New short game: Plain or Smooth?

Here we are with another short game!

As new guidelines are being drafted, give your opinion on what should be used for basic edge description on English side of coin files.

Game available here.

Well not really a game, more like an opinion poll, other than the chance to win a coin; but I participated nonetheless.

Well... "smooth" might be the better description, but "plain" is the more traditional word.
OTOH, a lot of pre-modern coins had edges too thin and/or uneven to be honestly called "smooth".

If it was my choice, I would have used both words, in different meanings: "plain" to mean "edge left as is" (like most pre-modern coins without deliberate edge features), "smooth" to mean "edge smoothed out" (like most modern coins without deliberate edge features).

Sadly the Numista search system does not allow me (that I know of) to look for coins with edge pictures, so I'm unable to link to an example of what I meant by the former as opposed to the latter (and I couldn't find one in my collection).
However, I did find this Roman type, where some joker with similar opinions to me described the edge as "gross".

I prefer plain - it combines better with other features, i.e. plain with incuse lettering. Smooth with incuse lettering just doesn't sound right to my ear.

Hello guys,

please also add your vote directly to the poll here so it's counted with all other votes. Thanks.

Both are pretty close for the moment!

Hello.
How many pages will we need to edit to change the rejected version?

Quote: "Cyrillius"​Hello.
​How many pages will we need to edit to change the rejected version?

​A lot, probably, unless there's some way for catalogue admins to change all at once.

Quote: "Cyrillius"​Hello.
​How many pages will we need to edit to change the rejected version?

​None This is part of automatic corrections to be implemented.

Quote: "pejounet"​

Quote: "Cyrillius"​Hello.
​​How many pages will we need to edit to change the rejected version?

​​None This is part of automatic corrections to be implemented.

Oh my God, I'll live to see automatic changes!

Yes, we are trying to build a list of all possible automations. Initial list is just waiting to be implemented.

Results are available here and also accessible from homepage.

Great news!

I picked smooth; my reasoning as follows:

Because "plain" implies a larger empty surface, while smooth is more suitable to describe the small area like the edge of a coin.

No changes, automated or otherwise, for my countries!

I've suggested that Milled vs Reeded maybe could be next?

I welcome such polls but dislike the rseult here. Its just a small thing but i would disagree and dislake the naming of smooth edge.

Plain is the numismatic term used for this kind of type of edges end of the story. Numismatic books all say plain edge not smooth and that already for many many years.
Plain or smooth do not in any way imply on the size of an empty surface.
Older coins with plain edges are usually not smooth but can be rough with wholes, cracks, surface elevations...

If we go this way we might as well call proof coins "Disco Volante" and call Pennies "Small Roundsies" because who cares about existing numismatic terms anyway! (Being a bit sarcastic on the above here).

As I understand it smooth is just the name to describe a plain edge to people who don't know about numismatics.

Direct automation of change for the whole catalogue great, that can save a lot of work and time here.

Quote: "apuking"​​Older coins with plain edges are usually not smooth but can be rough with wholes, cracks, surface elevations...

​Very good point in particular and I agree wholeheartedly with your position generally.

Since the result is so close, I am not sure we should push it forcefully. More discussion is needed and we already have some ideas on how to skip it entirely - for example, search with synonyms which would take both plain and smooth into account when searching. On top of that, automatic corrections should take care of "plain", "plein" and "smoth", "smoooth" and similar typos.

A day late and a dollar short as usual. My thoughts are a plain edge is one with no work done on the blank .Before pressing. Were a smooth edge would be put though an edging machine before pressing. Adding a rim and Harding and smoothing the edge. Just my humble thoughts.

Quote: "ALLRED1950"​ A day late and a dollar short as usual. My thoughts are a plain edge is one with no work done on the blank .Before pressing. Were a smooth edge would be put though an edging machine before pressing. Adding a rim and Harding and smoothing the edge. Just my humble thoughts.

​Seconding this distinction.

(This is basically what I said in my post above, actually.)