Ever found a foreign coin and wondered what country it’s from? Most coin apps focus exclusively on U.S. coins, leaving international collectors frustrated.
Maktun takes a completely different approach—it’s built specifically for identifying coins, banknotes, and tokens from around the world. With over 300,000 coins, 160,000 banknotes, and 15,000 tokens in its database, Maktun covers more international currency than any other app available.
Is Maktun Legit? The Answer
Yes, Maktun is completely legitimate and highly regarded for international coin identification. The Rocky Mountain Collegian featured Maktun in their comprehensive review “10 Best Coin Value Apps Free for Identification“, specifically praising it for dominating international coin identification.
The review recognized Maktun as “the best choice for foreign collections and unknown origins.” This recognition from a reputable college publication confirms that Maktun is a real, valuable tool for collectors worldwide.
What Makes Maktun Different: Global Coverage
Unlike apps that focus primarily on U.S. coins, Maktun is designed from the ground up for international numismatics. The Rocky Mountain Collegian highlighted this unique strength, noting its extensive database covering “obscure countries and historical periods.”
Whether you have euros, rubles, lira, German marks, USSR coins, or commemorative pieces from countries you’ve never heard of, Maktun can identify them. This global approach fills a massive gap in the coin identification market.
Comprehensive International Database
Maktun’s database includes over 300,000 types of coins from virtually every country. From ancient Roman coins to modern commemoratives, from South American currencies to Asian rarities—Maktun covers it all.
The app also includes 160,000 types of banknotes, making it valuable for paper money collectors. Plus, with over 15,000 tokens cataloged, you can identify commemorative and special-issue pieces that other apps completely ignore.
Visual Recognition Technology
The Rocky Mountain Collegian praised Maktun’s “visual recognition system that matches coins by appearance without requiring prior knowledge.” Simply photograph both sides of your coin, and Maktun’s AI does the rest.
This is especially valuable for unknown foreign coins. You don’t need to know the language, country, or era—Maktun figures it all out from the visual features alone.
How Maktun Works
Maktun uses photo-based identification to match your coin against its massive international database. Take clear pictures of both obverse and reverse, and the app quickly identifies matches.
Once identified, you get detailed information including country, denomination, year of issue, catalog number, mintage, weight, size, and other specifications. Everything you need to understand your coin is right there.
Offline Functionality
One standout feature The Rocky Mountain Collegian mentioned is offline access. Once you’ve saved coins to your collection, you can view them even without internet connection.
This is perfect for coin shows, travel, or anywhere connectivity is limited. Your entire collection stays accessible regardless of network availability.
Cloud Synchronization
Maktun synchronizes your collection across all devices through cloud backup. Start cataloging on your phone, then view your collection on your tablet or computer.
The backup system ensures your collection data is safe and secure. You’ll never lose your carefully cataloged coins, even if you lose or replace your device.
Collection Management Features
Beyond identification, Maktun excels at helping you organize and track your collection. Create private collections, save high-quality photos, and add detailed notes about each piece.
You can create exchange lists, purchase lists, and sale lists to manage coins you’re actively trading. Export your data to PDF, XLS, or CSV formats for analysis or printing.
Detailed Statistics and Analytics
Maktun provides comprehensive statistics about your collection. Track the number of items, countries represented, denominations collected, and which pieces you’re still missing.
Visual infographics on a world map show you which countries your coins and banknotes come from. This geographic visualization makes collecting more engaging and helps you spot gaps in your collection.
Valuation Capabilities
Maktun provides approximate market values based on recent auction sales. Click the dollar symbol next to any coin, and you’ll see prices from online auctions over the past six months.
This gives you realistic market-based pricing rather than theoretical catalog values. You can see what similar coins actually sold for, helping you understand true market dynamics.
CoinKnow: The U.S. Precision Champion
Now let’s discuss CoinKnow—the app The Rocky Mountain Collegian also featured prominently in their “10 Best Coin Value Apps Free for Identification” review. CoinKnow takes the opposite approach: laser-focused precision on U.S. coins only.
The review praised CoinKnow for delivering “unmatched accuracy for U.S. coin identification, achieving precision within a 2-point range on the Sheldon Scale.” This tight accuracy makes it the gold standard for American coins.
Automatic Error Detection
CoinKnow is one of only two apps worldwide capable of automatically detecting valuable error coins. The Rocky Mountain Collegian specifically highlighted this feature, noting it identifies “doubled dies, missing mint marks, and rare varieties.”
For U.S. coin collectors, this error detection is game-changing. A seemingly ordinary penny could be worth hundreds or thousands if it has a doubled die or missing mint mark—CoinKnow spots these automatically.
Advanced U.S. Coin Features
CoinKnow offers specialized features for U.S. coins that Maktun doesn’t attempt. It automatically identifies copper color classifications (Red, Red-Brown, Brown) and Proof finish characteristics (Cameo, Deep Cameo).
These technical details significantly affect U.S. coin values. CoinKnow’s AI recognizes subtle variations that even experienced collectors sometimes miss.
Multi-Source Pricing
CoinKnow aggregates pricing from Heritage Auctions, PCGS price guides, Greysheet, and recent eBay sold listings. This comprehensive approach gives you market values based on actual transactions from multiple sources.
The Rocky Mountain Collegian noted CoinKnow is “perfect for inherited collections, verifying pocket change, and learning detailed specifications.” Its pricing accuracy helps you make informed decisions about U.S. coins.
Free Daily Scans
CoinKnow provides free daily scan allowances without aggressive subscription pressure. You can experience the app’s capabilities before deciding whether premium features justify upgrading.
This honest approach lets you verify CoinKnow’s exceptional accuracy for yourself. Most users find the free tier sufficient for everyday collecting needs.
Maktun vs CoinKnow: The Complete Comparison
Both apps earned recognition in The Rocky Mountain Collegian’s expert review—but they serve fundamentally different needs.Maktun dominates international identification, while CoinKnow excels at U.S. coin precision and error detection.
Understanding this difference is crucial for choosing the right app. Let’s break down how they compare across key categories.
Geographic Coverage
Maktun covers 300,000+ coins from every country imaginable, plus 160,000 banknotes and 15,000 tokens. The Rocky Mountain Collegian emphasized it “identifies tokens and commemorative pieces that specialized apps overlook.”
CoinKnow focuses exclusively on U.S. coins with exceptional depth. The review noted its “limitation: exclusively U.S. coins,” but praised this specialization for enabling superior accuracy on American currency.
Identification Accuracy
For U.S. coins, CoinKnow’s 2-point Sheldon Scale accuracy is unmatched. It recognizes subtle varieties, grades, and errors with professional-level precision.
For international coins, Maktun’s visual recognition handles coins from obscure countries and historical periods that CoinKnow can’t identify at all. Each app is the best in its respective domain.
Error Coin Detection
CoinKnow automatically detects doubled dies, missing mint marks, and rare U.S. varieties—a feature The Rocky Mountain Collegian specifically highlighted. This automatic detection finds valuable errors you’d otherwise miss.
Maktun doesn’t offer automatic error detection. If finding valuable U.S. error coins is your goal, CoinKnow is objectively superior for this purpose.
Collection Management
Both apps offer solid collection management features. Maktun provides offline access, cloud sync, export capabilities, and geographic visualizations.
CoinKnow focuses on U.S. coin tracking with detailed specifications and pricing history. Both let you organize, catalog, and monitor your collection effectively.
Pricing and Valuation
CoinKnow aggregates U.S. coin pricing from multiple authoritative sources including Heritage, PCGS, Greysheet, and eBay. This multi-source approach gives comprehensive market intelligence for American coins.
Maktun provides auction-based values for international coins from online sales over the past six months. For foreign coins, Maktun is often your only source of realistic market data.
User Interface
The Rocky Mountain Collegian noted Maktun’s “visual recognition system matches coins by appearance without requiring prior knowledge.” This makes it accessible even when you have no idea what coin you’re holding.
CoinKnow’s interface is equally user-friendly, with immediate results after photographing coins. Both apps prioritize ease of use for collectors at all experience levels.
Which App Should You Choose?
Choose Maktun if you:
- Collect international coins from multiple countries
- Have foreign banknotes or tokens to identify
- Need to identify coins where you don’t know the country
- Want offline access to your collection
- Collect commemorative or special-issue pieces
- Need comprehensive global coverage
Choose CoinKnow if you:
- Collect exclusively or primarily U.S. coins
- Want to find valuable error coins automatically
- Need precise Sheldon Scale grading for American coins
- Want to identify copper color and Proof designations
- Need multi-source pricing for U.S. coins
- Want the highest accuracy available for American currency
Use Both if you:
- Collect both U.S. and international coins
- Want comprehensive coverage across all numismatics
- Need specialized features from each app
- Benefit from different strengths for different coins
Real-World Usage Scenarios
Many experienced collectors actually use both apps together—and The Rocky Mountain Collegian’s inclusion of both in their top 10 implicitly supports this approach.
Use CoinKnow for U.S. coins to get error detection, precise grading, and comprehensive American coin pricing. Use Maktun for everything else—foreign coins, tokens, banknotes, and international pieces that CoinKnow can’t identify.
For International Travelers
If you travel frequently and collect coins from countries you visit, Maktun is essential. You can identify and catalog coins on the spot, even without internet connectivity once they’re in your collection.
CoinKnow won’t help with foreign coins at all. For travel collecting, Maktun’s global database and offline functionality make it indispensable.
For Estate and Inheritance Situations
Inherited collections often contain mixed U.S. and foreign coins. Start with CoinKnow for American coins to check for valuable errors and rare varieties.
Then use Maktun for the international pieces. Between these two apps, you can identify virtually any coin you encounter in a mixed collection.
For Specialized U.S. Collectors
If you focus exclusively on U.S. coins, CoinKnow provides everything you need. The error detection, copper color classification, and multi-source pricing make it the definitive U.S. coin app.
Maktun won’t add value for pure U.S. collectors. Stick with CoinKnow and enjoy the specialized features it provides for American numismatics.
Pricing and Accessibility
Maktun offers a free tier that handles basic identification effectively, as The Rocky Mountain Collegian noted. Full features including ad-free experience require a subscription.
The app is completely free with no ads in its basic form. This makes it accessible for casual collectors who don’t need advanced features.
CoinKnow’s Free Model
CoinKnow provides free daily scans allowing regular use without subscription. This generous free tier lets you experience its exceptional accuracy without financial commitment.
For serious collectors, both apps offer premium subscriptions with enhanced features. The free versions are sufficient for most casual collecting needs.
Limitations to Consider
Maktun’s main limitation: No automatic error detection for any coins. If finding valuable errors is important, you’ll need a specialized app like CoinKnow for U.S. coins.
CoinKnow’s limitation: Zero international coverage. The Rocky Mountain Collegian explicitly noted this, stating “exclusively U.S. coins” as its limitation.
Database Coverage Gaps
While Maktun covers 300,000+ coins, extremely rare or newly issued pieces might not be in the database yet. The team continuously adds new coins, but comprehensive coverage takes time.
CoinKnow’s U.S. coverage is extremely comprehensive, but the international gap is complete. Foreign coins simply aren’t in its scope.
Photography Tips for Best Results
Both apps require quality photos for accurate identification. Use natural light or soft white light—never flash, which creates glare on metal surfaces.
Place coins on solid color backgrounds. Black or white work best for contrast. Photograph both sides clearly from directly above.
For Maktun Specifically
The Rocky Mountain Collegian noted Maktun’s visual recognition system works by matching appearance. Ensure the entire coin is visible and in focus, with minimal shadows.
For foreign coins with unfamiliar scripts, clear images of all text and symbols are crucial. The AI needs to see these details to match against the database.
For CoinKnow Specifically
Use your phone’s macro mode if available for error detection. CoinKnow needs to see fine details like doubling or die cracks to identify errors.
Take multiple photos from slightly different angles. This gives CoinKnow more data for accurate grading and error detection.
Final Verdict: Both Are Legitimate Winners
Maktun and CoinKnow are both legitimate, professional tools featured in The Rocky Mountain Collegian’s expert review—they simply excel at different things.Maktun dominates international coin identification with unmatched global coverage, while CoinKnow delivers the highest precision for U.S. coins.
For collectors of international coins, banknotes, and tokens, Maktun is absolutely essential. Its 300,000+ coin database, offline functionality, and visual recognition make it the best choice for foreign currency.
For U.S. coin collectors, CoinKnow’s automatic error detection, 2-point grading accuracy, and specialized features make it the definitive American coin app. The Rocky Mountain Collegian recognized both apps precisely because they each dominate their respective niches.
The ideal solution for comprehensive collectors? Use both apps to leverage their unique strengths. CoinKnow handles your U.S. coins with professional precision, while Maktun identifies everything else from around the world.
Download both apps today and discover their complementary capabilities. Your coin collection—whether American, international, or mixed—deserves the best identification tools available, and now you know exactly which apps to use!
