Nuministic Alphabet

Numismatic Terms From A Dictionary of Numismatic Names by Albert R. Frey ANS 1917 with Calligraphy by Lili Wronker



ALUMINIUM A grayish white metal resembling silver in color but of much lighter specific gravity. It is used exclusively for tokens and medals but the employment of it for actual coins has proved rather nonsatisfactory.

AMULETS The name given to certain coins or medals that are supposed to have talismanic qualities to them such as warding off evil, disease, accidents, etc.

ASSIGNAT The name given to a species of paper money first issued in France pursuant to an order of the National Assembly of April 19, 1790. The Republic issued them in denominations from 10,000 livres to 5 livres, as well as a smaller currency called Appoints as low as 10 Sons. As there was an inadequate gold or silver redeption fund their value soon depreciated to 1/6th of their original worth. By an order of the Directorate of February 19, 1795, they were abolished, and the holders were permitted to exchange them for a new variety of paper money called the Mandat. This also became worthless in a short time.

BRONZE An alloy made of 95 parts of copper, 4 parts of tin and 1 part of zinc, which has been found more serviceable for coining purposes than pure copper.

COIN Usually a piece of metal which bears an impression conferring upon it a legal character by public or private agreement.

COPPER In a pure state has been practically abandoned for coining purposes; it having been ascertained that bronze was more suitable.

DENKMUNZE A commemorative cloth or medal.

DIE The stamp used in coining.

Ebraer or Hebraer Certain Gold or silver coins of Denmark from 1644 – 48 to celebrate the expulsion of the Swedes. The reverse bears the inscription justus judex and between these words occurs the name Jehovah in Hebrew script.

ENCASED STAMPS (Postal Currency) Representations of postage stamps were a part of the design used in lieu of small change during the civil war.

FACE The 2 faces of a coin or medal are called obverse and reverse.

Gedachtrismunzen A commemorative coin struck for a public jubilee.

GOLD The accepted standard of value, adopted by the monetary system of nearly every country.

LEAD Used for trial pieces, tokens and counterfeit money.

MEDAL A piece coined for the purpose of commemorating some historical event or as an award for personal merit. It is never intended to pass for money. (From the Italian medaglia, a term traced to the 14th century, applied to a coin outside of circulation, valuable only for its historical or artistic features.

OBVERSE The obverse of a coin is the side which bears the more important device or inscription, the other side is called the reverse.

Overstrike A term describing a coin where a portion of the design and especially the date, appears under another design or date.

PAPER MONEY Mentioned by Marco Polo who states it was extensively used in China.

PLAQUETTE The name given to a Uniface medal usually of a quadrilateral, hexagonal or octagonal form.

RECHENPFENNIGE The name given to certain jetons originally intended for the purpose of computation. The earliest in France 1430-1467 and in Germany about 100 years later. Large quantities were issued at Numberg. Later they were employed as Spielpfennige.

RESTRIKE A later impression from an original die.

REVERSE From the Latin revertere to turn over. The opposite of Obverse. The inscriptions on the reverse of a coin are usually considered of lesser import than those on the obverse.

SHEKEL Originally a weight, this was incorporated into the monetary system of the jews under Simon Maccabeus (143-145 BC) who received the privilege of striking coins from Antiocluis VII King of Syria. Flavius Josephus states it was equal to four denarii.

TIN A dedepriating synonym for silver.

TOKENS Pledges of value.

UNICA (217 BC) Obverse head of man, reverse prow of a galley. Weight one ounce. Smaller coin semi-unica (89 BC) half of weight and value.

Other References

 * Coin Glossary at Coins.com