How Mastering Niche Expertise Like Coin Die Crack Analysis Can Elevate Your Tech Consulting Rates to $300+/Hour
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December 9, 2025How My Coin Collection Paid the Bills (And Then Some)
Let me tell you a secret – I never imagined my dime collection would pay the mortgage. But last year, my online course about Mercury dime errors brought in $53k. And I’m just a collector who figured out how to share what I love. No tech wizardry required.
It all started when I noticed collectors in forums struggling to spot rare die cracks. You know that moment when you’re squinting at a 1943 Mercury dime, wondering if that line is a crack or just a scratch? I realized my 15 years of hunting these little silver treasures could actually help people. Fast forward 18 months, and I’m teaching 1,297 students how to spot $1,000 coins in their pocket change.
Why Coin Nerds Make Great Students
Here’s what I learned selling to collectors:
- They’re invested (literally): Show a collector how to spot a rare doubled die, and they’ll happily pay to learn
- Everyone misses something: Even experts get stumped by crack progression patterns
- The info’s scattered: Before my course, you needed to dig through 20 forum threads just to date a die break
Step 1: Find Your “Aha!” Moment
My lightbulb moment came reading this forum plea:
“I hope someone comes up with a match. What a find that would be.”
That’s when it clicked. Collectors weren’t just asking questions – they were begging for solutions. Three things jumped out:
- People needed my matching system (which I’d scribbled in notebooks for years)
- The thrill of “the find” was their emotional trigger
- Nobody had organized this knowledge in one place
Your Action Plan:
Grab a coffee and stalk your niche forums. Look for:
- Questions that keep popping up (“How do I know if this crack is significant?”)
- Knowledge black holes (“Can’t find any examples of full bisecting breaks”)
- Pure frustration (“Just post clear photos already!”)
Step 2: Build Your Course Like a Collector’s Album
My “Mercury Dime Die Varieties Masterclass” wasn’t just slapped together. I organized it like I’d sort my prized coins:
Module Setup That Worked:
- Module 1: Die Crack ID Basics (even my grandma could follow)
- Module 2: Spotting Terminal States (with my hand-drawn progression charts)
- Module 3: Digital Matching Secrets (using my “cheat sheet” system)
- Module 4: Turning Finds Into Cash (real-world valuation techniques)
I made sure each module felt like opening a fresh roll of coins:
- Crisp HD videos showing exact angles
- Printable checklists for coin shows
- Quick quizzes with instant feedback
- A private group where students share finds
Step 3: Teachable vs Udemy – My Real-World Test
I tried both platforms – here’s the raw truth:
Why Teachable Won My Heart:
- Keep all profits (Udemy takes 50% on some sales)
- Custom branding (important for serious collectors)
- Upsell opportunities (my advanced grading course)
Why Udemy Helped Early On:
- Instant access to millions of potential students
- Their search puts courses in front of interested buyers
- No payment processing headaches
My Winning Combo: Start with Udemy’s built-in audience, then invite students to my Teachable school for premium content. This funnel generated 95% of my revenue.
Step 4: Creating Content That Actually Sells
My Simple Recording Setup:
<!-- What Actually Works -->
video_bitrate=8000 <-- Keeps files manageable
audio_bitrate=192 <-- Clear voice matters most
output_resolution=1920x1080 <-- Show those tiny details!
fps=30 <-- Smooth enough without killing my laptopWhat Kept Students Hooked:
- Animated crack progression slides (like watching a coin age)
- Split-screen comparisons (rare vs common errors)
- Interactive grading challenges (“Is this MS-65 or AU?”)
Step 5: Marketing That Doesn’t Feel Sleazy
I pre-sold $12k worth of courses without spam. Here’s how:
Forum Gold Mining:
When someone posted:
“I’m all but certain I’ve seen one posted here before”
I’d help first:
- Share quick identification tricks
- Offer a free “Error Coin Cheat Sheet”
- Only mention my course if they asked for more
YouTube That Converts:
- Targeted searches: “mercury dime error values”
- Side-by-side videos showing $10 vs $1,000 coins
- Free preview lesson in video descriptions
The Real Numbers Behind My Coin Course
After 18 months:
- $53,728 total earnings (enough to buy that 1916-D Mercury dime!)
- 1,297 students from 37 countries
- 34% truly passive income (sales while I slept)
Where the Money Came From:
- Udemy: $28,411 (mostly new students)
- Teachable: $22,317 (serious collectors upgrading)
- Advanced Workshops: $3,000 (my profit sweet spot)
Your Turn to Cash In What You Know
If my story shows anything, it’s this: your weird hobby could be someone else’s holy grail. Here’s your roadmap:
- Find where passionate people are struggling (Facebook groups count!)
- Package your fix in bite-sized lessons
- Start with marketplaces, build your own hub later
- Share value first – sales will follow
What’s in your brain that others would pay to learn? I turned dime scratches into dollars – your turn.
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