I'm curious: ..................................... Define "Coin"

ss350camaro

Define the meaning of coin as it relates to Numismatics.

mgoodm3

v. to make coins.

ss350camaro

<< <i> v. to make coins. >>



Yes, a process. We use air bending and "coining" every day here to manufacture sheet metal parts.


what about the noun "Coin" ?



anybody else ?

XpipedreamR

coin (n): round. metal. shiny. make me happy

cladking

Like all words the meaning can vary with the usage. Normally it is considered to be a stamped
piece of metal issued by a government for use as money, but all these words exist on a continuum
so there is no hard and fast dividing line between coins and tokens or coins and currency. It can even
be difficult to draw the line between coins and sea shells or large round rocks.

To me something is a coin to the degree it is widely accepted and freely circulates.

TUMUSS

A small piece of metal, usually flat and circular, authorized by a government for use as money.

ss350camaro

<< <i> A small piece of metal, usually flat and circular, authorized by a government for use as money. >>




Are 'Patterns' coins ?

Weiss

I'd go something like this:

The physical representation of the abstract concept of worth, widely accepted in exchange for various goods or services that are by definition of less than or equal worth.


Because it gots to be widely accepted. And gots to be accepted for more than one thing.

If it doesn't meet those qualities, it's just a token at best. And no, patterns don't count because they don't meet either of those two tests.

spy88

COIN---The combining form of Collector and Investor. Sometimes referred to as a "coiner", an individual obtaining numismatic metal rounds for both purposes. Also referenced to COINING, the act of collecting and investing by said COINER.

oreville

metal pieces issued by a government that does or can trade as money and is legal tender.

Generally, that knocks out patterns and California Fractionals but there are exceptions.

The Feds did not attempt to do away with Cal Fractionals until 1883. But in the mid 1850's they did trade as money but was not issued by a government.

The 1856 FE cent has been called a pattern however it did circulate as money and later on became "legal tender."

There are other examples as well.

Peaceman

How about anything metalic accepted for payment of a good or service....

Conder101

The problem is there are exceptions to almost everything.



<< <i>A small piece of metal, usually flat and circular, authorized by a government for use as money. >>


Not all coins are made of metal. Are all coins authorized by governments? And not all pieces authorized by governments are coins. "For use as money", this may be the only absolute, but it would mean that ALL of the NCLT pieces are not coins because the were not issued to be used AS money but to RAISE money.



<< <i>The physical representation of the abstract concept of worth, widely accepted in exchange for various goods or services that are by definition of less than or equal worth >>


It might be a bit of a stretch but a bullion ingot would fit this definition. Or at least at one time in history it would.



<< <i>metal pieces issued by a government that does or can trade as money and is legal tender >>


Does it have to be legal tender? Half cents were not legal tender until 1965. Were they coins before that date?



<< <i>How about anything metalic accepted for payment of a good or service.... >>


In the 1700 anything round metal and roughly the right size would pass as money including medals and even buttons. Are buttons coins?

I think Cladking covered the problem fairly well with his answer, but then there is his last sentence.

<< <i>To me something is a coin to the degree it is widely accepted and freely circulates. >>


Proofs, commemoratives, NCLT, and bullion coins do not freely circulate so to I would guess that Cladking does not accept them as coins.