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There's a time and place for correct numismatic terms
Weiss
Posts: 9,935 ✭✭✭✭✭
We often see posts where our fellow board members refer to something as a "coin" when it may not be, by strict definition, a "coin". It may be exonumia, or more specifically, a token, a medal, a so called dollar. Or one of the grey areas where the item meets some of the criteria of a "coin"--a round, typically flat piece of metal with an official stamp used as money--but perhaps not all of them. Or maybe even not all of them to the degree of which a purist might insist.
Or there may be times when a fellow numismatist refers to a cent as a "penny", when that term was originally used in British coinage and is therefore supposed to be shunned by those who collect American coinage. Something along the lines of drinking coffee instead of tea.
When these terms are used, casually in the conversational tone that online forums often are, is it proper to correct the one who has used them? When the person who has used them is a board member, a numismatist of many years or even decades, someone who knows the actual definitions but uses these terms as a familiar shorthand?
Or is it pedestrian and captious to correct someone, especially when it adds little or nothing to the original post?
Or there may be times when a fellow numismatist refers to a cent as a "penny", when that term was originally used in British coinage and is therefore supposed to be shunned by those who collect American coinage. Something along the lines of drinking coffee instead of tea.
When these terms are used, casually in the conversational tone that online forums often are, is it proper to correct the one who has used them? When the person who has used them is a board member, a numismatist of many years or even decades, someone who knows the actual definitions but uses these terms as a familiar shorthand?
Or is it pedestrian and captious to correct someone, especially when it adds little or nothing to the original post?
We are like children who look at print and see a serpent in the last letter but one, and a sword in the last.
--Severian the Lame
--Severian the Lame
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From my perspective, if there's an active discussion on definitions, it's fine to talk about it. If it's just in casual conversation, I'm more interested in the primary discussion topic, e.g. a token, than the terminology used.
I think this is the place for such correctness.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
When all else fails, fall back upon the excellent advice "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
TD
I think that if someone using the incorrect terminology is bothersome, then the best solution is to use the correct terminology in your reply.
Check out the Southern Gold Society
Having trouble finding my "Cent Whimsy" book by Sheldon. They are alphabetical by title but I just can't find it.
Completely unrelated is the fact that the nickname "penny" has been used for cents since they were first made. Even though they are officially cents, I just don't get that worked up when the nickname is used instead.
Some do obsess about that one and yet not say a word about the grading system where Good is actually a pretty bad coin; Fair is awful; Fine is not so fine, etc.
There probably are some terms that get misused that bother me, but cannot think of any offhand. One thing that has always irritated me is when auction prices realized are knowingly or sloppily reported without the "so-called" buyers fee included.
I think there is some merit at times to clarifying the definition of "coin" if it is clear that someone doesn't know and would be helped by knowing the difference.
Now I can go calm down by looking at my Franklin Mint minature penney coin's, - or is it dwarf.
Theyr'e there thier
"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
I'd like to know more when it comes to the difference between medals ( large & small ), SCD's, HTT's, Store Cards.......
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
We often see posts where our fellow board members refer to something as a "coin" when it may not be, by strict definition, a "coin". It may be exonumia, or more specifically, a token, a medal, a so called dollar. Or one of the grey areas where the item meets some of the criteria of a "coin"--a round, typically flat piece of metal with an official stamp used as money--but perhaps not all of them. Or maybe even not all of them to the degree of which a purist might insist.
Or there may be times when a fellow numismatist refers to a cent as a "penny", when that term was originally used in British coinage and is therefore supposed to be shunned by those who collect American coinage. Something along the lines of drinking coffee instead of tea.
When these terms are used, casually in the conversational tone that online forums often are, is it proper to correct the one who has used them? When the person who has used them is a board member, a numismatist of many years or even decades, someone who knows the actual definitions but uses these terms as a familiar shorthand?
Or is it pedestrian and captious to correct someone, especially when it adds little or nothing to the original post?
Of course, it may have helped that the #2 man in the local police department was the Treasurer of the local coin club I was Secretary of. We had a good laugh about it at the next club meeting.
;-)
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
drive a nitpicker crazy.... I just read - interpret - and continue on. Those seeking knowledge
are a different case..always willing to help them. Cheers, RickO