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 Replies: 6 / Views: 1,123 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1931 Posts |
Boy oh boy I think I am showing exactly what subject I never paid attention to in school.....
I am trying to learn how to figure out percentage of rotation on coins. I mean I have civil war token that is obvious that its a 90 degree rotation but only because the dealer I wrote it from wrote it on the flip.
now I have noticed that another one I bought also has quite a degree of rotation but I don't know what the degree is. does this make any sense?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Think of a clock.
If the face of the clock were the obverse or front side of the coin. The top center would be at 12 O'clock. Turn the coin over by turning it over ( top over bottom ) and the top of the reverse should also be at 12 O'clock position. Actually most coins have the reverse upside down.
Now think of 360 degrees equals a complete circle. 60 minutes goes into 360 6 times.
There are only half of the 360 degrees that the coin can be rotated. 180 degrees clockwise or 180 degrees counterclockwise, it can only be rotated 180 degrees to the point where it is aligned with the front.
Every minute that the coin is off equals 6 degrees
If a coin is off 90 degrees it is at the quarter of or quarter after position when compared to the obverse. 6 x 15 minutes = 90 degrees
( 120 degrees off would be about 2/3 rotation of 180 degrees. )
It is not terribly uncommon to find slightly rotated dies of a few degrees, but on modern coins, it is unusual and even more valuable the greater the rotation of degrees.
Your Civil war token is probably turned 1/4 or 90 degrees and the reverse is probably at 3 or 9 O'clock when you hold the front upright and flip the coin over, the reverse is at that rotation position.
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
1931 Posts |
wow wheezydog! I am impressed! that's exactly the degree of rotation mine has. I was going to hold it up to a mirror and try to take a picture to show but apparently that isn't even needed. again VERY impressed. do you have a lot of these tokens or is that just the usual degree for most?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
One of the biggest problems with noting reverse rotations are that people don't flip the coin over exactly correct. Usually if they do they don't notice a rotation, they just assume it was flipped over incorrectly. The easiest way is to place it in a 2x2, shut it and them flip it over. Many people put coins in albums where you can see both sides of a coin by turning the page. The fronts are all lined up and when the page is turned, the reverses are sometimes all over the place. As noted the clock method is the best for figuring out the degree. Of course you could just buy a protractor, place coins in a 2x2, turn over and measure with the protractor. I usually right on a 2x2 for rotated coins whether rotated left or right using the top of the reverse as a guide. If the top is to the left, it's a left rotated reverese. Our Mercury dimes are the worst coins that I have found with this problem. I've got over 3,000 of them and would guess approximately 20 to 25% have rotated reverses and some as much as 180 degrees or another way to say that is both front and back are right side up or at 12 oclock. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
One more thing about rotated reverses on coins. They are not recognized as an additional value. In fact many collectors and dealers avoid them. Note how many books on coins ignore them. As an example the famous Red Book, pages 401 to 404 cover numerous errors but no mention of rotated reverses. Many web sites on coins and dealers ignor them if possible. I've come up with some really great deals purchasing a coin by telling a dealer that that coin has a rotated reverse. Good way to chew them down. They are normally just not popular. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1931 Posts |
very in teresting justcarl! I guess I think differently than most then. Cause for me it would seem if 100 of us all have the exact same coin and the exact same grade but mine is rotated then I would feel that mine is special somehow. I guess to each their own. lol
thanks for the help everyone!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
very in teresting justcarl! I guess I think differently than most then. Cause for me it would seem if 100 of us all have the exact same coin and the exact same grade but mine is rotated then I would feel that mine is special somehow. I guess to each their own. lol
Your absolutly correct there. And there are those that do rave about a coin with a rotated reverse. Just like the saying at flea markets, the one person's junk is another's treasure. |
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Replies: 6 / Views: 1,123 |
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Posted 02/05/2009 10:10 pm
