If you are entering the world of coin investing and numismatics, it is important that you learn how to read the different components of a coin. Not only does this help you identify a coin and evaluate its condition, but it also makes coin collecting a much more fascinating activity. The more you learn, the more you will begin to notice the differences between all the coins out there.
In this article we help you learn how to read the different parts of a coin, including its obverse, reverse, edge and inscriptions.
Anatomy of a coin:
First, let's look at the different parts of a coin. Next, we will explain each of them in more detail. The various components of a coin include:
Obverse (face): The front part of a coin that usually shows a prominent design, such as a national emblem or the profile of a notable person.
2. Reverse (cross): The back of a coin that generally has a different design or inscription than the obverse.
3. Device/Bust: Feature printed on the coin, usually an image or portrait of a person.
4. Edge: The outer edge of a coin, which may be smooth, grooved (grooved lines), lettered or decorative.
5. Edge: The embossed part of the perimeter of a coin, both obverse and reverse.
6. Inscription/Legend: Main text of the coin that generally includes the name and denomination of the country.
7. Field: Flat area on the surface of a coin that provides a background for the design or inscription.
8. Relief: Designs and inscriptions in relief on the surface of a coin.
9. Mint mark: Small letter or symbol indicating where the coin was minted.
10. Slogans: Inspirational lettering, such as "In God We Trust."
11. Date: Year the coin was minted, usually found on the obverse, but sometimes on the reverse.
12. Designer's initials: Initials of the coin designer.
What is the obverse of a coin?
Coin collectors can easily distinguish the obverse and reverse of a coin, but to the untrained eye it can be difficult to discern between the two, especially when looking at coins from different countries.
The obverse of a coin, also known as the face, is the front of the coin. This side of the coin usually features a prominent design or image, such as:
- The profile or bust of a notable figure, usually a historical or current leader, monarch or influential person.
- A national emblem or symbol representing the issuing country.
- Inscriptions, which may include the name of the country, year of minting, mint mark, purity and weight of the precious metal and denomination.
The obverse is designed to be easily recognizable. The exact design elements and inscriptions that appear may vary depending on the country and the purpose of the coin (e.g., commemorative and circulation coins). There is no definitive rule as to what the obverse of a coin is, it is simply a matter of convention.
For example, the obverse of the gold Krugerrand simply features a portrait of former South African President Paul Kruger with the words South Africa inscribed in English and Afrikaans. On the other hand, the silver American Eagle features the Lady Liberty design with the coin's year of issue and the mottoes "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST".
What is the reverse side of a coin?
The reverse of a coin, often referred to as the "cross side" or flap, usually features a design or inscription that complements the obverse. It may be:
- A national symbol, monument, animal or other motif significant to the issuing country.
- Themes or events that are celebrated, usually for commemorative coins.
- Inscriptions of the coin denomination, country name, motto and mint mark.
Like the obverse of a coin, the reverse varies greatly from coin to coin and there are no concrete rules as to which side of a coin is the obverse or reverse. In some cases, you may even find a portrait of a person on the reverse of a coin.
For example, the reverse of a Britannia gold coin shows a depiction of Britannia, the female personification of the United Kingdom, along with inscriptions on the year of issue, weight and purity. The reverse of Vienna Philharmonic silver coins show various musical instruments used by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, along with the name of the coin and the material (silver).
What are the devices in a coin?
The term "device" on a coin refers to the primary design elements that are embossed on the coin's field. These may include portraits, symbols, animals, or any other image or writing that is part of a coin's design. The term "device" is essentially another way of describing a design feature of a coin.
Devices are found on both the obverse and reverse of a coin and are usually surrounded by the field, the flat area of the coin's surface that is not part of the embossed design. The devices protrude from the embossed field (see below) to add a tactile aspect to the coin's surface.
Some countries require by law that certain symbols appear on all of their coins. For example, coins minted by the United States Mint must include the following symbols:
- An emblematic print of liberty on the obverse of the coin, as well as the year of issue and the inscription 'LIBERTY'.
- A figure or representation of an eagle on the reverse, as well as the mottoes 'IN GOD WE TRUST' and 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' and an inscription of 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA'.
What is the edge of a coin?
The edge of a coin is the outer edge or perimeter that surrounds its circumference. It can have different characteristics depending on the design and the minting process used:
- Smooth: A smooth, uninterrupted edge without any detail.
- Fluted: also known as a serrated or milled edge, this is a series of evenly spaced vertical ridges or grooves surrounding the circumference of the coin. The fluted edge is the most common edge design, originally used to make it obvious if small pieces of the precious metal had been scraped off, which reduced its weight. The Canadian Maple Leaf gold coin is an example of a coin with a fluted edge.
- Lettering: Some coins have edge inscriptions or raised lettering that may include the denomination of the coin or the name of the country. This is known as a "lettered" or "lettered" edge. The French franc coin features a rim inscription with the words "DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE".
- Decorative: the edge of a coin may also feature decorative patterns, symbols or designs. The Austrian krone coin features a rim with a decorative inscription of a crown.
What is the edge of a coin?
The rim is the raised portion of a coin that runs around its circumference and forms a boundary between the field and the edge. This helps frame the elements of the design and, at the same time, protects the coin's designs from wear by providing a raised barrier around the perimeter. The edge of a coin can vary in thickness, width and style depending on the design and minting process.
What is the legend or inscription on a coin?
The coin legend, also known as an inscription, is the textual part of the coin design. Legends can appear on the obverse and reverse of the coin, as well as in the field. They include all important information about the coin, such as:
- Name of country
- Denomination or nominal value
- Year of issue
- Slogans
- Name and title of the monarch or head of state at the time of minting.
For example, the legend of the Australian kangaroo coin includes:
- AUSTRALIAN CANGUR (name of the coin)
- 2023 (year of issuance)
- 1 oz of silver 999 (weight and purity of the metal)
- Elizabeth II 1952 - 2022 (name and years of reign of the monarch)
- Australia (country name)
- 1 dollar (denomination).
What is the relief of a coin?
The relief of a coin refers to all the embossed elements of its design that protrude from its field or flat surface. These may include images, inscriptions or other decorative details. The relief is what gives the coin its three-dimensional appearance and can vary in height and depth depending on the coin.
The design of the relief can affect the value of a coin. For example, coin collectors and numismatists often look for "proof" coins that have a mirror-polished relief that retains its original appearance longer and makes the coin more valuable.
What is the field of a coin?
The field of a coin is the flat background surface that surrounds its embossed elements (i.e., raised designs and inscriptions). It provides contrast and makes the embossed elements more prominent and eye-catching. The field of a coin is usually plain and unadorned so that the embossed designs can stand out clearly. It is essentially the background of a coin that makes everything else more visible. Despite its flat and featureless nature, the field of a coin is still important to numismatists and collectors, and any scratches or damage will affect its value.
What is the mintmark on a coin?
The mintmark on a coin is a small letter or symbol that indicates where the coin was produced. They are usually placed in small letters in an inconspicuous place within the coin's design. Some coins, such as the South African Krugerrand and Chinese Panda coins, do not usually have a mintmark.
Different coin surfaces and finishes:
In addition to the different parts of a coin that we have seen in this article, another important element to consider when reading a coin is its surface and finishes.
When it comes to adding an image to the surface of a coin, two methods are used: relief and hollow engraving. We discussed relief earlier in this article, which is the most common method used for coins. This method involves raising the design elements above the field of the coin. The other method, hollow engraving, is less common. This method does the opposite of embossing and presses a design into the surface of the coin so that it appears below the field. The American Indian head coin is a rare example of a hollow engraved design.
Coins can also feature special finishes that help to enhance the design characteristics of a coin. There are two main types of finishes:
Brilliant Uncirculated: Abbreviated as BU, this is the most common finish you will find on most coins today. These are coins in mint condition, showing no signs of wear from circulation. They have an original, brilliant luster and shine.
2. Proof: Proof coins are the highest quality coins, manufactured specifically for collectors. They are struck several times with specially polished dyes to create a mirror-like finish in the fields with frosted reliefs.
By StoneX Bullion