Figuring out Obv vs Rev

Hello, I have no problem looking up a coin and getting the info, however on my own, it seems I never get the OBV vs REV correct. I usually go with the head or Shield for the Obverse?   Is there a sure fire way to know?

 Im gonna start going with the opposite of what I think and maybe I'll be right :)

for instance:

The short answer to your question is no.  Numista has guidelines (https://en.numista.com/help/determining-the-obverse-and-reverse-120.html) but many times the actual coin is the opposite.  One would think that if the Mint that makes the coin designates the obverse/reverse then that is what should be used, but Numista guidelines don't seem to care what the mint says.  In short, there are no hard and fast rules but you'll probably get 50% right.

A couple of examples:

N#1921

N#1914

and

N#851

N#1913

Which ones are wrong?  Neither actually, depends on which rules you want to follow.

Here is a recent forum post suggesting that obverse/reverse designations should be eliminated:

https://en.numista.com/forum/topic134049.html

SilverQueen

Hello, I have no problem looking up a coin and getting the info, however on my own, it seems I never get the OBV vs REV correct. I usually go with the head or Shield for the Obverse?   Is there a sure fire way to know?

 Im gonna start going with the opposite of what I think and maybe I'll be right :)

 

for instance:

The side with the date on this 10 Reichpfennig is the obverse.

Aidan.

rsirian1

The short answer to your question is no.  In short, there are no hard and fast rules but you'll probably get 50% right.

Thank you Rsirian1, I feared such an anomaly. 😬

BCNumismatics

 

 

 

The side with the date on this 10 Reichpfennig is the obverse.

 

Aidan.

But only 6 times out of 10 in Numista.

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/index.php?e=allemagne-pre1945&r=&ct=coin&im1=652550df7bd80.jpg&im2=&tb=y&tc=y&tn=y&tp=y&tt=y&cat=y&ru=&ca=3&no=&v=&i=&b=&d=&u=&a=&dg=&m=&f=&t=&w=&mt=&g=&se=&c=&wi=&sw=&ie=

In Numista, we currently use this guideline:  

The face bearing the name or insignia of the issuer is the obverse

https://en.numista.com/help/determining-the-obverse-and-reverse-120.html

This is sometimes different from how the obverse/reverse are assigned by other catalogs, and it is sometimes (rarely I think) overridden for other reasons.  

I will submit modification requests for the two Germany coins that are obviously not conforming to the guidelines.

tdziemia

In Numista, we currently use this guideline:  

The face bearing the name or insignia of the issuer is the obverse

https://en.numista.com/help/determining-the-obverse-and-reverse-120.html

 

This is sometimes different from how the obverse/reverse are assigned by other catalogs, and it is sometimes (rarely I think) overridden for other reasons.  

 

I will submit modification requests for the two Germany coins that are obviously not conforming to the guidelines.

 

Two? Six I think.

Thanks.   I was lazy and only the submitted the two you highlighted.  Now I will submit the others in the lookup you did.

If I look at these Weimar Republic types listed on MA-shops by German sellers, a majority of listings show the side with value and country name in the left photo (the left usually taken as the obverse), so Numista is not out of step on these types.  But even among German dealers, there is not consensus.  

In the OP, the obverse is the side with the name of the issuing authority, i.e. DEUTCHES REICH.

It's not always so easy. The head of “Liberty” on American coins is considered the obverse, though normally the issuing authority (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) is on the other side. Likewise with, e.g., the Indian and Lincoln “penny” or Jefferson nickel.

It could be argued that the head of Liberty or dead presidents were substituted for that of King George III. So from the historical perspective, it makes perfect sense to see it as the obverse in what was both a break with the past and continuity with the past. So, late 18th—early 19th century Liberty, from this perspective, was the new governing principle of the new constitution, not the King over his subjects. There is continuity in that Liberty takes the place previously occupied by the King on official currency.

Likewise in post-revolutionary France. The King of France, now of the French (a diminished title), was eventually removed entirely and replaced on coins with the head of Liberty. But here it's easier since REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE is also inscribed on the same side.

In Mexico, the obverse is the eagle/snake design with the legend ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS, i.e. the issuing authority, but most people look at the other side as the obverse, especially when a head is depicted (Hidalgo, etc.).

Some Indian princely state issues are interesting in this respect. One side has the name of the British King or Queen in Urdu or some other local script, with the Prince's name on the other side. If I'm not mistaken, the World Coins catalogues always considered the King/Queen side the obverse, and rightly so, whatever one thinks of colonialism and colonial powers.