Now I'm a little confused. :) The side with the harp is usually the obverse. So the reverse would be the "map side" (when referring to circulation and commemorative coins) or the side that shows the occasion (when referring to collector coins) ...I am currently trying to come up with the "perfect" description for the Irish reverse coins using correct terminology.
Now I'm a little confused. Smiley The side with the harp is usually the obverse. So the reverse would be the "map side" (when referring to circulation and commemorative coins) or the side that shows the occasion (when referring to collector coins) ...
When it comes to Euro circulation coins, it is generally agreed that the national side is the obverse, and the side with the map and value is the reverse.
Euro coins are not issued by the European Union, but by the member states.
Sorry old habit, over here the reverse was called the heads and the obverse called the tails.
Martin,
The Casimir side is the obverse,as it has the date.The denomination is on the reverse.
Aidan.
Martin,
You're being ridiculous.We're talking about the Commie Polish coins here.The denomination is located on the reverse,therefore the date is on the obverse.
Aidan.
I'd be interested to read considered views from other members in this regard.
Martin,
I am not making up the rules as I go along.In the case of the Commie Polish coins,the reverse always has the Commie Polish Coat-of-Arms.
Aidan.
Martin,
The Commie Polish Coat-of-Arms doesn't have a crown on the eagle's head,whereas,the current Polish Coat-of-Arms does.
I am trying to be objective as well as subjective here.
The Coat-of-Arms reverse on the Commie Polish coins applies to the coins & medal-coins denominated above 1 Zloty issued as commemoratives.Whether or not these commemorates circulated is debateable.
Aidan.
This is obverses C and D on KM-129.x coins.
This is also the difference between 2 Rupees KM-121.5 and 2 Rupees KM-121.6. If it helps I could do an image for those too. It is a distinct difference even if slight. OBV C is shows central die wear and this is corrected for on OBV D.
There was something similar in the 1970s with what are now KM-49.x sub-types. I have some of those too.
Thanks Mr Paul Baker
>>The Asokan capital is on the reverse of the Indian 2 Rupees & 10 Rupees coins.<<
Ha ! Ha ! Very funny.
thanks Mr Paul Baker
It is because the denomination is on the same side as the Asokan capital,which is why it is the reverse.So, according to you, the side showing the denomination always is the reverse?
So, according to you, the side showing the denomination always is the reverse?
Then what about the Austrian and Greek Euro circulation coins having the denomination on both sides? Do these coins have two reverses?.
Regards,
a3v1
I noticed a related post here by Oesho here (http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php/topic,4588.0.html) (See reply #9) Does it apply to modern coins,too?Aditya,
I grew up with US coins...never been anywhere else to get used to something different.
Dale
.......Oh no, you have been trapped in the tiny US of A your whole life! :-\ I just looked at it on the map, and it's no bigger than a sheet of A4. Can't they send the cavalry to rescue you? See - you should have never left the Empire! >:(
In the case of the Rwandese coins, I tend to say the obverse is the side with the country name (in fact it's not the country name, but the name of the issuing bank)
Hehe. Those two coins do have the country name, on the side that also has the face value. Just keep looking. ;)
India Brazil - is that some kind of chocolate bar? ;D
And no mention of Merry Olde England, there, I see. :(
Here's George Cuhaj's (of SCWC) final word:
[...]
It has come a long way from ancient coin making when the obverse die was set into the anvil (high relief), and the incuse square punch was the reverse or top die."
Far from "coming a long way", that would actually solve the question in every instance: find out from the mint which die was the lower when the coin was struck and, hey presto, you know which is the obverse, with no room for argument!
For me the side that tells me about the value of a coin is the obverseIn case of Euro coins,the side showing denomination is the reverse,you know ;),The side which shows the highest authority(who issued the coin) is obverse.(as a3v1 said)
Seriously, I have always wondered why for some it is important to have some kind of authoritative decision about which side is what.
Christian
I have an entire binder of tokens that according to the issuer, I have the reverse to the front. I like the designs :)
Seriously, I have always wondered why for some it is important to have some kind of authoritative decision about which side is what.
Christian
Here's one to test you all ;D
I would apply some historical knowledge to this one and say the "tusks" side is the reverse. Why? Because on comparable issues prior to 1963, the name of the King/Queen was on the other side, making it the obverse ...
In the example given above, this means that the side with the 'star' is the obverse as it is the 'fixed' side for that series.
I take this as meaning that, for a series of coins, the obverse will be the 'fixed' side, whether it be a Monarch or even the common side of a Euro. The reverse will be the one that varies, like the national side of a Euro coin.@ Bill,
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.
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.
Note meaning number 3 of the adjective ... >:D
But at least I now understand what "Commonwealth" means. ;D
... ...
Are we happy, please, with the terms (in alphabetical order) 'common', 'edge', 'national', obverse' and 'reverse'?
Now, what doubts remain? Let's see if we can find a way of covering coins to which the above does not apply. Possibly we may need to add more words such as 'heraldic' to the list. I do however appreciate that, particularly for early coins, such descriptions may not be possible so if there are illustrations they can simply be referred to as the 'upper' or 'lower' one and further labels become unnecessary.
Bill.
In this case I would pick the side with the date and denomination.
Dale
That's both, depending on which language you are reading.
Dale knows that, of course. He didn't get to be Grand Wizard of the Texan Mafia for nothing, you know!
and with collector coins (regional money) we have a Bildseite which shows the "theme" of an issue, and a Wertseite that shows the value ...
I use this article as my guideline. I am not sure if there are more official guidelines from like ANA or Krause
http://coins.about.com/od/worldcoins/qt/obversecointip.htm
Rule 4 is unfortunately incorrect - most proof sets display the reverse upwards!
One of the forum members has suggested that side of Indian Commemorative coins carrying busts of leaders like Nehru, Gandhi, Tagore, Rajiv, Bose etc may be treated as Obverse. He feels that second side having denomination plus our national emblem be treated as Reverse.Not only coin catalogs, but our government also believes that side showing Ashoka pillar is obverse. Check this RBI press release for example:
......who try to make up their own rules on something like this without referring to official documentation which is readily available these days.
Bill.
Akbar the great Mughal ruler had some square coins which are rather beautiful but nothing other than calligraphy appears on both sides. So which is the obverse? That is for our squarecoinman to research.
Dear Friends
One of the forum members has suggested that side of Indian Commemorative coins carrying busts of leaders like Nehru, Gandhi, Tagore, Rajiv, Bose etc may be treated as Obverse. He feels that second side having denomination plus our national emblem be treated as Reverse.
I and others feel that as per the convention, our Ashoka Lion Pillar indicates the authority and it is a constant/continuous symbol of state. By this logic this side should be reverse.
You are requested to inform if there are examples elsewhere when a bust of dead person (different from bust of living issuing authority) gets precedence over national symbols?
Regards
Sanjay Kansal
Akbar the great Mughal ruler had some square coins which are rather beautiful but nothing other than calligraphy appears on both sides. So which is the obverse? That is for our squarecoinman to research.Since scm has his reply, I take the liberty to reply this one. On the coins of the Mughals as for all others, we always presume the that the face which has the name of the higher authority is the obverse. So for the Kalima type coins of Akbar, the side with the Kalima is the obv. For the Ilahi side, the side with the Ilahi date etc is the reverse......... (I hope I have it correct - but that is what I have learn't in the few years that I have been around on WoC)
Have you ever seen a coin with the minting year on both sides? I haven't.
Excellent. Any more?
I personally do it the other way around in my albums as I do not like to look through pages with each 20 times the same coat of arms/effigy/map of Europe/...
Here is an example from Austria, where sometimes the denomination is also on the obverse and sometimes not.
Personally, I think of the side that has the denomination as the obverse, as that info* is most relevant for me. As a user, not as a collector