Abstract: This invention relates to a coin surveillance apparatus that will monitor the amount of money deposited in a pay telephone, vending machine or the like. The apparatus is comprised of two basic units, the first being a monitoring unit positioned within the phone or machine for monitoring the amount of coins deposited therein; the second unit being a polling and display unit for receiving information from the first unit as to the number of nickels, dimes and quarters deposited in the machine. The second unit has means to initiate a command to the monitoring unit for a reading and/or for recording and displaying the information when received.