Coin Parts and Anatomy

November 4th, 2011 | anatomy, basis one, bust image, Coin Collecting, coin edge, coins, contrary, currency, design elements, different materials, different sides, different ways, face value, flat portion, lettering, local government, metal disc, mintage, obverse side, public consumption, rim

coins You are probably already aware of the fact that a coin is simply a metal disc that has been issued by your local government for public consumption as a form of currency. There are a wide variety of different types of coins, however, and not all coins are currently being accepted as being currency that is capable of being spent as a payment for transactions on a day to day basis. One of the things that you can consider when it comes to coin collecting is coin parts and anatomy, and how different coins are made from different materials and made in different ways accordingly.

So what are the main coin parts, and that is the purpose of each part of the coin?

Sides

The coin has two different sides, the head side and the tail side. Technically, the sides of the coin are known as the obverse side and the reverse side of the coin. In general, the bust image or portrait on the coin and the year of the mintage are both engraved on the coin’s obverse side. The face value for the coin is what is pressed on the other side of the coin, the reverse side.

Rim

The rim of the coin is the raised area that runs all the way along the edge of the coin. The rim of the coin can be found both on the obverse side of the coin and the reverse side of the coin as well.

Legend

The legend on the coin is what you call the inscription or any lettering that you find on the coin such as the country where the coin was issued and the face value for the coin.

Field and Relief

The field on the coin is the coin’s flat portion. The relief on the coin is the coin’s raised portion, or any design elements on the coin that are made during the process of stroking. Some examples of the relief portions of the coin include the legend of the coin, the portrait of the coin and the rim of the coin.

Edge

Contrary to the coin’s rim, which runs along the edge of the entire coin, the edge itself is the true actual edge on the coin. The edge could possibly have a number of different decorative types. For example, the edge may be plain, it could be reeded, ornamented or it could be grooved.

Portrait and Date

Finally, the portrait is the image on the obverse side of the coin, which is typically a bust of a person who is significant such as a president or another ruler. The date of the coin also appears on the obverse side of the coin, and it is responsible for indicating when the coin was actually minted.

Photo Credits: pfala

Originally posted 2009-11-08 03:32:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related Posts

4 Reasons to Hold On to Your Coin Collection A coin collection is generally an important part of a coin collector’s life, an integral part of what makes them happy. They spend countless hours and large sums of money to bring coins into their collection and to display their collection with pride. At some point, most with a coin......
The Rare Coin Collecting Debate Those who are thinking about getting into coin collecting are going to have to make a somewhat serious decision about their collection. These collectors are going to have to start to think about rare coins and are going to need to decide whether or not they plan on taking their......
When Coin Collecting Goes Too Far Coin collecting can be an exhilarating and exciting hobby, as serious coin collectors find fun and entertainment through collecting some of the most interesting pieces of currency in the world. There are people who spend years seeking out a specific coin - the feeling of finally finding and purchasing that......
4 Tips to Help You Start a Coin Collection If you are thinking about starting a coin collection, your first reaction will be to run to a coin shop and pick out your first coin. While this can be somewhat exciting and invigorating, it is not the proper way to start a coin collection. Those who take a calculated......
Getting Family Involved in Coin Collecting A coin collection is a strong hobby for any individual to take on. These collections are even more interesting and exciting to work on once multiple family members are involved. Coin collecting is a great way to bring family members together and to create a family hobby. There are multiple......

Related Websites

What to do Before You Sell Coin Collection Collecting coins is a great way for you to be able to make the most out of a hobby which is about as old as coins themselves. There are a few different stages most people go through when they have a coin collection. They will go through starting the collection......
Interesting Ways to Expand your Coin Collection Anyone who has had a coin collection for an extended period of time will go through the same steps in an attempt to add to that collection. Most will hunt down a coin that they are interested in, scouring every store that they find until they see a price that......
Insider Tips on Coin Collecting It can be easy to think that you have mastered coin collecting once you have pulled together a large and decent collection. When you have coins that you like in your collection and have spent years on your collection, you feel like you cannot improve your collection. With that being......
When to Walk Away from Coin Collecting Coin collecting is an incredible hobby that gives millions of people around the world enjoyment year after year. There are people who jump into coin collecting in their adult life, and others who have been collecting for as long as they can remember. While some are going to continue to......
How to Shop for a Coin for Your Coin Collection Every coin collector has a few different coins that they know that they want to pick up. Instead of wandering stores looking for something to catch their attention, they wander around stores and look for a specific coin. Part of coin collecting is looking for a certain coin to add......