Every numismatic study usually begins with the identification of each individual coin. Determining a coin means finding out the place and time of its minting, the mint, the mint (if possible), the denomination. To do this, use different methods, the main of which we have given in this article. Read on.
Instructions
Step 1
Most often, a coin is identified by looking for its description or image in the literature. But if the numismatist is not very experienced or the coin is difficult to determine, you can flip through a whole bunch of books and still not find anything. But more often than not, the numismatist limits the search by first determining the metal, weight and size of the coin. So, for example, gold coins weighing about 3.5 g are most likely florins or ducats. This means that they were minted not earlier than the middle of the 13th century. Silver coins weighing 4 g are pennies that were minted not earlier than the second half of that 13th century wives. Considering also the weight of the coin and its size, you can reduce the list of references for viewing to a few books.
Step 2
Also look at the technical features of the minting. If the coin is one-sided (bracteate), then its origin is limited not only to a certain period, but also to a certain group of countries in which the bracteates were minted. The traces of the fourth blow may betray the South German origin of the coin. And the edge inscription says that the coin was minted not earlier than the 70s of the 16th century.
Step 3
There are also patterns in the change of images. It was customary for the coins of "barbarian" states to depict various forms of a cross and / or the image of the goddess Victoria (often distorted) on them. Double-sided denarii depicting a wooden church - German coinage.
Step 4
Coats of arms began to spread on coins from the 13th century. Images of a shield with a shield holder testify to the minting of coins not earlier than the 16th century, two shield holders - not earlier than the 17th century. You can determine the place of minting or highlight some places where this or that saint was considered the patron saint by his image on the coin. The artistic style of the image also has a certain value. This way you can determine the time of minting of the coin from purely Byzantine, Romanesque or Gothic images.
Step 5
Valuable information can be provided not only by the content of the legend, but also by its location. The double circular legend is a characteristic feature of the penny type coins (Prague pennies, gros turnois and their imitations, and so on). If the date of minting, for example, is indicated on a coin using the last two or three digits, the coin was minted in the 16th-17th centuries.
Step 6
It is also very important to determine the fineness, the composition of the metal of the coin. This will make it possible to determine the monetary stop and compile the obtained data with readings from written sources, if any.
