Coinstar, Inc.

Bruce Coonan

Kirk W Beach

The present invention uses promotional coins to encourage use of a coin counter. The promotional coins are minted in such a way that an unaided human is not likely to distinguish a first prize coin from other promotional coins, e.g., because all promotional coins have substantially identical size, weight and appearance. Due to the apparent similarity between the various promotional coins, the participant is required to use a coin counter to distinguish prize coins from other promotional coins. In one embodiment, the promotion is implemented using a coin counter. Promotional coins are distributed to potential customers who are thereby enticed into using the coin counter as desired. The coin counter accepts and discriminates among government-minted coins of multiple denominations, various promotional coins and unknown debris. The denominations of the government-minted coins and the various promotional coins are distinguished using at least one non-visible characteristic, such as mass, conductivity, and/or magnetic permeability. At least any winning promotional coins are recognized by the coin-counter and the participant is notified. When the coin counter finishes counting all the coins, the participant is issued compensation for the government-minted coins.

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Issaquah, WA, United States of America

Bruce Coonan