Abstract: A coin detecting mechanism for pay telephones detects the presence of a coin by causing the coin to complete a circuit between pins, or between one pin and the chute of the coin sorter. A plastic block supports the pins, the plastic block being such as to absorb the energy of falling coins without damage. One form of the invention uses two closely spaced pins that are connected by the presence of a coin, and another form of the invention uses a single pin angled across the chute so the pin and the chute are connected by a coin. The plastic block has a circuit printed thereon for connection of the pins, and a debounce circuit is connected to the printed circuit.