Privacy Policy
Last updated: 6 October 2026
Who we are
Coin Finder (coinfinder.co.uk) is a service of B&G Coins Limited, coin and medal dealers since 1977. B&G Coins Limited is the data controller for the information collected through this site.
- Post: PO Box 1219, Spalding, PE11 9FY
- Email: info@bandgcoins.co.uk
- Telephone: 01406 408123 or 07950 287349
For any question about this policy or your information, email info@bandgcoins.co.uk.
What we collect and why
We only collect what we need to identify your coin, answer you and run your account.
| What | When | Why | Lawful basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photographs of your coin, and any details you add (size, weight, metal, date) | When you use the identifier | To identify the coin | Legitimate interests: providing the service you asked for |
| Your name, email, phone number and message | When you ask B&G Coins to look at a coin, or ask for your result by email | To reply about your coin and send the result | Legitimate interests; your consent for B&G to contact you about the coin |
| Your email address and sign-in codes | When you create or sign in to an account | To sign you in without a password and keep your account | Contract |
| Your coin history, searches used and membership dates | While you have an account | To show you your coins and what you have left | Contract |
| Purchase records (product, amount, date, payment reference) | When you buy membership or a search pack | To provide what you bought and keep accounts | Contract; legal obligation (tax records) |
| A shortened IP address, a random browser ID, and a record of unusual activity | When you use the site | To limit free use fairly and stop spam and abuse | Legitimate interests: keeping the service available and affordable |
| How the site is used (pages viewed, device type) | Only if you accept analytics cookies | To improve the site | Consent |
We never see or store your card or PayPal details. We do not use your details for marketing unless you separately opt in, and we do not sell them.
Who we share it with
We use a small number of trusted providers. Each only handles your information to do its job for us.
| Provider | What they do | Where |
|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | Analyses the coin photographs to produce the identification. Photos sent through its business service are not used to train its models | United States, under UK-approved safeguards |
| 20i | Hosts the website and sends its emails | United Kingdom |
| PayPal and Square | Take payments for membership and search packs. They handle your payment details under their own privacy policies | United Kingdom, EU and United States |
| Google Analytics | Measures how the site is used, only if you accept analytics cookies | United States, under UK-approved safeguards |
| B&G Coins specialists | Look at your coin when you ask for an opinion | United Kingdom |
We may also share information if the law requires it.
Cookies
| Cookie | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|
| cf_member | Keeps you signed in to your account | Up to 12 months, or until you sign out |
| cf_dev | A random ID so free searches are counted fairly and abuse can be stopped | 2 years |
| Cookie choice | Remembers whether you accepted analytics cookies | 12 months |
| Google Analytics (_ga) | Counts visits and how the site is used. Only set if you accept | Up to 2 years |
The first three are needed for the site to work, so they are set without asking. You can delete cookies in your browser at any time.
How long we keep it
| Information | Kept for |
|---|---|
| Photographs and results of scans that do not become an enquiry | 2 days, then deleted |
| Enquiries, including photographs | 2 years, so we can answer follow-up questions |
| Your account and coin history | While your account is open. Ask us and we will delete it |
| Purchase records | 7 years, as required for tax purposes |
| Spam and abuse records (shortened IP address, browser ID) | 30 days; blocks are kept for up to 90 days after they end |
Your rights
You can ask us for a copy of the information we hold about you, and ask us to correct it, delete it, or stop using it. You can also object to how we use it, or take back your consent at any time. Email info@bandgcoins.co.uk and we will respond within one month.
If you are unhappy with our response, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk.
Children
Coin Finder is not intended for children under 13, and accounts and purchases are for adults.
Changes to this policy
We will post any changes on this page and update the date at the top.