Know Your Coin
Coin are Graded in different ways. Each coin has its own value as per its grading.
A Poor Coin
A Poor Coin
This is an Example of a Poor coin, Most of its inscription is washed out and almost smooth on one side and low visibility on the other side.
A Very Fine Coin
A Very Fine Coin
This is an Example of a Very Fine Coin, where in most of the details are Present and readable but the coins has been picked up from Circulation.
An Uncirculated Coin Condition - UNC Condition
UNC Condition
This is an Example of an Uncirculated Coin Condition also known as UNC Condition. These coins are mostly picked up collectors from the Bank before being released into Circulation. These are Collectors choice coins and are Bright and with all the Possible Details.
A Uncirculated Coin - UNC
UNC
This is an Example of an Uncirculated Coin also known as UNC. These coins are issued by the respective issuing Mint and are sold at a premium rate which is about 300 - 400% more and are sent packed in a special packing with all the details about the coin. These coins are advertised in the news papers and are issued only on order and for a limited Period.
Proof Sets - Proof Coins
Proof Coins
Coins of proof quality have no equal in sharpness or brilliance. These specially made coins are so finely sculptured that extreme details are noticeable. A proof coin’s exceptional detail combined with its aesthetic appeal make them extremely popular with collectors. In terms of output, a proof is the absolute highest quality coin a mint can produce. These coins are advertised in the news papers and are
issued only on order and for a limited Period.
issued only on order and for a limited Period.
The Sides of a Coin
The side of the coin where the Value is Shown or Mentioned is Reverse Side and the Other Side is Obverse.
Types of Edges on Coins
The Coins have Different types of Edges. Some of them which I Know a I have described them below.
A reeded edge has fine serrations like a file, all the way around the rim. Normally the reeding is vertical, but some early experiments had slanted reeding.
A plain edge has no marking of any kind on the edge, applied with a simple, flat collar die.
A security edge is a combination of grooved and reeded edge; often the furrow of the groove is decorated with a pattern (dots, lettering or some such) to make it even harder to duplicate. Hong Kong and India are traditional users of this kind of edge.
A grooved edge is plain, but has a deep score or groove halfway across, all the way around the rim. The initial reaction of someone seeing such a coin for the first time is "it looks like two coins glued together".
An inscribed edge has text around the rim. It can be any thing like the name of the Country or slogan or any other Text.
A decorated edgeis similar to the inscribed edge, but patterns and symbols instead of letters are used. This term could be applied to the circles-and-rectangles pattern and to the recurring stars.
An interrupted reeded edge has alternating sections of reeded and plain edge.
An indented edge is a plain or milled edge with several indents or notches regularly spaced around it. This type of edge has recently come into fashion.
A herringbone edge is a specific kind of decorated edge, and resembles an early attempt at reeding; the pattern on the rim forms a series resembling interconnected arrows, or a "fish-bone" pattern.
A serrated edge is the term usually applied to ancient Greek and Roman coins with v-shaped notches painstakingly carved into the coin at regular intervals. Apparently a very crude attempt at applying something resembling a reeded or security edge.
A Polygon Edge is one of the Shaped coins with plain Border. Such coins normally have plain edges; reeding or other patterns.
A scalloped coins in with another type of shaped coins. Such coins normally have plain edges; reeding or other patterns.
A reeded edge has fine serrations like a file, all the way around the rim. Normally the reeding is vertical, but some early experiments had slanted reeding.
A plain edge has no marking of any kind on the edge, applied with a simple, flat collar die.
A security edge is a combination of grooved and reeded edge; often the furrow of the groove is decorated with a pattern (dots, lettering or some such) to make it even harder to duplicate. Hong Kong and India are traditional users of this kind of edge.
A grooved edge is plain, but has a deep score or groove halfway across, all the way around the rim. The initial reaction of someone seeing such a coin for the first time is "it looks like two coins glued together".
An inscribed edge has text around the rim. It can be any thing like the name of the Country or slogan or any other Text.
A decorated edgeis similar to the inscribed edge, but patterns and symbols instead of letters are used. This term could be applied to the circles-and-rectangles pattern and to the recurring stars.
An interrupted reeded edge has alternating sections of reeded and plain edge.
An indented edge is a plain or milled edge with several indents or notches regularly spaced around it. This type of edge has recently come into fashion.
A herringbone edge is a specific kind of decorated edge, and resembles an early attempt at reeding; the pattern on the rim forms a series resembling interconnected arrows, or a "fish-bone" pattern.
A serrated edge is the term usually applied to ancient Greek and Roman coins with v-shaped notches painstakingly carved into the coin at regular intervals. Apparently a very crude attempt at applying something resembling a reeded or security edge.
A Polygon Edge is one of the Shaped coins with plain Border. Such coins normally have plain edges; reeding or other patterns.
A scalloped coins in with another type of shaped coins. Such coins normally have plain edges; reeding or other patterns.
Mint Marks
A mint mark is an inscription on a coin indicating the mint where the coin was produced.
INDIAN COIN MINTS
Mumbai Mint
Small Diamond
The Bombay Mint has a Small Diamond mint mark under Date of the Coin.
Kolkata (Calcutta) Mint
No mark
The Calcutta Mint has No Mark beneath the date of coin.
Hyderabad Mint
Five Pointed STAR
The Hyderabad Mint has Five Pointed STAR Under the date of coin. Some samples are also found as Split
Diamond below date, Dot in Diamond & Star below date.
Noida Mint
Round Dot below date
The Noida Mint has a Small or Thick dot under the date of the Coin.
Seoul Mint (South Korea)
Five Pointed Star
The Seoul mint has a “Five Pointed Star“under the date of the coin but exactly below the Last Digit of date.
Taegu Mint (Korea)
Five Pointed Star
The Taegu mint has a “Five Pointed Star“under the date of the coin but exactly below the first Digit of date.
Royal Mint London (U K)
Dot or Diamond
The Royal Mint has a Small dot or Diamond under the date of the coin but exactly below the First Digit of date.
Heaton Press Mint (Birmingham,U.K)
“H” below the date
The Heaton Press Mint has Ornamental/ Decorated Letter “H” exactly below the last Digit of the date.
Royal Canadian Mint, Ottawa, Canada
“C” Mark
The Royal Canadian Mint, Ottawa has a “C” mint mark below the date of the coin.
Mexico City Mint
“M beneath O”
The Mexico City mint has a mark “M beneath O” under the date of the coin.
Moscow Mint, Russia
“MMD” in Oval
The Moscow Mint has a mark of “MMD” in oval below the date.
Slovakia Kremnca Mint, Slovakia Republic
“MK in Circle”
The Slovakia Kremnca Mint has mark of “MK in circle” below the date
Pretoria Mint, South Africa Mint Co. Pvt Ltd.
“M” in a Design
The Pretoria Mint has the alphabet “M” in a design under date.
Tower Mint, UK, Dominican Republic
“U” Shaped Tower
The Tower Mint has a Tower which looks like “U” Shape below date.