How I Turned My Passion for Coin Grading into a $50,000 Online Course on Teachable

From Hobby to Income Stream: My Coin Grading Course Journey

Turning what you love into a paycheck is possible. I did it by packaging my coin grading skills into an online course. Let me show you how I made it happen on Teachable.

The Lightbulb Moment

I noticed collectors often struggled with grading 1873 Indian Head Cents. My predictions were consistently spot-on. When PCGS confirmed my MS66BN grade, it clicked: I had knowledge worth sharing.

Building Your Online Course Framework

1. Identifying the Core Curriculum

Focus on what your audience truly needs. For coin grading, I built lessons around:

• Lighting tricks for color accuracy (my IKEA Jansjo LEDs are a lifesaver)
• Common grading mistakes, like misreading marks on the chin
• How to tell TrueView photos from home shots

2. Creating Engaging Content

Use real examples from your own experience:

“My MS66BN 1873 Indian Head Cent photos sparked debate on RB vs. BN color. That became a key lesson in my course’s lighting section.”

Technical Setup for Course Creators

The Right Tools for Recording

You don’t need fancy gear to start. For coin grading videos, I used:

• Basic lighting (IKEA Jansjo LEDs at $20 each)
• A smartphone macro lens attachment ($30-50)
• Free editing software like DaVinci Resolve

Marketing Your Expertise

Share value first in communities your audience trusts. I posted free coin grading tips on forums. That built trust long before I mentioned my course.

Pricing Strategy That Works

I priced my course at $197 because it helps collectors avoid expensive errors. Offer options like:

• Tiers: Basic and Pro with 1:1 reviews
• Lifetime access to updates
• A private Discord for students

Platform Selection: Teachable vs. Udemy

I used both:

• Teachable: Better for your brand (70% of my sales)
• Udemy: Good for visibility, but you earn less (30% of sales)

Scaling to $50,000

Here’s how my revenue grew:

• Month 1: $1,200 (soft launch with forum friends)
• Month 3: $8,500 (after posting YouTube grading videos)
• Month 6: $24,000 (added advanced certification content)

Your Knowledge Has Value

Whether it’s coin grading or your niche, this approach works:

1. Find a knowledge gap you can fill
2. Create clear, step-by-step content
3. Engage with communities authentically
4. Pick platforms that fit your goals
5. Listen to feedback and improve

My coin grading course now brings in passive income and helps collectors everywhere. Yours can too.

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