Abstract: Disclose is a coin-operated dispensing mechanism, a basic element of which is a disc-like, coin-receiving wheel having at least a first perimetrical coin-receiving receptacle, the thickness of which is substantially equal to a plural multiple of the thickness of a coin of predetermined denomination. The first receptacle is dimensioned for receiving a number of coins in face-to-face relationship, the number being equal to the plural multiple. It is disclosed that the thickness of the wheel equals the thickness of the receptacle, so that the receptacle extends from one face of the wheel to the other. The mechanism also includes a system of pawls or dogs which prevent undesired rotation of the wheel, including a coin dog or pawl and an independently-functioning auxiliary coin dog or pawl which prevents dispensing rotation of the wheel if only one coin instead of two is placed in the coin-receiving receptacle.