Coins with the denomination on both sides

[<k>]

I noticed a curious thing while looking at some Ugandan coins: throughout its three series of circulation coins, Uganda has consistently placed the denomination on both obverse and reverse of its coins, often in different forms: all words; numeral + word; or just numeral.

You may know that our site owner, Figleaf, believes that coins with denominations in words are "feudalistic", and that all modern coins should use numerals. Now suppose he picks up a Ugandan coin, sees the numerals on one side, turns it over, then sees all words on the other side. Immediately he will think that he has been transported back to feudal times, and he will fly into a panic. Fortunately, his mother keeps his straitjacket handy for just such an occasion, but sometimes she has to call the police to help her put it on him.










 

[<k>]

Jersey's two pound coin also has a latent image of the denomination on the reverse.



 

[brokencompass]

Love the Uganda coins! Love the character they exhibit. The 20 Cent piece looks very similar to British East Africa coins. Did British East Africa become Uganda?

[FosseWay]

Love the Uganda coins! Love the character they exhibit. The 20 Cent piece looks very similar to British East Africa coins. Did British East Africa become Uganda?

At independence, British East Africa split into Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania (which is why all three still use the shilling as their monetary unit). Tanzania was formed when Tanganyika (formerly German East Africa) and Zanzibar merged.

[Figleaf]

The trouble with the florins of Deventer was that no one took them seriously. This Dutch mint was starved for work as the federal government tried to close the small mints with medieval minting rights granted by the German emperor. It must have been a tortuous-thinking lawyer who came up with the solution: if we can't strike Dutch coins, let's strike German coins.

They called it a florin and said it was worth 28 stuiver, but it was lightweight both in the Holy Roman Empire and in the Republic. What saved the issue was a "silver hunger" in Germany, that made any coin, especially large silver coins, aceptable in trade. It took a war in 1672 to close the legal loophole. Curiously, the English long thought that florin was another word for gulden. An indication of which ignorant foreigners the lightweight coins were unloaded on?

In their fear that the coin would not be accepted, the good people of Deventer imitated two German designs, both of which carried the value 28 (stuivers). On one side it is in the orb, on the other in a cartouche below the shield.

Peter

[Figleaf]

And just in case coffeetime will tell me again coins were invented in 1900 and older ones therefore don't count , here's a modern Dutch coin with the denomination (and date) on both sides. Easy to figure out the why of this coin.

Peter

[izotz]

Austria, 1, 2 and 5 cents.

[izotz]

Greece, 2 euros 2004. KM#209.

[Md. Shariful Islam]

Bangladesh 1 and 2 Taka issued in 2010 (Bangbandhu on the obverse) has denomination on both sides.

[<k>]

And just in case coffeetime will tell me again coins were invented in 1900 and older ones therefore don't count

Peter

No, I don't hold to that: look at some of the beautiful older coins I posted here: The Origins of Thematics and here: Wreaths and Sprays on Coins. I regard any legally authorised coin as a coin, whether minted for ornament or for actual use - what was good enough for the ancients is good enough for me.  Admittedly I do specialise in modern coins: some people like anything, but I like to practise a little discernment.  Though if all modern designs were as poor as the Dutch one you show us, which a semi-trained chimpanzee could have managed, then I would definitely have turned to the ancients, since that design makes even the infamous British "designer" Matthew Dent look hugely talented. 

[Bimat]

Indian bimetallic tenner showing cross (yes, THAT controversial coin ) shows denomination on both sides, in numerals on obverse and in text on reverse).

Aditya

[andyg]

which a semi-trained chimpanzee could have managed, then I would definitely have turned to the ancients, since that design makes even the infamous British "designer" Matthew Dent look hugely talented. 

You know, I actually prefer the work of the semi-trained chimpanzee....

[izotz]

I forgot about these :
Greece 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents, 1 and 2 euros.

[Bimat]

Rwanda 100 Francs.




Aditya

[<k>]

Austria, 10 Groschen, 1994.