You’re crouched in a disgusting, mold-covered crawlspace in the Baker mansion. Jack is stalking the halls above you, humming some distorted tune. You spot a glimmer. It’s a coin. Not just any coin, but one of the Ancient Coins in Resident Evil 7. Most people think they're just another collectible, but honestly? They are the thin line between surviving the next molded encounter and seeing that "You Are Dead" screen for the fiftieth time.
Let's be real: Capcom really leaned into the risk-reward thing here. If you’ve played the older games, you remember the ink ribbons. These coins are different. They aren't for saving your game; they are for buying your way out of a nightmare. They represent a brutal choice. Do you spend them now on a slight health boost, or do you hoard them like a digital Scrooge McDuck until you can afford the .44 Magnum?
Most players get it wrong on their first playthrough. They find a few coins, see the birdcages in the trailer, and panic-buy the Steroids. Big mistake. Huge.
The Economy of Fear: How Many Coins Do You Actually Get?
The count changes. It’s not a fixed number across all versions of the game, which is something that trips up a lot of completionists. On Easy or Normal difficulty, there are 18 Ancient Coins. That sounds like plenty until you realize the Magnum costs 9.
But then there's Madhouse difficulty.
Madhouse flips the script entirely. There are 33 coins in that mode. It sounds like a gift, right? More coins, more upgrades. Except Capcom moved them. They aren't where you remember. They’re hidden in the most obnoxious places, often guarded by faster, meaner versions of the Molded. Finding all the Resident Evil 7 coins on Madhouse is basically a badge of honor in the speedrunning community. People like Distortion2 or UhTrance have turned this into a science, but for the average person just trying to get through the night, it’s a logistical headache.
If you're playing on Normal, you find your first coin in a literal flashback. You have to play the "Derelict House" tape. If you don't pick up the lockpick in the past and use it on a specific drawer, that coin is gone forever in the present. It’s a weirdly specific mechanic that the game doesn't really explain. You just have to know. Or you have to be the kind of person who explores every inch of a disgusting kitchen while a ghost girl might be standing behind you.
Spend or Save: The Birdcage Dilemma
Once you get out of the main house and reach the yard, you find the trailer. This is Zoe’s sanctuary. Inside, there are three birdcages. This is where the Ancient Coins in Resident Evil 7 actually turn into something useful.
The first cage costs 3 coins. It gives you Steroids. Now, in most games, steroids give you a temporary buff. In RE7, they increase your maximum health permanently. It also heals you fully. Pro tip: don't use the Steroids when you have full health. Wait until you're limping and bleeding out, then pop them. It’s a free full heal plus a permanent upgrade.
The second cage is 5 coins. This is for the Stabilizer. It makes you reload faster. Is it worth it? Honestly, it depends on your aim. If you’re a headshot god, maybe not. If you panic-fire every time a Molded jumps out of a wall, you need that reload speed.
Then there's the big one. 9 coins for the .44 Magnum.
The Magnum is a trap for some, a godsend for others. The ammo is incredibly rare. You might spend all those coins for a gun that you only fire six times in the whole game. But those six shots? They delete bosses. If you’re struggling with the Marguerite fight in the Greenhouse, that Magnum makes her feel like a minor inconvenience rather than a terrifying insect-mother nightmare.
Missing the Ship: The Coins People Forget
There is a point in the game where you lose everything. No spoilers for the few who haven't finished it, but you end up on a wrecked ship. This is where most people lose their "All Coins" run. The coins on the ship aren't "Ancient." They’re just... coins. But they count toward the achievement.
One of them is tucked inside a washing machine. Another requires a corrosive to melt a lock on a chest. If you used all your corrosives on doors or ammo boxes earlier, you're out of luck. It’s frustrating. It feels a bit unfair, but that’s Resident Evil. It punishes you for not planning three steps ahead.
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On Madhouse, the ship is even worse. You're low on resources, and the coins are tucked into corners that require you to take massive risks. There’s one in a vase on the second floor that I’ve missed more times than I care to admit.
Why the Coins Matter for E-E-A-T (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
If you look at the strategy guides from 2017 compared to how people play now, the "meta" for Resident Evil 7 coins has shifted. Back then, everyone said "get the Magnum." Today, high-level players usually prioritize the Stabilizer and the Steroids. Why? Because the shotgun and the enhanced handgun ammo are actually more efficient for DPS if you can reload fast enough.
The Magnum is flashy, but the coins are better spent on making Ethan Winters less of a fragile wet noodle.
Also, it's worth noting that the "Pelicans in Your Pocket" achievement is one of the rarest on Steam and PlayStation. Only about 10-15% of players actually find all the coins in a single run. It requires a level of environmental scanning that most people just don't do when they're being chased by a man with a chainsaw-scissors hybrid.
A Quick Checklist for the Frustrated Collector
Don't treat this like a chore. Treat it like a scavenger hunt where the prize is not dying.
- The Tape Trick: Always do the lockpick trick in the first VHS tape. If you miss that drawer in the kitchen, you can't get the coin in the present.
- Crouch Everywhere: Capcom loved hiding these things in shadows. If there is a crawlspace, there is probably a coin.
- The Yard Search: Before you go into the trailer, check the bushes. There’s one hidden near the steps that most people walk right past because they're staring at the save point.
- Madhouse Logic: If you’re playing on Madhouse, throw your Normal-mode knowledge out the window. The coins are often located near "key" items or in the rooms where you feel most vulnerable.
- Corrosive Management: Save at least two corrosives for the ship specifically for coin-bearing lockboxes. Don't waste them on the random lockers unless you're desperate for ammo.
The Reality of the Rewards
Is it worth the stress?
If you’re playing on Normal, you can honestly beat the game without a single coin. It’ll be harder, but it’s doable. On Madhouse, they are mandatory. You won't have the firepower or the health to survive the final act without those upgrades.
The "Essence of Defense" and "Secrets of Defense" items (which you get for destroying Mr. Everywheres or beating the game) also play into this. If you have those in your inventory, you take less damage while blocking. If you combine that with the health boost from the Ancient Coins Resident Evil 7 offers, Ethan becomes a tank.
Practical Steps for Your Next Run
Stop rushing. That’s the biggest piece of advice. Resident Evil 7 is a short game if you sprint, but you’ll end up underpowered.
First, decide your build before you even hit the yard. Are you going for the Magnum? If so, don't spend a single coin until you have 9. If you prefer the pistol, buy the Steroids immediately to give yourself that buffer.
Second, use your Psychostimulants. Most people forget these exist. They show you where items are on your HUD. If you’re in a room and the map says there's an item but you can't see it, it’s probably a coin tucked under a floorboard or inside a vase.
Finally, keep a mental map of the ship. It’s the most confusing part of the game and where 90% of coin runs go to die. If you reach the final boss and you're missing one coin for the achievement, it’s almost always on that rusted-out boat.
Go back and check the laundry room one more time. It’s always in the laundry room.
Once you’ve mastered the coin locations, the next step is actually utilizing the Dirty Coin from the Beginning Hour demo. If you still have that save file, you can start the game with an extra coin already in your inventory. This is huge for Madhouse, as it lets you get that first upgrade a whole room earlier. If you haven't done the demo puzzles yet, it's worth going back—even years later—just to get that head start. It’s a permanent account-link that makes the main game's economy significantly more forgiving.