Abstract: A coin control system for determining whether proper coinage has been inserted to start a coin operated device. The coin in vertical orientation falls onto an inclined ramp, down which it rolls past a mechanism which detects magnetic materials. The coin rolls past a photocell which projects a beam positioned to be interrupted by only the upper limb or arc of the rolling coin. The ramp is mounted between closely spaced side plates and may be vertically adjusted between them with respect to the photocell so that it can be set for coins of different sizes. The coin control mechanism and a coin collection box are each separately lockable within a housing and are both further protected by a specially removable, lockable cover.