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
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