Coin Terminology

[blackev]

I am currently trying to come up with the "perfect" description for the Irish reverse coins using correct terminology.



So far I have:
The obverse side of the coin contains the inscription 'éire' (the Irish name for Ireland) and year of issue.
The relief is a design based on the Celtic harp.

[Figleaf]

Here's how I would put it:

The Brian Boru harp, left éire' (Irish: Ireland), right date.

Note that it should not be Brian Boru's harp.

Peter

[a3v1]

The harp on all Irish coins is based on a harp kept in Trinity College, Dublin.
This harp is said to be the harp of King Brian Boru (941-1014) of Munster; who was king of all Ireland 1002-1014.
Regards,
a3v1

[Figleaf]

The relief is a design based on the Brian Boru harp.

Relief is the difference between the high and low points (as in: "high relief is typical for medals, low relief is typical for coins, though there are many exceptions"). I would use "design" or "central design".

Also, I would use "based on" only when there is a significant difference between the harp on the coins and the original.

Peter

[chrisild]

The obverse side of the coin contains the inscription 'éire' (Irish: Ireland) and year of issue.
The relief is a design based on the Brian Boru harp.

Maybe you could, in the second line, write "The harp in the center is a design ...". Apart from that it sounds good to me. What I am not sure about is the Mestrovic coin ... is the side with the "big harp" (his design) the obverse or the reverse?

Christian

[blackev]

Relief is the difference between the high and low points (as in: "high relief is typical for medals, low relief is typical for coins, though there are many exceptions"). I would use "design" or "central design".

Thanks Peter, thats the kind of things I was trying to find out from the question.

Also, I would use "based on" only when there is a significant difference between the harp on the coins and the original.

I choose to use "based on" for reference reasons, wikipedia demands references for all claims, it is easier for me to find a source that says the design is "based on" as opposed to "is of".

So now I got:

The obverse side of the coin contains the inscription 'éire' (Irish: Ireland) and year of issue.
The central design is based on the Brian Boru harp.

its the "contains" part now that makes me nervous.

so what about:

The obverse side of the coin inscribes the word 'éire' (Irish: Ireland) and year of issue.
The central design is based on the Brian Boru harp.

[Figleaf]

Coin descriptions usually work from the center to the edges, e.g.:

"crowned arms of Spain on a chain and order of the golden fleece in a circle, the crown and the order breaking through the circle. Legend: .DOMINUS.MI   HI.ADIVTOR. (I have made god my helper) around a toothed border"

This makes it clear where each design element is in relation to the others.

If you want to follow this approach, you start with the harp and follow with the legends to its left and right. See also reply #1.

Peter

[blackev]

If you want to follow this approach, you start with the harp and follow with the legends to its left and right. See also reply #1

Peter what you say is begining to make sense, although I found it to be a bit plain at first I think it makes the best sense.

The Brian Boru harp, left 'éire' (Irish: Ireland), right date.

although should I replace "date" with "year of issue".

Where's "over here"?

I live in Ireland Martin.

Heads is normally the obverse and tails the reverse.

It is (or was) common for me to hear people calling the obverse tails. (actually so common I would be against odds to sugest otherwise)

[Figleaf]

I don't see why you can't use "year of issue", though it does raise the possibility that a coin is not issued in the year it is dated (frozen dates and old stocks). Everyone with reasonably good intentions will understand what you mean.

Peter

[blackev]

@Peter: I have applied your technique to the European Celtic culture & Skellig Michael coins on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_gold_and_silver_commemorative_coins_%28Ireland%29.

Let me know what you think.

[Figleaf]

It looks perfectly good and clear to me. Two remarks on the rest of the page:

- For the sake of consistency, you could change "Irish harp" to "Brian Boru harp" in the other descriptions.

- The Ivan Meštrović's design description could have been better put. I'd suggest:

obv: stylized Brian Boru harp, female player to left behind - design submitted in 1927 by Ivan Meštrović for use in the first coinage of the Irish Free State. Above: Ivan Meštrović 1883 - 1962.
rev: diagonal two by two combination of a shamrock leaf with the Brian Boru harp and squares (taken from the Croatian crest), éire above, denomination below.

Peter

[blackev]

- For the sake of consistency, you could change "Irish harp" to "Brian Boru harp" in the other descriptions.

Will do.

- The Ivan Meštrović's design description could have been better put.

I hadn't changed that one yet but I like your description better than whats there.

obv: stylized Brian Boru harp, female player to left behind - design submitted in 1927 by Ivan Meštrović for use in the first coinage of the Irish Free State. Above: Ivan Meštrović 1883 - 1962.
rev: diagonal two by two combination of a shamrock leaf with the Brian Boru harp and squares (taken from the Croatian crest), éire above, denomination below

I know this is an old age problem but I think it would be easier to say "female player to 'right' behind" - what do you think?

should I not also mention the inscription of ivan mestrovic 1883. - 1962.

[Figleaf]

rev: diagonal two by two combination of a shamrock leaf with the Brian Boru harp and squares (taken from the Croatian crest), éire above, denomination below.

Mmmm. That should have been "two shamrock leaves with date upper left and the Brian Boru harp lower right and two squares". Sorry

The Ivan Meštrović inscription should be mentioned, I think.

@BCN: the obverse / reverse debate is particularly useless and empty. On older coins, where the legend on the obverse is continued on the reverse (usually more titles) it may have content, otherwise, it does not lead to any better understanding. As long as people don't call the edge obvers and reverse anything goes as far as I'm concerned.

Peter

Peter

[blackev]

Maybe I should mention the artists signature on it?.

-blackev