Each numismatic study, as a rule, begins with the definition of each individual coin. The definition of a coin involves determining the place and time of its minting, mint, mint (if possible), denomination. They use different methods for this, the main of which we have cited in this article. Read on.
Instruction manual
1
Most often, a coin is determined 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 scroll through a whole bunch of books and still not find anything. But most often, the numismatist restricts searches 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 no earlier than the middle of the 13th century. Silver coins weighing 4 grams are pennies that were minted no earlier than the second half of that of the 13th century wives. If you also take into account the weight of the coin and its size, you can reduce the list of references for viewing to several books.
2
Also look at the technical features of coinage. If the coin is one-sided (bratheat), then its origin is limited not only to a certain period, but also to a certain group of countries in which the bratheats were minted. Traces of the fourth strike may reveal the South German origin of the coin. And the inscription says that the coin was minted no earlier than the 70s of the XVI century.
3
There are patterns in changing images. For the coins of the "barbarian" states, it was customary to depict on them various forms of the cross and / or the image of the goddess Victoria (often distorted). Bilateral denarii with the image of a wooden church - German coinage.
4
Coat of arms begins to spread on coins from the 13th century. Images of a shield with a shield holder testify to the coin minting not earlier than the 16th century, two shield holders - not earlier than the 17th century. You can determine the place of coinage or select some places where this or that saint was considered the patron saint by his image on the coin. The artistic style of the image is also of some importance. So you can determine the time of coin minting by purely Byzantine, Romanesque or Gothic images.
5
Valuable information can give not only the contents of the legend, but also its location. A double circular legend is a characteristic feature of pennies (Prague pennies, Gro Turnuois and their imitation, and so on). If the date of minting, for example, is indicated on the coin using the last two or three digits, the coin was minted in the XVI-XVII centuries.
6
It is also important to determine the sample, the composition of the metal coins. This will make it possible to determine the monetary stop and compile the obtained data with indications from written sources, if any.
