Coins can be interesting things, especially when you look past what they seem to be and find traits that only experts might notice. These features can be anything from small design details to safety features.
7 Coins with Hidden Features Only Experts Know About
These seven coins have traits that only numismatists and experts may know about but that a casual observer might not see right away:
1. The “Edge Lettering” on U.S. coins
A lot of coins, especially U.S. coins, have unique features on the edges that you can’t always see unless you look very closely. As an example:
- The edges of the U.S. $1 Coin, like the Sacagawea and Presidential dollars, are lettered and usually show the year or something like “E Pluribus Unum.”
- “In God We Trust” is carved on the edge of the Kennedy series U.S. Half Dollar, but it’s not always easy to see unless you tilt the coin.
- These designs on the edges of coins were added to help keep them from being clipped or changed, especially in the past.
2. The tiny engravings that you can’t see on the Euro
You can’t see the tiny designs on some Euro coins with the naked eye. For example, the €2 coin that is made in many European countries sometimes has very small writing on it that can only be read with a magnifying glass.
Some of these are the mintmark, the name of the country where the coin was made, or other security-enhancing marks that are hidden in the design.
3. The word “Mintmark” on the tip of the coin
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There is a secret mintmark on the edge of some U.S. coins, like the 2019-W West Point Quarter. Before a few years ago, the “W” mintmark was only found on American Eagle gold coins.
But lately, it’s been showing up on other common coins too. It’s not always easy to see the mintmark because it’s often hidden near the edge or rim of the coin.
4. How the Canadian Maple Leaf Coins Keep Your Money Safe
The micro-engraved maple leaf on the back of the coin, which has a very small number that can only be seen under a microscope, is one of the most noticeable. The reason this trait was added was to help stop counterfeiting, since it is very hard to copy.
5. The Secret “Hidden Inscriptions” on the British £2 coin
As part of its commemorative series, the UK £2 Coin has small, secret writing on it. For instance, the 2007 £2 coin honoring the Act of Union has writing on the edge that you can’t see unless you look very closely. These are often used to make the design more complicated to stop people from making fakes.
6. The “Moose” that’s Hidden on the 2004 U.S. Nickel
A moose was hidden in the design of the U.S. Nickel in the early 2000s. It was one of a run of state quarters and other special issues.
The moose was part of a secret design on the back of the 2004 Nickel. Only collectors with very sharp eyes could find it. You could only see the moose as part of a bigger picture when you tilted or turned the coin and had the right amount of light on it.
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7. The Krugerrand’s “Helix” design in South Africa
The South African Krugerrand gold coin is one of the most famous bullion coins in the world. It has a micro-helix security feature built right into its shape that is easy to miss.
There is a very small line design that looks like a spiral or helix. This trait is meant to stop fakes, and you can only see it when you enlarge the picture.
