Old Names for Coin Types
Zoins
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Some names for coin types have fallen out of favor over the years.
Although the 1795-1804 dollars are now popularly known as "Draped Bust Dollars", they were also known as "Bowed Liberty Dollars".
What other names have fallen out of favor over the years and are there any interesting stories with old names?
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The Draped Bust coinage was also referred to as Fillet Head. In fact, I am old enough to have used that term to describe these series.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Liberty head coinage
Three cent silver coins were referred to as fish scales.
Copper nickel cents (1857-1864) used to be call white cents and they were also called nickels.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
That's what Canadian 5 Cent silvers are called.
Those are some great names everyone. Keep them coming!
@TomB What did Fillet Head refer to?
@PerryHall Was fish scales in reference to the diamonds?
At one point did every coin type with a rendition of Lady Liberty have the word Liberty in it?
I believe they were round, silver, and small so they looked like actual fish scales.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Interesting. I see a lot of fish. May be I need to see more 3 cent silvers!
Wheaties for the older cents....still used, I know... but the wheat cents are becoming scarce (except in hoards of course). Cheers, RickO
The Encyclopedia Brittanica used to publish a series called “Great Books of the Western World.” In the edition published in the 1950’s (?), one of the Ancient Greek comedies had a character carrying “fish scales” around in his mouth. The 1991 (?) re-translation changed it to “obols.”
"Dreck ?"
Widget.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Doubloon---Spanish gold coin worth two escudos. Comes from the Spanish word for double.
Pieces of eight---The Spanish milled dollar was a silver coin worth eight reals. They made small change by cutting them in half, quarters, and eighths. That's where two bits, four bits, six bits, a dollar came from. Each real or eighth was a bit.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Fillet Head was derived pretty literally from the ribbon that ties back the bow in Ms. Liberty's hair and it seems the term could also be applied to Barber coinage (dimes, quarters and half dollars) though I never encountered that usage in numismatics. Fillet is a term for a ribbon or band in the hair and the word is typically found associated with classical antiquity. Below is an image of a Draped Bust dollar obverse that I own and it is followed images of the head of the Chairoteer of Delphi (also known as Heniokhos), which is a life-sized bronze from Ancient Greece. The Charioteer of Delphi images are taken from-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charioteer_of_Delphi
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Although never in vogue IMO, attempts were made to be more precise and we still sometimes see Indian Head 5c and Winged Liberty Head 10c. I seem to remember QDB pushing the latter. Thankfully the much more charming names prevail.
Carter Quarter
My Saint Set
Reagan Cent
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
Bust halves are also known as Turban Head's
I've heard the term "Daddy Dollars" for the 1794-1803 dollars, i.e. "Dollars of our Daddies." I believe it was used in the mid 19th century.
Not sure this is what numismatist used to call silver dollars but my grandmother who was born in 1909 and passed away at 108 years old referred to them as "Cartwheels".
Thanks for the explanation @TomB ! It's great to dig when the terms have meaning that goes back that long!
Great info! I never really knew what Doubloon meant but makes sense. I've seen the word doubloon used for almost all sizes but it makes sense that it's just for 2 of escudos. I still want an 8 escudo in my collection some time!
I remember hearing cream puff for a super nice coin. I think it's meant more for autos
Thru the '60's, error coins were called Fido's
Freaks
Irregularities
Defects
Oddities
(strange)