How common is it to find writing on outer rim of a coin?

raiderborg

I've noticed it on a few of my world coins, the latest being on a German States (Bavaria?)
1912D Drei Mark, which has, "Mitt Uns Gott" on the outer rim.

It's made me curious as to the history of it, approx. how many diff. coins might there be
with writing on outer rim? Why it was done, what coin first had it done, things like that?

Forgive me for my odd curiousities, but anyone who would like to share their knowledge
on this subject, I would love to hear about it, thanks.

satootoko

The usual term for what you refer to as the "outer rim" is "edge".

Edge lettering and other markings were used on Maria Theresa Thalers in the 18th Centuiry, so they go back at least 250 years or so.

Their original purpose was to make it more difficult to unobtrusively "clip" or shave the edges of a coin and harvest the scrapings while debasing the true value of the coins. Reeding, of course, serves the same purpose.

The practice is, so far as I am aware, of strictly European origin and was used little or not at all in Asia.

lordmarcovan

Yep. It's called a lettered edge. And while not exactly common, it can be seen on a good number of world coins, usually the larger and/or thicker ones.

The German "Mitt Uns Gott" you mentioned is "Gott Mit Uns", actually- which I believe roughly translates to "God With Us", or "God Be With Us". It was on their military beltplates, too.

Hussulo

Not very common.
Out of British coins the Droz pattern halfpennies come to mind. I used to have a copper proof version.
Some of them have "RENDER TO CESAR THE THINGS WHICH ARE CESARS" on the edge.

Link to CoinArchives

Link to Droz collar

farthing

A good percentage of Conder tokens have edge lettering. This usually gives the location for redemption of the token or the token issuers name.

MSD61

You will also find a lettered edge on the Irish silver 10 shilling as well.

ColinCMR

sometimes it can be quite attractive lettering and edging too, so 2x2 holders and some TPG holders can obscure it

Gazza

Edge lettering on Great Britain coins is quiet common. Many crown issues up until recent times have edge lettering and then there are the modern £1 and £2 coins. It's is only normal to find it on high value coins I guess due to the added minting cost.

Sapyx

Quite common. Many countries have their higher denominations edge-inscribed. It only became technically possible for milled coins, which used a third "collar" die, or with modern machinery subsequent to striking, as occurs with the current US dollars.

As for why, two basic reasons:

1. It looks pretty, and can be of assistance if two coins of similar size are being issued - one can have an inscribed edge, the other something else, as an extra aid to telling them apart quickly.

2. It prevents clipping and forgery, as satootoko said. Whereas an ordinary reeded or "milled" edge can be crudely copied with a blade or file, an ornate pattern or lettering is much harder to duplicate.

This dual purpose is demonstrated by the edge inscription which appeared on early British milled silver coins, back in 1663: DECUS ET TUTAMEN, Latin for "an ornament and a safeguard". The same phrase now appears as one of the possible edge inscriptions on British 1 pound coins.