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1990-01-30
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NUMISMATIC "SLANG": A GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS
[Copyright NumisNet (SM) 1990]
How many times have you been in a "diner?" Enough, I bet, that the following
scenario is NOT atypical:
You're on your lunchbreak.
You decide (doctor's warning notwithstanding), that you'd really like
to have a hot dog for lunch. And not just ANY hot dog, but a hot dog
with CHEESE...preferably grilled (instead of boiled!)...with a dollop
of catsup to top it all off.
So you place your order.
Your waitress, her voice only slightly softer than a 747 at take-off,
yells back to the kitchen: "Gimme a moldy pig, burnt n' bloody!"
Now, to those versed in the nuances of diner lingo (waitresses, cooks and
the occasional truck driver...), your waitress' order is plain as day:
"moldy" means CHEESE, "pig" means HOT DOG, "burnt" means GRILLED and "bloody"
means to serve with CATSUP. To the uninitiated, however, it probably sounds
as if one has accidentally stumbled upon a cult of Devil worshipers!
Newcomers to numismatics--whether their interests be in collecting coins,
medals, paper money, exonumia or numismatic literature--often feel the way our
hypothetical diner feels. Especially in speaking with more experienced
collectors, one is likely to be inundated with "buzzwords" which make perfect
sense to the initiated, but no sense whatsoever to the novice!
The intent of this modest article, therefore, is to dispel for the novice some
of the mystery surrounding a few of the more colorful buzzwords one is likely
to encounter during one's numismatic pursuits.
Our foray into this subject is NOT exhaustive! Readers interested in a more
detailed study of the matter are referred to Albert Frey's classic, DICTIONARY
OF NUMISMATIC NAMES.
Enjoy!
***************************************************************************
TERM MEANING
---- -------
ABBEY PIECE Coin or token minted by an abbey or monastery
(especially during the Middle Ages). Notable examples
include those minted at St. Martin (Tours) and
Frauenmunster (Zurich).
ALLIANCE COIN Ancient coin minted JOINTLY by two or more cities in
Greece and Asia Minor. A notable example is the
federal coinage of B.C. 394-387 issued by Rhodes,
Cnidus, Samos and Ephesus.
ANCHOR PIECE Silver coin (in four denominations) struck by England
in 1822 for use in Canada, West Indies and Mauritius.
Term refers to common Reverse: ANCHOR, crowned, between
value and inscription.
ANT'S NOSE Ancient, pellet-shaped, crude copper Chinese coin (ca.
B.C. 650-600). Ancient Chinese texts refer to
practice of burying "valuable ants" with the dead
(shape and copper color of coins resemble ants).
ARCHER Ancient coins of Persia (gold Daric and silver Siglos).
Term refers to common Obverse: "bowman."
AXE MONEY Crude copper coin used by Mexican Indians. So called
because shape resembles axe.
BEAN An English Guinea or Sovereign.
BELL MONEY Ancient, bell-shaped, Chinese metallic currency.
BIT Western U.S. term for the denomination "12 1/2 cents,"
usually encountered in the phrase "two bits." (No U.S.
coin was ever minted with a value of 12 1/2 cents.)
BLACK DOGS Derogatory term for debased (see next entry) English
silver coinage during Queen Anne's reign.
BLACK MONEY Derogatory term for debased silver coinage in general.
(Debased coinage contains more "base" metals than
"precious" metals, although the value is supposed to be
that of a coin containing precious metal! Large
proportions of base metals, relative to precious metal,
caused coins to take on a "dark" appearance.)
BLAND DOLLAR U.S. silver dollar issued from 1878-1904. From the
name of the Congressman whose bill legislated the
coinage (Richard Bland of Missouri).
BLOB Copper 5-cents of Ceylon, issued 1909-1910. (The
author's favorite numismatic buzzword!)
BLUEBACKS Confederate currency, the Reverse printed in blue ink.
(As opposed to "greenbacks"--U.S. currency of 1861-63).
Also known as BLUE WILLIAM (a play on "bill").
BONNET PIECE Scottish gold coin of 1539-1540. So called because
head of James V is wearing bonnet (square cap) instead
of a crown.
BOOBY HEAD Derogatory term for U.S. Cent of 1839, due to ugly head
of Liberty on Obverse. Also known as SILLY HEAD.
BUZZARD DOLLAR Derogatory term for U.S. "Morgan" silver dollar. So
called because of ugly eagle on Reverse.
CARTWHEEL U.S. silver dollar. So called because of its size
relative to coins of other denominations.
CLOVER CENT U.S. Cent of 1793. So called because sprig of leaves
under bust of Liberty supposedly resembles clover.
Also known as STRAWBERRY LEAF and COTTON LEAF cent.
COLT Silver coin of ancient Corinth. So called because of
winged horse, PEGASUS, on Reverse.
COPPERHEADS Civil War tokens. So called because many have an
Obverse copied from the U.S. "Indian Head" (copper)
cent.
COPPER NOSE Derogatory term for debased silver coinage of Henry
VIII. Inferior metal wore away most quickly on coin's
portrait, especially the nose!
DRAKE Mintmark of the York mint (England). Term usually
refers to silver shillings of Elizabeth, most of which
were struck at the York mint.
DUMP Any coin of unusual thickness.
FLIMSY Paper money or banknotes in general. So called because
of their "frail" nature (relative to metallic coinage).
GLOBE DOLLAR Spanish silver coin of 1759-1788. So called because
Obverse depicts two "hemispheres."
GRAY GROAT Derogatory term for Scottish groat or fourpenny piece.
GUN MONEY Debased coinage of James II (Ireland), 1689-1690.
So called because minted from "recycled" cannons.
HARP Irish groat and half-groat of 1536. So called because
of harp on reverse.
HORSE AND JOCKEY English Sovereign of George III. So called because of
Reverse (St. George, on horseback, fighting dragon).
JINGLE BOY English Guinea. Also can mean ANY gold or silver coin.
JOE 18th-century Portugese gold coins. So called because
of ruler's name (Ioannes or Iosephus).
KITE Any negotiable paper issued to obtain credit or raise
money (stocks, bonds, etc.).
MAGPIE English half-penny.
MONKEY English slang for the sum of "500 Pounds."
MORTUARY PIECE Coin or token struck by a monarch to commemorate his or
her predecessor in office.
NEPTUNE'S CAR Barbados penny of 1792. So called because of Neptune's
chariot depicted on Reverse.
PIG English sixpence.
PLUGGED MONEY West Indies gold coins. "Plugs" often were inserted
into these coins to correct deficiencies in weight.
PRINGLE Scottish 20-pence of 1636.
RAG English farthing.
RAG PICKER Collector of paper money or banknotes. So called
because much of this currency is made from linen fiber
(rag).
SAWBUCK U.S. $10 and $20 bills. So called because the
denomination marks ("X" and "XX") supposedly resemble
sawbucks (sawhorses).
SHINPLASTER Derogatory term for paper money, especially if of low
value. Refers to colonial American military practice
of using such notes to stanch leg wounds and sores.
SHOVEL BOARD Shilling of Edward VI, often used as a "counter" in
games of shovel-board (shuffle-board).
SLUG Gold $50 piece minted by PRIVATE mints in Western U.S.
during period 1851-1855.
THICK 'UN English sovereign.
THIN 'UN English crown. In both instances, reference is to
COIN's thickness, not the dietary habits of the ruler
portrayed <grin!>.
TORY COPPER Imitation English half-penny which circulated in U.S.
after American Revolution.
UNICORN Scottish gold coin of James III, IV and V. So called
because unicorn is major element of design.
WITCH PIECE Silver coin of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Usually
carried bent (to ward off witches). Prominent during
witchcraft hysteria of 1692.
YELLOW BOY English guinea or sovereign. So called because of its
color.
Did we leave out anything particularly colorful? If so, let us know...we'll
happily include your find!