How Automotive Software Engineers Can Learn from Coin Collectors’ Mistakes

Modern Cars Aren’t Just Vehicles – They’re Rolling Computers

Here’s something that might surprise you: today’s cars contain more lines of code than the Space Shuttle. As someone who’s worked in automotive software for years, I’ve noticed something interesting. The careful verification processes used by coin collectors? They’re shockingly relevant to what we do. Whether it’s spotting a fake 1909 VDB penny or catching a malicious CAN bus message, the devil’s in the details.

Why Verification Matters in Your Car’s Brain

Think about how coin experts examine every detail – the weight, the mint mark, the edge reeding. We need that same attention to detail when checking:

• Is that CAN bus message really from the ABS module?
• Did that over-the-air update come from a trusted source?
• Can we trust this sensor reading before the car acts on it?
• What’s hiding in that third-party code we just integrated?

That Time the Coin Community Got Fooled

Remember the 1883 CC Morgan silver dollar scandal? Even seasoned collectors missed obvious signs. In automotive software, we see the same thing happen when teams:

// Real-world example: basic CAN validation
if (message.id == CRUCIAL_SYSTEM_ID && verify_signature(message)) {
process_safety_critical_data();
} else {
trigger_fail_safe_mode(); // Better safe than sorry
}

Your Infotainment System: A Hacker’s Playground?

Today’s touchscreen systems combine more attack surfaces than most people realize:

• Bluetooth connections that could let hackers in (remember BlueBorne?)
• Web browsers – yes, your car has one – with all the usual risks
• Third-party apps that need tighter controls than Fort Knox

Stealing Authentication Tricks from Coin Pros

A numismatist once told me: “The rim lettering never lies on genuine coins.” We took that mindset to heart. Now we treat every software update’s cryptographic signature like those rim details – if it doesn’t match perfectly, it doesn’t get in.

Keeping Connected Cars From Becoming Hackable Coins

The parallels between rare coin markets and vehicle security keep surprising me:

• HSMs are our version of professional coin authenticators
• Continuous monitoring systems work like 24/7 grading services
• Secure boot chains? That’s our provenance documentation

5 Practical Steps Your Team Can Take Now

1. Adopt the “coin grader” mentality – verify everything twice
2. Design systems that fail safely (no “oops” moments allowed)
3. Treat every internal message like it might be fake
4. Audit third-party code like it’s a suspicious 1913 Liberty Nickel
5. Build in diagnostic tools – your version of a collector’s loupe

The Bottom Line: Trust, But Verify

Here’s what I’ve learned from both coin collectors and years in automotive software: cutting corners on verification always costs more in the long run. Whether you’re authenticating a rare coin or validating an OTA update, the principles are the same. Look closely. Check everything. And maybe – just maybe – we can keep our cars as secure as a collector keeps their prized coins.

Related Resources

You might also find these related articles helpful:

• How InsureTech Can Modernize Claims and Underwriting with AI-Powered Fraud Detection – The Insurance Industry is Ripe for Disruption Let’s face it – insurance hasn’t changed much in decades…
• From Counterfeit Coins to Cutting-Edge PropTech: How Authentication Tech is Revolutionizing Real Estate – Technology is reshaping real estate – and authentication is leading the charge Remember how coin collectors scruti…
• How Coin Collecting Mistakes Can Teach Quants About Algorithmic Trading Risk Management – When Coin Collectors and Quants Share the Same Problem Funny how expertise works – whether you’re authentica…