A coin has an obverse (O) and a reverse (R), and there can be different die types. A “coin type” (T) is a combination of the obverse and reverse. Based on our study of the BSP Series coins (1995-2017) of the Philippines (all denominations), the most basic classification of die types for the O and R are SMALL TEXT and LARGE TEXT, each with distinct characteristics, as follows:
1. SMALL TEXT uses WEDGE serif, with narrow date (numbers close to each other) and shallow cogwheel teeth. These are the characteristics for all R1s in all denominations.
2. LARGE TEXT generally uses SLAB serif, with wide date (numbers farther from each other) and deep cogwheel teeth. These are the characteristics for all R3s in all denominations.
Because a “coin type” is a combination of the O and R, we have three coin types (see photo for illustration, using the 5-sentimo as sample):
1. SMALL TEXT TYPE or T1 (small text, both O and R)
2. TRANSITION TYPE or T2 (combination of small and large, as well as the “hybrids”). The usual transition consists of a large text-obverse and small text-reverse (PARTIAL TRANSITION). There’s also the reverse (small text-obverse and large text-reverse), which we shall call the REVERSE TRANSITION. The HYBRID, which can’t be categorized under T1 or T3, includes features (on the reverse) of the R1 and R3.
3. LARGE TEXT TYPE or T3 (large text, both O and R)
The HYBRID is currently labelled R4 for both the 5-piso and 10-piso. The 5-piso hybrid has short sunrays (R1 and R3 have long sunrays); deep cogwheels like R3, but uses slab serif like R1. The 10-piso hybrid also has deep cogwheels like R3, but uses slab serif like R1.
Casual students of Philippine coins (BSP Series, 1995-2017) can very well limit their examination using the aforementioned basic classifications. If we dig deeper, however, we’ll find out that each die type can further be classified into sub-types. This will be the subject of a future post.
