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« Reply #30 on: November 22, 2009, 04:03:07 PM » |
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Aha! I thought that might get something moving.
The common side of a Euro is the one of maximum importance as it applies throughout Euroland. The content of the national side has relevance only within the nation which issued the coin and is often meaningless elsewhere.
Bill.
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chrisild
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« Reply #31 on: November 22, 2009, 06:15:03 PM » |
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Another case that proves how futile any attempt of coming to a generally accepted "definition" of what the obverse or reverse of a coin is.  Christian |
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« Reply #32 on: November 22, 2009, 06:45:56 PM » |
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Worry not, I pushed the bit about the Euro in just to prove a point about the importance of the 'common' side throughout the area.
I am quite happy to use the terms 'common' and 'national'.
However, I fail to understand why (say) a sprig of five oak leaves and a couple of acorns (Germany) are considered more important than an international requirement.
Bill.
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UK Decimal +
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« Reply #33 on: November 22, 2009, 07:03:54 PM » |
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Further to the above, here are two currently valid coins, a 2c from Germany and a silver 3p (formerly 3d) from Britain, although you are extremely unlikely to find the latter in circulation.
Euro 'national' and British 'reverse' are depicted.
Bill.
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chrisild
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« Reply #34 on: November 22, 2009, 07:10:18 PM » |
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However, I fail to understand why (say) a sprig of five oak leaves and a couple of acorns (Germany) are considered more important than an international requirement.
Same here. For me the face value is the most important element, and that is on the common sides too. But of course a3v1 is perfectly right; the coins are issued by the member states (and the ECB only approves the issue volumes), and the issuing member state can be found by looking at the national side. Also, various European and national regulations say that the common side is the reverse ... so be it.  Christian |
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chrisild
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« Reply #35 on: November 22, 2009, 07:24:01 PM » |
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Further to the above, here are two currently valid coins, a 2c from Germany and a silver 3p (formerly 3d) from Britain, although you are extremely unlikely to find the latter in circulation.
Easy. Two acorns make a side the obverse. Three acorns - reverse. Well, if by British law or tradition the side depicting the monarch is usually the obverse, then it makes sense to call the other side the reverse. In Germany we just use the EU terms for the obverse and reverse of the circulation coins; and with collector coins (regional money) we have a Bildseite which shows the "theme" of an issue, and a Wertseite that shows the value ... Christian |
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He decided to change his life, to make the best of the morning hours. He got up at six o'clock, took a shower, got shaved, dressed himself up, enjoyed breakfast, smoked a couple of cigarettes, sat down at his desk and woke up again at noon.
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a3v1
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« Reply #36 on: November 22, 2009, 07:24:22 PM » |
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Bill,
Just a question out of curiosity. If the United Kingdom used the Euro as well, would you still regard the common side more important than the UK national side?
Regards,
a3v1
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Over half a century of experience as a coin collector
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« Reply #37 on: November 22, 2009, 07:34:12 PM » |
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If we used the €uro, I would consider the 'common' side as the more important and therefore the 'obverse' although I would refer to it as the 'common' side. However, bear in mind the the English word 'common' has more than one meaning. From the Concise Oxford English Dictionary:- common
adjective (commoner, commonest)
1 occurring, found, or done often; not rare. Øwithout special rank or position; ordinary. Ø(of a quality) of a sort to be generally expected: common decency. Øof the most familiar type.
2 shared by two or more people or things. Øbelonging to or affecting the whole of a community: common land. ØMathematics belonging to two or more quantities.
3 showing a lack of taste and refinement supposedly typical of the lower classes; vulgar.
4 Grammar of or denoting a noun that refers to individuals of either sex (e.g. teacher) or belongs to a gender conventionally regarded as masculine or feminine.
5 Prosody (of a syllable) able to be either short or long.
6 Law (of a crime) of lesser severity.
noun
1 a piece of open land for public use.
2 a form of Christian service used for each of a group of occasions.
3 (also right of common) English Law a person's right over another's land, e.g. for pasturage.
PHRASES
common ground views shared by each of two or more parties.
common or garden British informal of the usual or ordinary type.
the common touch the ability to get on with ordinary people.
in common in joint use or possession; shared.
in common with in the same way as.
DERIVATIVES
commonness noun
ORIGIN
Middle English: from Old French comun, from Latin communis.Note meaning number 3 of the adjective ...  Bill. |
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« Reply #38 on: November 22, 2009, 07:55:10 PM » |
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Here's a bit more fun on the subject. In English, the 'obverse' sides are commonly known as 'heads' and the 'reverse' as 'tails'. On the first scan, the only 'tail' to be seen is on the 'obverse' and the two 'heads' (note the plural) are on the 'reverse'. The coins are the 25p for 1977 and 1981 respectively and full details can found in my series on the British Crown coins. Bill. |
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chrisild
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« Reply #39 on: November 22, 2009, 10:49:41 PM » |
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Note meaning number 3 of the adjective ... The UK will fortunately never get to use the European currency. But at least I now understand what "Commonwealth" means. Christian |
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He decided to change his life, to make the best of the morning hours. He got up at six o'clock, took a shower, got shaved, dressed himself up, enjoyed breakfast, smoked a couple of cigarettes, sat down at his desk and woke up again at noon.
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Figleaf
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« Reply #40 on: November 22, 2009, 10:55:20 PM » |
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Come on  Peter |
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An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.
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translateltd
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« Reply #41 on: November 23, 2009, 12:56:31 AM » |
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But at least I now understand what "Commonwealth" means. Yes, wealth is common. I wouldn't be bothered with it, myself. |
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Sir Sisu
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« Reply #42 on: March 29, 2010, 10:28:37 PM » |
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In the Finnish language there is no such ambiguous terminology as obverse/reverse regarding coins (at least regarding Finnish coins ) The respective terms are tunnuspuoli/arvopuoli, which roughly translate as emblem side / value side. Of course such simple terms do not solve the dilemma of some of the examples posted here. Just thought to point out that not every nation necessarily thinks in terms of obverse/reverse, front/back, etc. when it comes to designing and/or making coins. So in certain cases the whole issue could be moot. |
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