How I Turned My Expertise in Rare Coin Regrets into a $50K Online Course (And How You Can Too)

Teaching what you know can be powerful. Real powerful. I took my hard-earned lessons from rare coin collecting—especially the ones that *hurt*—and turned them into a course earning $50K a year. Here’s how you can do it too.

Turning Collector Regret into a Profitable Online Course

My first rare coin? An 1851-D Quarter Eagle. I found it after months of searching, paid a small fortune, and felt like I’d struck gold. Fast-forward three years: I sold it to cover an emergency truck repair. That moment gutted me.

Not because of the money. Because I’d traded a piece of my history for short-term relief. Coins aren’t just assets—they’re time capsules. The hunt, the pride, the “I found it!” rush. Once gone, you can’t buy that back.

I started noticing a pattern: collectors would tell me, “I wish I’d held onto that coin.” That got me thinking. What if I could help others avoid that sinking feeling? Not just teach them what to collect, but *how* to collect? That’s how “The Collector’s Regret: Turning Passion into Profit and Preservation” was born.

Find Your Niche (And Own It)

Most coin courses focus on grades or ROI. But behind every collection is a person who’s fallen in love—or in my case, made a heartbreaking mistake.

My angle? The emotional calculus of collecting. The tension between passion and practicality. Ask yourself:

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• What pain point have I *lived through* that others face?

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• Which of my mistakes would’ve been avoidable with better guidance?

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• Where’s the gap in existing courses?

My answer: nobody talks about *regret*. So I did. I shared the story of my 1851-D sale—the regret, the “what-ifs,” the lesson. That authenticity became my differentiator.

Structure That Feels Like a Story

I didn’t want a dry lecture series. I wanted students to *feel* the weight of each decision. The course structure flowed like a journey:

• Module 1: Why we collect (it’s not just about cash)

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• Module 2: Decoding grades like a pro (PCGS, NGC, CAC)

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• Module 3: Building a collection that matters to *you*
• Module 4: The hardest decision: when to sell (or not)
• Module 5: From collector to consultant (monetizing your eye)

In Module 4, I brought out my 1873 Trade Dollar. “This coin,” I said, “gets me misty.” I explained why I kept it despite offers—and how you can set guardrails for your own picks.

Platform Power: Where to Host?

Choosing between Teachable and Udemy? It’s about control vs. exposure.

• Teachable: I went with this. Why? I own my brand, pricing, and student list. Added a private community and monthly Q&As—no platform strings attached.
• Udemy: Great for visibility, but you’re just another product. I use it as a side channel to funnel students to my Teachable hub.

Key reasons I chose Teachable:

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• My course is a *brand*, not a commodity.

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• I run live workshops and bonuses (like a Discord group).
• Affiliate program—my students earn commission for referrals.

Content That Holds Attention

Boring videos? No thanks. I mixed it up:

• Video: Grading demos with real coins (see every scratch).
• Case Studies: The 1971-D Ike Dollar on a silver planchet—a “sanity check” moment for me.
• Tools:
  • A spreadsheet to score emotional vs. financial value.
  • A checklist: “5 red flags of undervalued coins.”

And yes, I gave students a tool to *quantify* regret. This Google Sheets snippet became a fan favorite:


// Collector's Decision Matrix
function calculateRegretScore(emotionalValue, financialValue, necessity) {
const regret = (emotionalValue * 0.6) + (financialValue * 0.3) + (necessity * 0.1);
return regret > 7 ? 'High Regret Risk' : 'Low Regret Risk';
}


Marketing: Start Small, Think Big

Ideas don’t sell—solutions do. My strategy:

• Freebie Magnet: “5 Signs You’re About to Sell the Wrong Coin” (built my email list fast).
• Social Proof: A student kept his CC Morgan after using my framework. His story was my best ad.
• YouTube: “3 Grading Mistakes Cost Me $5K” – 10K views, drove to course.
• Affiliates: 30% commission for dealers who referred students.

Scale Beyond the Course

One course isn’t enough. I added:

• “The Regret-Proof Collection Planner” – $49 PDF workbook.
• “10 Coins That Broke Collectors” – $20 mini-series.
• Private Discord: $10/month for real-time advice and moral support.

The Discord group? Gold. Collectors share “near-miss” stories. It’s where the course *lives* now.

What I Wish I Knew Before Starting

Building a course is messy. Here’s what worked:

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• Your hook matters: “Collector regret” wasn’t just a title—it was my truth.

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• Story over slides: My worst auctions? My best lessons. Share them.
• Platform fit: Teachable for depth, Udemy for reach. I use both.
• Mix content: Videos alone won’t cut it. Give tools, worksheets, and stories.
• Market to the pain: “Regret” resonates more than “grading basics.”

Your Expertise is Hiding in Plain Sight

Selling my 1851-D hurt. But it taught me: the most painful lessons are often the most valuable to teach.

My course hit $50K in its first year. Not because I’m a genius grader—but because I shared the *human* side of collecting. The quiet panic when you consider selling. The pride of holding a coin worth more than its face value.

You’ve got a story like this. Maybe it’s about a bad investment, a lost opportunity, or a hard-won skill. Turn that into a course, and you’re not just selling information. You’re offering peace of mind.

What’s *your* regret? That’s probably your next course. Don’t wait. Start today.

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