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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=5036.0;attach=62610;image)
Beading on the obverse of a UK penny.
Beads are the continuous line of circles (or dots or pearls) that follow the circumference of a coin along its outer rim.
They are sculpted and therefore raised slightly above the surface of the coin.
Beads appear in different sizes and shapes, and with different amounts of spacing between them.
Beads were originally added to coins as a security feature, to make them harder to forge.
They are not however regarded as necessary and do not appear on all coins.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3515.0;attach=72204;image)
An Irish half penny with dentillations around the rim.
Dentillations (meaning literally 'little teeth' from Latin: dens, a tooth) are raised lines or notches that appear around the circumference of a coin along its outer rim.
They are used as an alternative to beads. Originally they were used as a security feature.
They help differentiate the appearance of a coin from coins with beads and / or from coins with neither beads nor dentillations.
Like beads, they come in different shapes, sizes and spacing.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=94639;image)
Here you see a design where the dentillations go only part of the way around the circumference of the coin.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=17663.0;attach=80428;image)
On this coin of Qatar and Dubai, there are two sets of beads.
They form an inner and an outer circle.
The outer circle is not a complete circle.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=5036.0;attach=62645;image)
This UK 2 pound coin has two full sets of beads - inner and outer.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=32969.0;attach=62588;image)
Not all 2 pound coins have the beads, however.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=12073.0;attach=72332;image)
UK pound coin, 2008.
Before 2008, all the UK standard circulation coins that were round in shape had beading on each side.
After 2008, with the arrival of a new design series, they did not.
Because of this, beads on a coin now look redundant and old-fashioned in my opinion.
Do you agree? Is beading old-fashioned nowadays?
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=99559;image)
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=99558;image)
Dentillations of two Ghanaian coins of 1967. Their shape is distinctive, but on the 10 pesewas coin they are larger and protrude further onto the field on the coin.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=46984.0;attach=94988;image)
The dentillations on this Fijian half penny are uniform on each side.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=26954.0;attach=72283;image)
Yet on this shilling they are not. Why?
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=43992.0;attach=86101;image)
On this Fijian 1 cent coin, there are dentillations on one side but none on the other. Again - why?
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=99097;image)
The dentillations on this collector coin of Papua New Guinea are diamond-shaped.
I understand that denticles is another word for dentillations.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=99272;image)
Canada, 5 cents, 1949.
Here you have denticles on a 12-sided coin.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=97323;image)
The denticles on this Gibraltar penny are quite spaced out. The gaps between them are larger than normal.
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Ceylon, 10 cents, 1944. A scalloped coin with denticles.
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Sri Lanka, 10 cent, 1975.
Ceylon became Sri Lanka, but it retained the scalloped shape with denticles for its 10 cents coin.
Here the denticles form a distinct inner circle that the older coin lacks.
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We are so used to being coins being circular, that even when a coin is square (or squarish), the design and the legend are often arranged as though the coin were circular.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=42577.0;attach=82278;image)
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=42577.0;attach=82279;image)
Here is an example, on a 1941 one cent coin from Malaya, where the orientation of the legends on the obverse and reverse are in conflict.
The reverse has two circles of beads - an inner and an outer circle.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=47873.0;attach=97317;image)
This heptagonal 50 pence coin from Guernsey - a collector issue - had a bead circle on the reverse but not on the obverse.
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Guernsey, 10 shillings commemorative coin, 1966.
The coin has beads on both sides, and they follow the squarish shape of the coin.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=43344.0;attach=83961;image)
Algeria, 50 dinars, 1993. Beads are placed within the motif. Unusual.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=43344.0;attach=83962;image)
But there are no beads on the reverse.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=97352;image)
Dominican Republic, ½ peso, 1989.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=97353;image)
Dominican Republic, ½ peso, 1990.
Some coins have been issued in two versions: with beads and without beads.
Do you know of any more?
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2194.0;attach=26942;image)
Colombia, 1000 pesos, 2012. Large and well-spaced beads on this coin.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=9222.0;attach=72402;image)
Yugoslavia, 1 dinar, 1938. Bead-shaped denticles?
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UK Gothic crown, 1847.
Neither beads nor denticles, but an unusual set of shapes.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=43401.0;attach=84245;image)
German New Guinea, 10 Pfennig, 1894. Obverse: the denticles are slanted diagonally.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=43401.0;attach=84244;image)
German New Guinea, 10 Pfennig, 1894. Obverse: the denticles are straight. Why the difference, on the same coin?
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=89609;image)
UK, one pound, 2006. The Egyptian Arch, Newry, Northern Ireland.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=89610;image)
UK, one pound, 2007. Gateshead Millennium Bridge, England.
Artist Edwina Ellis takes the idea of denticles and plays with it, in her series of bridge designs for the old UK round pound.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=89607;image)
UK, one pound, 2004. Forth Bridge, Scotland.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=89608;image)
UK, one pound, 2005. Menai Suspension Bridge, Anglesey, Wales.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=47332.0;attach=97825;image)
Misaligned beads on a Gibraltar 2 pound coin of 2019 for the Island Games.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=48586.0;attach=99459;image)
According to Wikipedia:
Tokelau consists of three tropical coral atolls (Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo), with a combined land area of 10 km2 (4 sq mi). The capital rotates yearly among the three atolls.
For many years, Tokelau arranged the beads on the obverse of its collector coins in groups of three as a reference to its three atolls.
Do you know of any other symbolic coin beads?
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Canada, $1, 1976 and 1977.
Two different types. One type has beads on both side.
The other has beads on one side and denticles on the other.
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Mexico, 10 pesos, 2012.
'L'-shaped denticles on the reverse but none on the obverse.
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Misaligned beads on a Gibraltar 2 pound coin of 2019 for the Island Games.
The word REGINA is closer to the pill that e.g. the date. I think the beads are not misaligned, but the coin as a whole was not correctly aligned with the die. It may be just the light, but my impression is that the shadows in the area of D.G. are longer than elsewhere. Perhaps the die was incorrectly mounted at an angle? It should be hard to do in a modern press, but I am sure my granddaughters could manage such a feat as long as they weren't trying. ;)
Peter
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Do you know of any other symbolic coin beads?
Some modern Nepali coins have 64 dots - they represent 64 Yoginies (Goddesses). I didn't count them, the information is from the catalog of the central bank (pdf (https://www.nrb.org.np/red/notes_and_coins_of_nepal/)).
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=99882;image)(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=99883;image)
In 2004, the Netherlands issued coins with denominations of 5 and 10 euro for the 50th anniversary of the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The coins depict both on their obverse and reverse a circle made out of groups of 3 beads. The beads refer to the 3 constituent countries the Kingdom of the Netherlands at the time consisted of (the Netherlands, Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles).
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=100051;image)
New Guinea, 1 penny, 1936. Obverse.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=100052;image)
New Guinea, 1 penny, 1936. Reverse.
My next exhibit is from the Territory of New Guinea. It was administered by Australia at the time.
The dentillations, if they can be called that, are a combination of semi-spheres and the most disgustingly, disgracefully sharp and spiky dentillations in the whole history of numismatics. It makes me wonder what artist George Kruger-Gray's mental state was when he thought of using such shapes.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=100047;image)
New Guinea, 3 pence, 1935. Obverse.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=100048;image)
New Guinea, 3 pence, 1935. Reverse.
The New Guinea three pence coin was similar, as was the sixpence (not shown).
See: Coinage of the Territory of New Guinea (http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php/topic,48770.0.html).
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could it be the upper part of tribal Spears and shields?
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could it be the upper part of tribal Spears and shields?
That's an intriguing idea. I have never read the files in the National Archives (London) relating to New Guinea, so I cannot say. However, given the highly unusual nature of these semi-beads and denticles, there might indeed have been an unusual reason for them, so who knows?
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Egypt, 1 pound, 1974. First anniversary of the October War.
An unusually shaped set of denticles.
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Seychelles, 25 cents, 2007. Long denticles.
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Uruguay, 10 pesos, 2000.
Here the dentillations do not reach the rim. Are they marking time, as on a clock?
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There are exactly 60 marks on the ring...
Peter
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Oh, thank you, Herr Asperger! You counted them all. :-\
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Mali - coins of 1975 to 1977.
Here you have four triangular shapes around the denomination. They appear to point to the similarly triangular shapes around the rim.
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Barbados, 1 dollar - circulation coin.
This heptagonal coin has a bead circle on both sides. Admittedly, all the other coins in the series also do, but they are all round.
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Mali - coins of 1975 to 1977.
Here you have four triangular shapes around the denomination. They appear to point to the similarly triangular shapes around the rim.
Two, rather than four is the magic number. The four inside triangles are sometimes solid, like those on the rim, sometimes divided in three plus the outline is four triangles and there are four of each. However, there are 32 triangles on the rim of each coin (I counted them just so you could call me an asparagus) and 32 is a power of 2, but not a power of four.
Peter
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Two, rather than four is the magic number. The four inside triangles are sometimes solid, like those on the rim, sometimes divided in three plus the outline is four triangles and there are four of each. However, there are 32 triangles on the rim of each coin (I counted them just so you could call me an asparagus) and 32 is a power of 2, but not a power of four.
I would never call you an asparagus - you could get eaten alive by literal-minded vegans. Asperger's, perhaps. ;)
32 certainly does not fit within a decimal system, so you can see why the Malian franc did not survive for long after that. :-X
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The Cyprus coin series of 1955, with QEII on the obverse, had denticles on both sides.
In 1963, after independence, a new series was issued. This set had denticles on the obverse but an unusual wavy pattern on the reverse.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=11056.0;attach=88579;image)
Cyprus, 50 mils, 1981.
Why wavy? Cyprus is an island, so is the pattern meant to represent the sea?
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=11080.0;attach=43852;image)
Cyprus, 5 mils, 1963.
Below you see the denticled reverse sides of some of the coins.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=45292.0;attach=89713;image)
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=45292.0;attach=89714;image)
Bahamas, QEII. The 10 cents coin had a bead circle, despite not being circular.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=45292.0;attach=89732;image)
10 cents, 1971.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=45292.0;attach=89733;image)
15 cents, 1971.
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Bahamas, 10 and 15 cents coins, 1975, after independence.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=45292.0;attach=89738;image)
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=6960.0;attach=87519;image)
The newer versions are without bead circles.
See: Coinage of the Bahamas (http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php/topic,45292.0.html).
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Colombia, 20 pesos, 2004.
Here the denticles are slanted at an angle. There are no beads or denticles on the obverse.
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Coins that have different types of beads or denticles on each side are interesting. This 5 sucres from Ecuador has denticles on the obverse, but the reverse has neither denticles nor beads.
Meanwhile, the 50 sucres has beads on the reverse that are more spaced out than the denticles on the obverse and are also further from the rim. Both coins use braille, but I am told that blind people do not check the rim of a coin - they check the size, shape, weight, and edge type - smooth, milled, security edge, alternately milled and smooth, etc.
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These coins of Georgia from 2006 have very different treatments of the area near the rim on the obverse and the reverse.
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This Philippines set has beads on one side but not on the other.
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This Philippines set has little stars - not beads - on one side but not on the other.
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All the coins of the latest Sao Tome series (issued 2017) have denticles on the reverse but not on the obverse. Below are two of these coins.
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Kazakhstan, 1993. Beads and no beads. This seems to be more common that I realised.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=75074;image)
Note: these coins are not to scale - they are each of a different size.
Singapore, 2013. The only coin with beads is the 50 cents, but these occur on the reverse only. Why this single exception?
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=34851.0;attach=60798;image)
Macao / Macau 1999 set. The coins had beads only on the reverse. Where the coin was polygonal, the beads followed the coin's shape.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=34851.0;attach=72542;image)
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=13600.0;attach=60708;image)
The previous set of Macao / Macau had beads on both sides. Where the coin was polygonal, the beads followed the coin's shape.
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I ask the question now: do you think beads and denticles are necessary? My country, the UK, used them for long enough, but the new design series since 2008 has none. This gives the designs a cleaner look, I think. Do you agree?
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Generally, I consider the use of beads and denticles on the obverse to be unnecessary.
Their inclusion on the reverse, to my mind, is dependent on complexity of design.
Minimal designs benefit from their added decoration value.
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The outer ring is a holdover from the times when coins were clipped. Such coins had an inner ring also. Their function was to see at a glance how badly the coin was clipped. A complete outer ring was an indication that the coin might be too heavy. An incomplete inner ring meant the coin was clipped too much and should be refused/returned to the mint. Clipped coins are easiest to recognise because they look centrally struck. In fact, clippers sheared off parts that would stick out of the outer ring first or tried to leave the inner ring intact for as long as possible.
These rings have of course lost their technical function, so that they are now a design element only, subject to considerations such as how busy the design is and how traditionalist the sponsors (government, minister, committee etc.) are.
Peter
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Generally, I consider the use of beads and denticles on the obverse to be unnecessary.
Their inclusion on the reverse, to my mind, is dependent on complexity of design.
Minimal designs benefit from their added decoration value.
Well said, Deeman. Unnecessary and old-fashioned is my view.
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These rings have of course lost their technical function, so that they are now a design element only, subject to considerations such as how busy the design is and how traditionalist the sponsors (government, minister, committee etc.) are.
I suspect that coins with bead circles are far less common these days. As for denticles, I believe they are still common enough.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=13615.0;attach=79851;image)
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=13615.0;attach=79850;image)
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=44922.0;attach=88274;image)
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=44922.0;attach=88275;image)
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=13615.0;attach=79853;image)
Subtly different types around the outer circle of the first Malaysian coin series (1967 to the mid-1980s).
These appeared on both sides of the coins. Subsequent series dispensed with beads, denticles, or anything similar.
See: Coinage of Malaysia (http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php/topic,44922.0.html).
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Colombia, 500 pesos, 2012. Beads on the obverse but not on the reverse.
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Colombia, 1000 pesos, 2012. Beads on the reverse and an inner semi-circle of beads on the obverse.
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Indonesia never used beads or denticles, to my knowledge, until recently.
The 100 rupiah coins of 2010 and 2016 have beads on the reverse and obverse respectively. No other coins of these series use beads.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=11056.0;attach=101399;image)
Austria, 2 schilling, 1946. Unusual shapes at the outer circle.
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Austria, 5 schilling, 1952.
Once again, you have different treatments on obverse and reverse.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=43846.0;attach=85793;image)
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=43846.0;attach=85794;image)
Austria, 20 schilling, 1980.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=9830.0;attach=96175;image)
Indonesia, 500 rupiah, 1993 - unadopted version.
Below, the regular circulation coin.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=9889.0;attach=73775;image)
Above: Thailand, 5 baht, 1972. Issued coin with bead circle.
Below: Thailand, 5 baht, 1972. Trial version. The beads follow the sides of the coin.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=31076.0;attach=52097;image)
The Angola set of 1999 had beads on the reverse of the 1, 2 and 5 kwanzas coins but nowhere else.
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Uruguay, 20 centesimos, 1930. Unusual shapes around the rim.
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Turin was a French coin designer, whose style was Art Nouveau - stylised figures from nature. The ears of wheat are an excellent example of this style. It shows how after a long and increasingly boring reign of a derived art style, neo-classicism, originality made a come-back. Art Nouveau can be thought of as a first step in the direction of abstract art.
Peter
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Yugoslavia, 50 dinara, 1993.
The late, unlamented Yugoslavia.
And 1993, when terrible atrocities were taking place in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
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The British Antarctic Territory commemoration for the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica is a prime example of the unnecessary use of denticles, apart from the fact that Pobjoy Mint did not apply due diligence in their research of the Williams and depicted the wrong vessel.
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Cuba, 1 peso, 1992. The coin has an inner polygonal rim but with a bead circle. Sorry, communist Cuba, but that is just degenerate. :o
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Nepal, 25 Paisa, VS2057, 2000.
I recently asked myself whether any aluminium coins had bead circles. I thought that it would be unlikely.
I was wrong. Nepal has several such coins.
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I recently asked myself whether any aluminium coins had bead circles. I thought that it would be unlikely.
The Deutsches Reich had a few too. For example, the 3 Mark 1922, or the 50 Reichspfennig 1935 and 1939.
Christian
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=46863.0;attach=94780;image)
Germany, 50 Reichspfennig, 1935. Aluminium, and with denticles.
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Germany, 3 Mark, 1922. Aluminium, and with denticles.
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I recently asked myself whether any aluminium coins had bead circles. I thought that it would be unlikely.
Another one to keep in mind that I came across this morning whilst perusing eBay - the aluminium Spanish 1 peseta coin of 1982-1989. :)
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=102928;image)
Spain, 1 peseta, 1983. Aluminium, and with bead circles.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=26213.0;attach=99650;image)
Iraq, 1 dinar, 1981. Nice denticles on a 10-sided coin.
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(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=84778;image)
Italy, 20 lire, 1927.
This coin has beads on the rim of the coin.
Usually they appear next to the rim.