A method of identifying a coin, the method comprising: capturing an image of the coin; locating an acquisition area of the image using a landmark of the coin, the acquisition area comprising a surface feature of the coin, the surface feature comprising a first component and a second component different from the first component, the first component being a random component unique to the coin, the second component comprising an imprint produced by at least one of a die, a punch, or a matrix used to manufacture the coin, wherein other coins produced by the at least one of the die, the punch, or the matrix also comprise the second component of the surface feature comprising the imprint; and generating a digital representation of the acquisition area, wherein the image is captured using a digital camera; and the method further comprises, either: storing the digital representation in a database in association with an identifier that identifies the at least one of the die, the punch, or the matrix used to manufacture the coin, and further identifies the coin uniquely; or comparing the digital representation to other digital representations stored in a database in order to determine a match, thereby identifying the at least one of the die, the punch, or the matrix used to manufacture the coin, wherein the match is determined when the digital representation and one of the other digital representations stored in the database are similar beyond a threshold. capturing an image of the coin; locating an acquisition area of the image using a landmark of the coin, the acquisition area comprising a surface feature of the coin, the surface feature comprising a first component and a second component different from the first component, the first component being a random component unique to the coin, the second component comprising an imprint produced by at least one of a die, a punch, or a matrix used to manufacture the coin, wherein other coins produced by the at least one of the die, the punch, or the matrix also comprise the second component of the surface feature comprising the imprint; and generating a digital representation of the acquisition area, wherein the image is captured using a digital camera; and the method further comprises, either: storing the digital representation in a database in association with an identifier that identifies the at least one of the die, the punch, or the matrix used to manufacture the coin, and further identifies the coin uniquely; or comparing the digital representation to other digital representations stored in a database in order to determine a match, thereby identifying the at least one of the die, the punch, or the matrix used to manufacture the coin, wherein the match is determined when the digital representation and one of the other digital representations stored in the database are similar beyond a threshold. the image is captured using a digital camera; and the method further comprises, either: storing the digital representation in a database in association with an identifier that identifies the at least one of the die, the punch, or the matrix used to manufacture the coin, and further identifies the coin uniquely; or comparing the digital representation to other digital representations stored in a database in order to determine a match, thereby identifying the at least one of the die, the punch, or the matrix used to manufacture the coin, wherein the match is determined when the digital representation and one of the other digital representations stored in the database are similar beyond a threshold. storing the digital representation in a database in association with an identifier that identifies the at least one of the die, the punch, or the matrix used to manufacture the coin, and further identifies the coin uniquely; or comparing the digital representation to other digital representations stored in a database in order to determine a match, thereby identifying the at least one of the die, the punch, or the matrix used to manufacture the coin, wherein the match is determined when the digital representation and one of the other digital representations stored in the database are similar beyond a threshold.