I have read about how to determine what is the obverse and what is the reverse of a coin. But then I go to a page such as French West Africa and I do not understand why the 10 and 25 francs coins from 1957 have the gazelle side as the obverse, whereas all the rest have that as the reverse - and in cases in which there is no portrait then the side that bears the name of the country is usually considered the obverse, and on these two coins the name of the country the denomination and a sawfish are all on the other. Am I just being crazy?
In fact it's quite simple: in general the side with the denomination on is the reverse, the other side is the obverse, no matter if that's a bust or something else.
This rule fits perfectly for French West Africa: all the coins have the denomination on the side of the gazelle except for the 10 and 25 francs. These have the denomination on the other side which makes the side with the gazelle the obverse.
Was going through my collection and noticed these both are listed with the value on the obverse.
Are they listed wrong in the catalog? Or are these exceptions to the rule?
"What we are is not as important as what we aren't"
Obverse should always be clear identification of country - that is coat of arms, rulers portrait or name (monogram) or simple writing. These two Panama coins are thus wrong.
Quote: "Jarcek"Obverse should always be clear identification of country - that is coat of arms, rulers portrait or name (monogram) or simple writing. These two Panama coins are thus wrong.
And this also confirms the general rule the side with the denomination on is the reverse!
My personal system that works for every coin ever issued.... Date is on the front of the coin. In the case of Philippines and Spain it's the date of minting.
