World Coins-how do you go about deciphering them?

BillyKingsley

What I'm more curious to know here is not figuring out where they are from, or when, but what steps you take to read the other words on the coins?

Many coins have languages we don't use in the USA, some even totally different forms of text. Do you try to figure out what it says? Just appreciate the artistry of the coin? Do you research the language itself to give yourself a better understanding of things about the coins?

I'm really just curious here...

theboz11

This is the world coin forum and soembody here seems to be able to translate anything that comes up. Or you could use an on line translator Krause has information on standard reverses and denominations etc.

Preussen

I believe that as numismatists we should learn at least some basics of the language(s) of our country (countries) of interest. That knowledge is a big part of the enjoyment of the hobby, at least IMO. If we don't know what a coin is all about, or don't have a clue what it says, why would we want to buy / own / collect it?

I'm not saying we all need to be multi-lingual (I'm certainly not, and as mentioned, on-line translators are a great help, especially for complicated legends, etc.), but we need to have a clue IMO -Preussen

newsman

You could always post a picture of the coin. There are a lot of multilingual people here on this board

skingspan

I can usually figure out which country a coin is from as long as it is not an asian or arabic coin. Picking up a Krause has helped quite a bit as well.

sumnom

I can read Korean, Chinese, and Japanese in varying degrees, as well as a teensy weensy bit of Manchu. My language study preceded my interest in the coinage of these countries, not the other way around. If I didn't have some reading knowledge of these languages, I doubt I would have spent as much time as I have collecting East Asian coins. If I wasn't able to read the legends, especially of cash coins, I don't think I would be as interested.

If there is a particular series or country that interests you it probably wouldn't be that hard to learn just enough of whatever language to get you through the legends. It would greatly add to your enjoyment of the coin.

shirohniichan

<< <i>I can read Korean, Chinese, and Japanese in varying degrees, as well as a teensy weensy bit of Manchu. My language study preceded my interest in the coinage of these countries, not the other way around. If I didn't have some reading knowledge of these languages, I doubt I would have spent as much time as I have collecting East Asian coins. If I wasn't able to read the legends, especially of cash coins, I don't think I would be as interested.

If there is a particular series or country that interests you it probably wouldn't be that hard to learn just enough of whatever language to get you through the legends. It would greatly add to your enjoyment of the coin. >>



Yea, verily.

I got some Tibetan coins in a lot and found I don't enjoy them much because I can't read them. If my anti-PRC feelings get aroused, maybe I'll learn Tibetan just to snub the Maoists. That may help me to enjoy my Tibetan coins more (or at least figure out which ones are common and which are more scarce).

newsman

<< <i>I can usually figure out which country a coin is from as long as it is not an asian or arabic coin. Picking up a Krause has helped quite a bit as well. >>



I can read Arabic

BillyKingsley

Thanks for the insights, folks. I was just wondering how others approached it.

MadMuffin

What I did was to get a copy of the Standard Catalog of World Coins and just browse through it time and again. You learn a lot just by looking at the pictures.

In case you need help with foreign languages I can read anything Scandinavian (Danish, Norwegian or Swedish) as well as German and a bit of French.

- Marcel