Abstract: A device for recognizing coins and conveyed material similar to coins includes: at least one divergent light source; at least one light detector; and a conveyor configured to transport the conveyed material in a conveyor direction, the conveyor running in a recognition area between the at least one divergent light source and the at least one light detector, the conveyor including a centering unit for the centric orientation of the conveyed material relative to the linear detection area. The at least one light detector has a linear detection area parallel to the conveyor direction. The diameter of the conveyed material is illuminated in the conveyor direction using the at least one divergent light source and projected onto the at least one light detector. The illuminated diameter is repeatedly measured and determined by subsequent mean value calculation.