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 Replies: 17 / Views: 5,942 |
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
510 Posts |
I wonder haw many coins feature a rulers portrait "En face" as opposed to in profile. I can think of only one, a Norwegian 1/8 Speciedaler 1661. Anyone remember having seen others?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2868 Posts |
Well, just about every Byzantine coin issued has the images looking straight on. Some of the older Greek and Roman coins have busts at 3/4's on which are quite spectactular
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Pillar of the Community
 Norway
510 Posts |
Ah, my mistake. I meant to exclude antiques. I am looking for coins with rulers "En face" from the 16th century onward.
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
Edited by MathieuMa
03/25/2011 11:40 am
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Valued Member
United States
320 Posts |
2006 US nickel comes to my mind, though I'm not sure he's a "ruler" as such...
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
510 Posts |
Thank you, MathieuMa! Those are very nice coins. I will try to find one for my collection, unless they are too expensive (the Norwegian one I mentioned is absolutely impossible).
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Moderator
 Australia
16806 Posts |
English coinage began to switch from the generic "facing" to individualized "profile" portraits in the reign of Henry VII, but facing portraiture still makes an occasional appearance afterwards. The most famous example is probably the "Old Coppernose" debased silver coinage of the third series of Henry VIII, 1544-1547. Example on Tony Clayton's site. These portraits are clearly intended to actually depict Henry VIII, rather than the stylized depiction of "the King" used in previous generations. The British coins with "facing portraits" in more modern times are the "coronation types", with the monarch depicted seated on a throne and facing, though the monarch's face is usually lost amongst the royal regalia. The 1989 sovereign had a "retro" design with just such a coronation scene; see here. A good compromise between "profile" and "facing" is "three-quarters facing", where the king is looking neither directly forward nor straight off to the side - like Helios on the ancient Rhodian coin I use for my avatar. Most non-profile portraits of rulers in the 20th century are like this, rather than full-facing. Here's an Iranian example. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2868 Posts |
Here's a very modern one from Thailand. They can be quite dramatic images  |
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Pillar of the Community
Philippines
1156 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Germany
1238 Posts |
The euro coins from Spain (€1 and €2) and the Vatican (all denominations) have "almost frontal" portraits. See images (from europa.eu) below.   Christian Edited by chrisild
03/30/2011 5:19 pm
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Valued Member
United States
365 Posts |
How about the Churchill? You guys count that one? He's at a 3/4 turn...
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Pillar of the Community
Germany
1238 Posts |
Well, it sure is not a classical profile like QE's effigy on the other side. Could be considered to be another in-between case. :) Oh, and while I don't like the font used for his name, his portrait I find quite characteristic. http://(131231) Not Allowed - Auto-Removed /countries/img9/76-910.jpg
Christian
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
510 Posts |
Thanks for the tips and pictures, all. The Churchill one I would discount on two counts. To qualify one should be able to at least see both eyes (I will accept the "Three quarter facing" category Sap mentions). And the ruler should be a current one, not a commemmorative version. The Thai coin Bacchus' showed was a very good example of what I am looking for, I loved the direct look. Must get that one. The Euro coins Christian showed also qualify.
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
BTW, the spanish coins I posted are between 20 to ~100USD (a bit less or more depending on the dates / quality)
Another interesting set would be ... women on coins :) (maybe for a next thread - same principle, no historical coin)
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Pillar of the Community
Germany
1238 Posts |
If "women on coins" includes all pieces where a woman is depicted as an allegorical figure (Liberty, Marianne, Europa, etc.), you will get an awfully long list. :) Ah, here is a collector coin from Sweden, with a woman (future ruler so to say) and a man, both en face ... Christian  Edited by chrisild
04/01/2011 09:05 am
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
I meant, without alegory - but after thinking about it there are indeed some countries with women on coins. To make it harder, let's say ... a seri with a ruling couple :) Couples on coins are scarce (got only one, like this one : http://www.maravedis.net/rrcc_excelentepag.html) |
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Replies: 17 / Views: 5,942 |
Posted 03/25/2011 08:39 am
