II.VI A basic glossary of associated terminology.
I have provided here, for convenience, a very limited introduction to the use of terms associated with early medieval hammered coinage. The backbone of this post is taken from the Coin yearbook 2005. I have added and removed explanations as necessary.
Annulet small circle often used as an ornament, or spacing device in coin inscriptions.
Ar Abbreviation for Latin Argentum [silver] used for coins struck in this metal.
Attribution Identification of a coin by characteristics such as issuing authority, reign, mint, and by a standard reference.
Base Non-precious metal.
Beading Ornamental border found on the raised rim of a coin.
Blank Piece of cut or punched metal prepared for striking to produce coins.
Blundered Inscription Legend in which the lettering is jumbled or meaningless, indicating the illiteracy of the Vikings for example in copying English coinage.
Clipped Coins Precious metal coins from which small amounts have been removed by clipping the edges.
Cut coins Coins cut into smaller pieces to provide correspondingly smaller denominations. Often assisted by a cross on the reverse.
Debasement The reduction in the precious metal content of the coinage, usually by governments for economic reasons.
Device Heraldic term for the pattern or emblem on coins.
Die Hardened piec e of metal bearing a mirror image of the device to be struck on one side of a coin.
Ecclesistical Coins Coins struck by a religious authority such as an archbishop or abbot.
Effigy An image or representation of a person, usually a king, on the obverse or important side of a coin.
Engraving The art of cutting lines or grooves in a die. Engraving images into the face of the dies used in striking coins.
Epigraphy The study of inscriptions, involving the classification and interpretation of coin legends.
Facing Bust Term for the portrait, usually on the obverse of a coin, which faces front instead of to the side.
Field Flat part of the surface of a coin between the legend, the effigy and other raised parts of the design.
Flan The piece of metal struck between dies to produce a coin. Also called a blank or planchett.
Hammered Term denoting coins produced by the traditional method of striking flans by hand between dies.
Hoard Accumulation of coins concealed in times of economic or political upheaval. Often discovered centuries later.
Hybrid Another term for a mule.
Legend The inscription on a coin.
Ligature Term denoting the linking of two letters in a legend. For example AE on coins of king Aelfred etc...
Mint The place in which coins are produced.
Moneyer The individual charged with striking coins at the official mint. Also known as a coiner.
Mule Coin whose obverse is not matched with its official or regular reverse.
Nicked Coin Coin bearing a tiny nick or cut in its edge. Silver coins were tested by this method [especially] in the reign of Henry I. Eventually people refused to accept them. The problem was solved when the state decreed that all coins must have a nick in them.
Numismatics The study of coins and related fields. From the Latin numisma and the Greek nomisma [money].
Obverse The front of the coin. The side of a coin usually bearing the name and/or effigy of the king or ruler.
Pile In hammered coinage, the obverse die. The opposite of the trussel.
Privy Mark A mark, pattern of marks or symbol incorporated into the design of a coin to identify the mint, coiner or particular die used.
Profile A side view of the human face or bust, widely used as a coin effigy.
Retrograde Term describing the inscriptions running from right to left, or with the letters in a mirror image. Thought by some to be the work of ignorant engravers.
Reverse The back of the coin. The side without the name or image of the monarch etc...
Saltire Heraldic term for a cross in the shape of an 'X'. St. Andrew's cross.
Silver A precious metal, formerely widely used to produce coinage.
Styca Name given to the debased silver sceats of Northumbria in the 8th-9th century.
Trussel In hammered coinage, the reverse die. The opposite of the pile.
Type Principal motif on a coin, enabling numismatists to identify the issue.
- Posted by dragonbloodaxe on 11/08/2006.
- dragonbloodaxe's site
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