1. A method of authenticating a coin, the method comprising: capturing an image of the coin using a digital camera; 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 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 surface feature comprising the imprint; generating a digital representation of the acquisition area; and 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 the other coins; 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, and wherein the one of the other digital representations is stored in the database in association with the identifier that identifies the die, the punch, or the matrix used to manufacture the coin and the other coins.