Is there standard terminology for "sidedness" in coins?

RYK

When describing the eagle on the reverse of a coronet gold coin, is it standard nomenclature to refer to the eagle's left wing as the one on your right side as you are looking at the coin, and vice versa? If not, should it be? When I see coins described, there is often some fumbling over explaining this.

(In studying human anatomy, there are standard definitions and assumptions that preclude the necessity to waste time/words describing such.)


Example:

RIGHT WING LEFT WING

Leiana

Yeah, you are correct. The "right" wing is our left.

-Amanda

PerryHall

wing on the viewer's right = eagle's left wing

this way there is no confusion for someone who is unfamiliar with some standard nomencalture.

RYK

If the eagle were an X-ray image of a person, we would call it the way I suggested in the OP.

IGWT

I customarily use compass directions to refer to location on a coin face. If I write "the wing to the East," or "the east wing," for example, I'm clearly referring to the right side of the coin itself as opposed to the right side of the eagle.

mozin

I always thought it was "Left is right, and right is wrong." Wait a minute, that was for ears.

tradedollarnut

I believe the correct terms are 'dexter' and 'sinister'.

Longacre

I agree with the view in the OP.

And if that is the way the docs do it, it is good enough for me.

IGWT

-- "And if that is the way the docs do it, it is good enough for me." --

But TDN's use of Latin terms is quite erudite.

mgoodm3

i prefer to use the terms radiologic left/radiologic right.

can also have dextro- and levo-

cladking

I'm very unconvinced.

With this logic the right side of the nickel reverse would be referred to as the left or Monticello's left.

When I talk about right and left I'm talking about the right or left side of the coin when it's right side up and facing the viewer.

mgoodm3

<< <i>I'm very unconvinced.

With this logic the right side of the nickel reverse would be referred to as the left or Monticello's left.

When I talk about right and left I'm talking about the right or left side of the coin when it's right side up and facing the viewer. >>



You're obviously not a radiologist.

cladking

To further complicate the issue, there are many world coins that one can
debate which part of the obverse or reverse is up.

Then there are the clad coins which have an orientation. When they are
punched out of the strip the siler color is smeared in the direction of the
bottom die. They retain this orientation even when struck upside down.

How come a mirror reverses right and left but not up and down?

cladking

<< <i>

<< <i>I'm very unconvinced.

With this logic the right side of the nickel reverse would be referred to as the left or Monticello's left.

When I talk about right and left I'm talking about the right or left side of the coin when it's right side up and facing the viewer. >>



You're obviously not a radiologist. >>



I've x-rayed a few things but never a building.

Baley

Most times I see it expressed as the coin's "right (facing) wing" , which means the eagle's *left* wing.

joeyuk

In the western movies when the gun slinger said "You take out the guy on the right"
no one ever replied " Our right or theirs?"

XpipedreamR

<< <i>I'm very unconvinced.

With this logic the right side of the nickel reverse would be referred to as the left or Monticello's left. >>





No, it wouldn't. Unless Monticello is traditionally described in terms of right and left, and there is agreement on this nomenclature. Like that which exists for anatomical structures. Which is what the original poster is talking about. So don't be difficult

Baley

Since we're talking about a coin in both cases, not a bird or a building, I think it best to refer to the coin's left or right side from the viewer's point of view. On a Lafayette dollar, is Washington on L's right or left??

Myqqy

How come a mirror reverses right and left but not up and down?

cladking

<< <i>

<< <i>I'm very unconvinced.

With this logic the right side of the nickel reverse would be referred to as the left or Monticello's left. >>





No, it wouldn't. Unless Monticello is traditionally described in terms of right and left, and there is agreement on this nomenclature. Like that which exists for anatomical structures. Which is what the original poster is talking about. So don't be difficult >>




OK. How about a stylized eagle on the German coins? How much does it have to look like a real eagle before right and left are reversed?

Conder101

If you realy want to make sure there is no mistake you say viewers left or viewers right.

RYK

It does get confusing. Last night, I was reading Doug Winter's new New Orleans gold book, and in one of the entries, he writes about the weakness of the stars on the left, clearly referring to those on the viewers left. Perhaps, the standard should be from the viewer's side, but I do not suppose we will ever get a consensus from this forum.