The Different Types Of A Coin Edge

Posted by slang on September 23, 2009

When we observe a coin at its edge, we can see different kinds of edges-features. 

Plain edge of a coin

 Plain Edge

Coins usually are plain or milled edges. Smaller denominations normally have plain edges whilst higher denominations will be milled.

 Milled Edge

MILLED edge of a coin

 The purposes of edge milling are firstly to enable us to know whether any other precious metal had been filed from the edge of a coin and to assist those with impaired vision to distinguish between one denomination and another.

 Edge Lettering

INCUSED edge of a coin

This can be either incuse or raised. Edge legends are often mottoes or country names, some even include dates. Edge lettering can be in the form of incuse lettering on plain edge, raised lettering on a plain edge and incuse lettering on milled edge and exceptionally raised lettering on a milled edge.

 Security edge

SECURITY Edge of a Coin

Have a groove along the central line of the milling around the circumference of the coin. This groove usually has a pattern of raised lines and dots along it.

A special case of the security edge is that found perhaps only on a few types of 5 Dollar coins of Hong Kong. These are quite thick coins and the groove around the otherwise milled edge has in it, raised edge lettering.

Do We Need Coin Software To Manage Our Coin Collections?

Posted by slang on January 21, 2009

More than ten years ago, I have bought a coin collecting software thinking that it can help me with the organizing, cataloging and managing all my coin related date. However, to my disappointment, it doesn’t really work out well.

With the advent of technology, in the internet, we now can see many coins softwares on sale. Some coin softwares even have ready to use coin inventories to collect modern, ancient, medieval coins and are capable of organizing web coin resources,coin related contacts and also able to create a coin glossary with a dictionary of various coin terms.

Before you buy any coin software, let gets wise. Please verify if it is suitable for you as each software program might has its own unique features which might or might not be suitable for you.

Perhaps some of the pertinent questions we might need to ask ourselves are:

·         Has this coin software featured with a database with my collected coins listed?  For example, if my collections are all on Straits Settlements coins, does that particular software has a listing of such coins instead of keying in the description, etc meaning that I need to adjust to the software instead of vice versa

·         Is the coin software easy to learn and the interfacing easy to do?

·         Does the software has ready to use coin templates?

·         Is it very easy to access my coin data?

·         Does it have ready make professional looking documents and does it have a wizard for additional information if required?

·         Does it create coin reports, summaries and web pages?

·         Can it print out a sort of coin wish list so you know what to look for ?

·         Can the software also accommodate bank notes collections ?

·         Do we need to pay for update version or are they free of charge ?

·         What version is it in. First version which might need more updating which takes some part of our time? Also, generally ask how many times is the software updated?

Go to other articles like:

Do we need to join coin clubs or what’s the benefits of doing so?

Difference Between A “Matte” Proof and A “Sandblast” Proof

Posted by slang on January 9, 2009

Both the matte and sandblast proofs have a softly lustrous granular appearance in sharp contrast to the brilliant mirror finish associated with current proofs.

The matte finish is produced by picklng the planchet in dilute acid; the sandlbast by pelting the planchet with sand propelled by a jet of compressed air.