each coin in order from lowest to highest value. Label each one. If you have coins from holidays abroad, include those too.
Tips for Parents and Teachers
- Use real coins whenever possible — Pictures are a starting point, but real coins have weight, texture, and detail that build recognition faster.
- Focus on your own currency first — Master the coins your child will actually use before exploring others.
- Don’t teach all coins at once — Start with two or three, then add more as those become familiar.
- Connect appearance to value — “This gold coin is worth £1. It’s thicker than the others. Feel how heavy it is.”
- Pair with myplayshop — The app reinforces coin recognition through play. Children see realistic coins repeatedly in a context that makes their values meaningful.