How I Turned My Expertise in Coin Collecting into a $50,000 Online Course

I still remember the first time I held a cameo proof coin — that crisp, frosted detail set against a mirror-like field. I was hooked. But more than collecting, I loved *teaching* others how to spot the real gems. That passion turned into a $50,000 online course on coin collecting. Here’s how I did it — and how you can too, whether you teach web design, personal finance, or vintage coin collecting.

Identifying Your Niche and Expertise

The best courses aren’t built on vague ideas. They start with something you know — deeply and personally. For me, it was cameo proof coins: what makes a PR65CAM valuable, how eye appeal impacts grading, and why the PCGS registry matters.

Finding Your Passion

Ask yourself these honest questions:

• What do I talk about nonstop, even at family dinners?

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• What skill do people keep asking me for help with?

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• What do I lose track of time doing — researching, practicing, or sharing?

I used to spend weekends going through auction archives, comparing PCGS grades, and writing notes. Friends would ask, “How do you even *know* this stuff?” That was my clue: I had knowledge worth packaging.

Validating Demand

Before I recorded a single video, I made sure people actually wanted to learn this. I didn’t want to waste months on content nobody would buy.

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• I checked Google Trends — steady interest in “cameo proof coins” and “PCGS grading.”

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• I posted questions in Facebook coin collecting groups — people responded within hours.

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• I sent a quick survey to my email list — 78% said they’d pay for a course on high-end proof coins.

That was my green light.

Structuring Your Course Content

A great course doesn’t just share info — it guides people from confusion to confidence. I wanted my students to walk in unsure and leave ready to bid at an auction.

Outline Your Course

I broke my curriculum into bite-sized, logical steps. Here’s how I structured mine:

• Module 1: Intro to Cameo Proof Coins (What makes them different?)
• Module 2: The PCGS Registry — Why It Matters
• Module 3: Grading & Value — PR65CAM vs. PR66
• Module 4: Eye Appeal, Frosting, and Strike Quality
• Module 5: Building a Collection That Appreciates

Create Engaging Content

No one wants to watch a 45-minute lecture. I kept it alive with:

• Short video lessons: 8–12 minutes max, with close-ups of real coins.
• Downloadable PDFs: Checklists, grading guides, and auction tips.
• Quizzes: After each module, a quick 5-question quiz to test understanding.
• Assignments: “Find a PR66 cameo in a recent Heritage auction and analyze it.”

Choosing the Right Platform: Teachable vs. Udemy

This decision shaped everything: pricing, branding, and profits. I tried both — and learned the hard way.

Teachable: Pros and Cons

• Pros:
  • I kept 97% of each sale — big difference when you’re charging $199.
  • I branded everything: my site, my emails, even the course player.
  • Seamless Mailchimp integration for follow-ups.
• Cons:
  • I had to drive my own traffic — no built-in audience.
  • Setting up landing pages took some tech patience (but YouTube helped).

Udemy: Pros and Cons

• Pros:
  • Instant access to thousands of learners already searching for coin courses.
  • They handled refunds, support, and transactions.
  • Fast social proof — I got 50+ reviews in a month.
• Cons:
  • Only 50% of revenue after their cut — ouch.
  • They set the sale price — I saw my $199 course listed at $14.99.
  • No real brand control — I was just another instructor.

Which One Should You Choose?

Start on Udemy if you’re testing an idea and want fast validation. But if you’re serious about building a long-term brand — and keeping more of your income — go with Teachable. That’s what I did. After six months on Udemy, I moved to Teachable and tripled my revenue.

Creating High-Quality Content

People don’t pay for information. They pay for *clarity* — and confidence. My camera wasn’t Hollywood-grade, but my explanations were.

Scripting and Filming

I didn’t wing it. Each lesson had a clear flow:

• Written script (no rambling!)
• Pro lighting — a $30 ring light made a huge difference
• Lavalier mic for clean audio
• Edited in iMovie — cut pauses, added text overlays

Pro tip: Film with a real coin in hand. Zoom in on the cameo contrast. Students *love* seeing the details.

Engagement Techniques

I kept learners hooked by:

• Keeping videos short — 5 to 15 minutes
• Using real auction examples (“This $8,000 coin sold in 2022… here’s why”)
• Adding quizzes after key lessons
• Releasing a new “market watch” update every quarter

Code Snippet: Example Lesson Outline

Here’s how I broke down a lesson on PCGS Registry Points:


Lesson Title: Understanding PCGS Registry Points

- Intro: Why collectors care (1 min)
- What PCGS Registry Points actually measure (3 mins)
- How the CAM suffix boosts your score (5 mins)
- Real example: PR65CAM vs. PR66 (4 mins)
- Practice: Calculate the score for a sample coin (3 mins)
- Wrap-up: What to focus on when building (2 mins)


Marketing Your Course

Great content doesn’t sell itself. I learned that fast. Marketing was 80% of the work — but also 80% of the profit.

Building an Email List

I started *before* the course existed. I offered a free guide: “7 Mistakes Beginners Make with Cameo Proof Coins.” In two months, I got 1,200 signups. That list became my launch engine.

Social Media and Content Marketing

I didn’t just post “Buy my course!” Instead:

• Shared quick tips: “Can you spot the cameo in this photo?”
• Wrote blog posts on “How to Read a PCGS Grade” — Google loves them.
• Posted in Facebook groups with value-first answers (then mentioned my course only when asked).

My most popular blog post — “PR65 vs. PR66: Is It Worth the Jump?” — still brings in 3–5 course signups a week.

Paid Advertising

When I had a little budget, I tested ads:

• Facebook ads targeting coin collectors — $0.78 cost per lead
• Google search ads for “how to value cameo coins” — high intent
• YouTube ads on numismatics channels — worked surprisingly well

Start small. Test one ad. See what converts. Then scale.

Scaling and Automating

Once the course was selling, I wanted more time — not more stress. Automation saved me.

Automate Customer Service

• Set up a chatbot to answer common questions.
• Used email templates for refunds, access issues, and feedback.
• Connected Teachable to Zapier — new signups auto-added to my email list.

Scale with Additional Products

After the main course sold out, I added:

• A masterclass on auction bidding ($299)
• A grading template pack — $29, but sold 300+ copies
• One-on-one coaching calls — my most profitable product

Outsource or Hire Help

Eventually, I hired a video editor. Then a social media assistant. Then a part-time customer support person. Each hire freed me to focus on what mattered: creating value.

Conclusion

Turning your knowledge into an online course isn’t magic. It’s method. It’s showing up, sharing what you know, and helping others avoid the mistakes you made.

My course didn’t go viral overnight. It took:

• 3 months of content creation
• 2 failed launch attempts
• 100+ survey responses to refine the topic

But today, it runs mostly on autopilot — and has earned over $50,000. All from my passion for coin collecting.

Your expertise matters. Whether it’s fitness, finance, or vintage coins, someone out there needs what you know. Start small. Share generously. Build trust. And one day, you’ll look back and realize you’ve created something that pays — and matters.

Happy teaching.

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