Cluttered counting
Counting real objects in a messy photo where items overlap, hide each other or look alike.
What you check: Is the number exactly right? A wrong count is obvious at a glance.

Answer key
Written before any model answered. Look at the image and check it yourself.
- 1.18 coins
- 2.6 currencies (AUD/CAD/ZAR/EUR/GBP/USD)
- 3.4 Australian Kangaroo (AUD)
- 4.3 Silver Maple Leaf (CAD)
- 5.2 American Silver Eagle (USD)
Verdict
Results were mixed, even among top models.
Top models
GPT-6.1 Sol
Partly right- 18 coins
- 6 currencies (AUD/CAD/ZAR/EUR/GBP/USD)
- 4 Australian Kangaroo (AUD)
- 3 Silver Maple Leaf (CAD)
- 2 American Silver Eagle (USD)
Read the full answer
- **Total coins:** 17 - **Currencies:** 6 — AUD, CAD, USD, EUR, GBP, and ZAR - **AUD:** 4 coins - **CAD:** 3 coins - **USD:** 2 coins
Gemini 4 Argon
Partly right- 18 coins
- 6 currencies (AUD/CAD/ZAR/EUR/GBP/USD)
- 4 Australian Kangaroo (AUD)
- 3 Silver Maple Leaf (CAD)
- 2 American Silver Eagle (USD)
Read the full answer
**Direct Answers:** * **Total coins:** 17 * **Total currencies:** 6 (AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP, USD, ZAR) * **AUD (Australian dollars):** 4 coins (total face value of $4 AUD, though the denomination side is hidden) * **CAD (Canadian dollars):** 3 coins (total face value of $15 CAD, as each 1 oz Silver Maple Leaf is $5 CAD, though the denomination side is hidden) * **USD (US dollars):** 2 coins (total face value of $2 USD, as each 1 oz Silver Eagle is $1 USD, though the denomination side is hidden) **What is visible:** * **Australian Kangaroos (AUD):** A central stack of 4 coins showing the kangaroo design ("AUSTRALIAN KANGAROO 2020 1oz 9999 SILVER"). * **Canadian Maple Leafs (CAD):** A stack of 3 coins to the left of center showing the maple leaf ("CANADA 9999 FINE SILVER 1 OZ"). * **American Silver Eagles (USD):** 2 coins showing Walking Liberty ("IN GOD WE TRUST 2019")—one on the far right and one at the bottom center. * **Austrian Philharmonics (EUR):** 3 coins ("REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH 1,50 EURO" / "WIENER PHILHARMONIKER")—one at the top, one at the bottom left, and one at the bottom right. * **Other currencies (ZAR & GBP):** 3 South African Krugerrands (2 top-left, 1 bottom-center) and 2 British Britannias (both near the top).
Claude Sonnet 5.5
Right- 18 coins
- 6 currencies (AUD/CAD/ZAR/EUR/GBP/USD)
- 4 Australian Kangaroo (AUD)
- 3 Silver Maple Leaf (CAD)
- 2 American Silver Eagle (USD)
Read the full answer
**About 18 coins, from 6 currencies. The Kangaroo stack can't be counted exactly, so the total could be 17–19.** - **AUD:** about 5 Australian Kangaroo coins. They are stacked and overlapping, so the exact count is ambiguous (4–6). - **CAD:** 3 Canadian Maple Leaf coins, with the front one clearly "CANADA" and two partly hidden behind it. - **USD:** 2 American Silver Eagle "Liberty" coins, one on the right and one at the bottom under a Krugerrand. - **Other currencies:** South Africa has 3 Krugerrands (2 reverse, 1 obverse). The UK has 2 Britannias. Austria has 3 Philharmonics (2 marked "1,50 Euro" and 1 showing instruments), which makes 6 currencies in total. - Some coins are partly covered, and the Maple Leaf and Kangaroo stacks are the main sources of uncertainty.
Budget models
Claude Haiku 5.5
Partly right- 18 coins
- 6 currencies (AUD/CAD/ZAR/EUR/GBP/USD)
- 4 Australian Kangaroo (AUD)
- 3 Silver Maple Leaf (CAD)
- 2 American Silver Eagle (USD)
Read the full answer
**Direct answer:** About **18 coins** (approximate, because several are stacked and partly hidden). About **6 currencies** by issuing country. Approximately **4 AUD**, **4 CAD**, and **2 USD** coins. - **Visible coins:** About 12 are clearly visible, plus roughly 6 more partly hidden in the stacks under the Canadian Maple Leaf and the Australian Kangaroo. - **Currencies:** South African rand (Krugerrand), euro (Austrian Philharmonic), pound sterling (Britannia, face value not visible), Canadian dollar, Australian dollar, and US dollar. Most face values aren't printed, so this count is by issuer. - **AUD:** The Australian Kangaroo coins; the top one is clear, and the stack beneath is only partly visible, so the count is approximate. - **CAD:** The Canada Maple Leaf coins; one is clear on top, with the rest partly hidden. - **USD:** Two American Silver Eagles (2019), one on the right and one at bottom center.
Gemini 3.8 Flash
Partly right- 18 coins
- 6 currencies (AUD/CAD/ZAR/EUR/GBP/USD)
- 4 Australian Kangaroo (AUD)
- 3 Silver Maple Leaf (CAD)
- 2 American Silver Eagle (USD)
Read the full answer
**Direct Answer:** * **Total coins:** 18 * **Currencies:** 6 (AUD, CAD, USD, EUR, GBP, ZAR) * **AUD (Australian Dollar):** 5 coins (face value 1 AUD each = 5 AUD) * **CAD (Canadian Dollar):** 3 coins (face value 5 CAD each = 15 CAD) * **USD (US Dollar):** 2 coins (face value 1 USD each = 2 USD) **Details:** * **Australian Kangaroo (AUD):** 5 coins in the central stack (1 oz silver, 1 AUD denomination). * **Canadian Maple Leaf (CAD):** 3 coins in the overlapping stack to the left (1 oz silver, 5 CAD denomination). * **American Silver Eagle (USD):** 2 coins featuring Walking Liberty (1 oz silver, 1 USD denomination). * **Austrian Philharmonic (EUR):** 3 coins (1.50 Euro denomination each). * **Other coins:** 3 South African Krugerrands (ZAR, 1 Rand each) and 2 British Britannias (GBP, 2 Pounds each).
Each model received the same image and question once, through the OpenRouter API. Answers are shown unedited. Results reflect these runs only, published 28 October 2026.
