Abstract: A coin denomination distinguishing apparatus that can initialize reference denominations, comprising: a circuit board on which there is installed an arched conductive strip and plurality of contact segments concentric with the conductive strip; the contact segments are queued in different serial numbers, define the first contact segment as a start point, divide the rest into several groups and connect the contact segments with each other of the same group; a sweep concentric with the conductive strip that can glide along an imaginary arched path and can contact the conductive strip and one of plurality of contact segments; the apparatus can select the corresponding measurement of the maximum serial number when the sweep contacts plurality of contact segments and initialize a reference denomination with the initializing and choice unit when first use.

Abstract: A coin distinguishing mechanism, installed preferably in a coin keeper, capable of discriminating coins of varying denominations and adding up the total value of the coins being kept therewithin. The coin distinguishing mechanism includes a coin slot means having a passageway which is defined on one side by a fixed element and the other side by a movable element. The movable element is generally kept to the same position by an elastic means. As the movable element is forced to move by a coin passing through the passageway, the moving distance will be magnified by a magnifying mechanism, and an attached arm with a conductive wiper having a first and a second contact ends is thereby actuated.