We discuss how SU(1, 1) coherent states from the discrete series allow for a natural coarse graining operation. The physical application is quantum theories based on a set of three extensive observables whose Poisson algebra is isomorphic to su(1, 1). In particular, we show that a Perelomov coherent state with representation label Nj(0) and spinor label z encodes the physics of N independent subsystems with labels j(0), z. This property is suggested by existing results for the expectation values and variances of the observables. We prove that it holds for all higher moments. Our results in particular apply to a recent quantum cosmology model that has been derived using SU(1,1) group theoretic quantisation techniques. For it, it follows that a certain notion of fiducial cell independence holds exactly at the quantum level when using the coherent states. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.