Recess and protrusion surface detecting device for an object and for coin identification

A surface profile detecting device comprises a plurality of bar-like cores disposed in a line with predetermined intervals in a predetermined disposing direction. Each core has tip ends that are arranged on a single plane and which face a surface of an object to be measured having recesses and protrusions in a magnetic field such that they are relatively movable in a direction orthogonal to said disposing direction. The detecting device also includes detecting arrangement provided in each of the bar-like cores for detecting changes in magnetic flux generated due to the uneven profile of the object to be measured. An A/D converting device is provided for A/D converting the output of the detecting arrangement with a predetermined timing. A memory is also provided for storing the output from the AND converting device. The uneven profile of the object to be measured in a predetermined range is detected from the data stored in the memory.