Patent ID: 7185750

Claim:
A coin distinguishing method, characterized by comprising: irradiating a side of a subject coin with a first light source; irradiating an outer periphery portion of a surface of the subject coin with a second light source in synchronism with the first light source; simultaneously receiving reflection light from the side of the subject coin and reflection light from the outer periphery portion of the surface of the subject coin by an optical sensor to simultaneously obtain images of the side and the outer periphery portion of the surface of the subject coin in one image; cutting off an image of the side of the subject coin and an image of the outer periphery portion of the surface of the subject coin from the obtained one image; and distinguishing a pattern formed on the side of the subject coin based on the cut-off image of the side of the subject coin and distinguishing a projecting pattern impressed on the outer periphery portion of the surface of the subject coin based on the cut-off image of the outer periphery portion of the surface of the subject coin.