Can anyone tell me the correct orientation of this obverse?

CoinRaritiesOnline

I can't tell which is the top:



Here is the reverse as well:



Note PCGS has slabbed this as they would a typical coin with a portrait on the obverse, but in this case it is the head of John the Baptist on a platter and seems to me it should be oriented the way I have posted it. Could be wrong though.

DeliaBug

What you are saying is the reverse is actually the obverse of that coin.

Kunker 4 Tari article

Boosibri

Seems accurate to me...what the hell is it!

I would suggest looking at the orientation of coins from the same country in the same time period to determine if it was normal for coins to be minted medalically or non-medalically oriented and then orient the coin based upon the 4 on the reverse. The question of the reverse vs. the obverse might also be determined through looking at similar coinage but your guess would be better than mine!

PCGSPhoto

PCGSPhoto

nevermind. i dont know.

Boosibri

<< <i>or wait... is it a severed head in a bowl? >>



Bowl, Platter, still the severed head of John the Baptist

SmEagle1795

The orientation you've posted looks to be the most common, see this search: ACSearch

CoinRaritiesOnline

<< <i>The orientation you've posted looks to be the most common, see this search: ACSearch >>



Great! Thanks!

JA

Andres

Normally this would be the right position , Motto starts from top right: Mo.No.* = Moneta Nova . John the baptist . Ora Pro Nobis = pray for us.

CIVITAS

The cross is nearly always the 12 o'clock element when present in the legends.

OGDan

I think you got it right, other than swapping obverse/reverse.

CoinRaritiesOnline

<< <i>The orientation you've posted looks to be the most common, see this search: ACSearch >>





<< <i>The cross is nearly always the 12 o'clock element when present in the legends. >>





<< <i>Normally this would be the right position , Motto starts from top right: Mo.No.* = Moneta Nova . John the baptist . Ora Pro Nobis = pray for us. >>



The issue of this being the reverse aside, I do find it interesting that knowledgeable posters have given compelling reasons for the cross to be at 12, 3 and 6 o'clock.

MyWorldCoinTypeSet

The cross is nearly always the 12 o'clock element when present in the legends.

This is my opinion as well.




<< <i>The orientation you've posted looks to be the most common, see this search: ACSearch >>



If you look at almost all of these, the cross is at the top, leaving John facing upwards. Only a couple have the same orientation as your coin, which would leave John facing downward with the cross at the top.

OGDan

<< <i>

<< <i>The orientation you've posted looks to be the most common, see this search: ACSearch >>





<< <i>The cross is nearly always the 12 o'clock element when present in the legends. >>





<< <i>Normally this would be the right position , Motto starts from top right: Mo.No.* = Moneta Nova . John the baptist . Ora Pro Nobis = pray for us. >>



The issue of this being the reverse aside, I do find it interesting that knowledgeable posters have given compelling reasons for the cross to be at 12, 3 and 6 o'clock. >>



If you start with the shield facing you in the upright position and rotate the coin on the vertical axis to view the other side, how is it oriented?

Sapyx

I'd agree with Civitas. The cross is at the top.

LochNESS

Top is a modern issue of slabbing IMO. Coins are round and when this was designed, the designer likely had no 'top' in mind. The cross's location is probably more to do with the motto's translation than the coin's orientation. Just my 2¢