VOCABULARY TERM: RECOINAGE

Recoinage. Melting one class of coins and using the metal to fabricate a new class of coins, or to retire the metal from the old class and issue new coins in a different composition. In a way, recoinage goes on constantly as old, worn coins are withdrawn from circulation, and melted for the metal these contain. However some notable recoinages have taken place in history. In 1696 the Tower Mint in London could not produce a new silver coinage fast enough to replace existing coins, so country mints (Bristol, Chester, Exeter, Norwich and York) – under control of Sir Issac Newton – were called upon to aid in striking the new coins. As it was, it required two years to complete the recoinage.

During the silver shortage in England from 1790-1815 the Bank of England accumulated a supply of Spanish silver eight reales coins for emergency use. To make them acceptable to circulate in England they were sent to Matthew Boulton to be overstruck at his foundry in Soho where dies were made with an appropriate design and the inscription BANK OF ENGLAND 1804. In many cases these five-shilling pieces show traces of the old Spanish coins as the UNDERTYPE

In more modern times extensive recoinage has occurred twice in the 20th century. In 1920 Great Britain effectively went off the sterling standard, cutting the silver content of their coins in half, replacing silver coins with a quaternary coinage (of silver, copper, nickel, zinc). In 1947 Great Britain replace even that coinage with an all cupro-nickel coinage. Major economic factors, as the rising price of coin alloys, cause drastic changes in coin compositions, necessitating recoinages. Smaller countries usually follow the actions of major countries.

For a brief time during recoinage, both coins circulate simultaneously. In the 20th century, machines were developed to separate out the old coins until only the new coins remain in circulation. The separation can be done by several ways; often, however, mechanical or magnetic separation cannot be used, so electric resistivity is used to distinguish between the two compositions. These separating machines are usually developed by the vending machine industry because of their experience with detecting good coins from bad in their machines.
CLASS 05.1
Reference: CH23 {1954} Stride, p 16.

For the last two weeks we revealed the meaning of the word CLASS and a number at the end of every term as the outline of all terms in An Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology. There are 14 such classes and 86 sub-classes. This week we list the second half of these sub-classes (the first half appeared last week).

08 -- Metalworking, Heat Treating, Trimming, Chasing

Terms of hand working and machine metalworking, heat treating, other metalworking terms

      08.1 Metalworking
      08.3 Heat Treating
      08.5 Trimming, Piercing
      08.7 Loop Forming
      08.8 Chasing
      08.9 Metalworking & Heat Treating Anomalies

09 -- Finish, Finishing, Plating, Patinas

Terms of all the steps of the finishing department including enamelling, plating, patinas, lacquering       09.1 Finish & Finishing
      09.2 Toning & Tarnish
      09.3 Corrosion, Cleaning & Refinishing
      09.4 Buffing & Polishing
      09.5 Fabricating
      09.6 Enamelling & Fill-ins
      09.7 Firegilding, Plating, Electroplating
      09.8 Patinas
      09.9 Finishing Anomalies

10 -- Edge Lettering, Inscribing, Mounting, Packaging

After the piece has been formed and finished, includes all edge lettering and numbering, any inscribing, mounting & packaging

      10.2 Edge Lettering & Numbering
      10.4 Inscribing & Hallmarking
      10.6 Mounting & Suspension
      10.8 Inspection, Packaging & Cases
      10.9 Cut, Counterstamped & Graffiti

11 -- Cataloging, Describing, Curating, Preservation

Terms of numismatic cataloging and describing, and by curators for conservation, preservation and archiving

      11.1 Art History
      11.2 Attribution & Authentication
      11.3 Cataloging Mechanics
      11.4 Cataloging & Descriptive Terms
      11.5 Condition
      11.6 Curating & Exhibiting
      11.7 Preservation
      11.8 Measurements & Weights
      11.9 Copies, Replicas & Fakes

12 -- Mints, Medal Manufacturing & Issuing

Terms of mints, minting, medal manufacturing, issuing and medal types. . . . . . 109 Terms

      12.2 Mints and Minting
      12.4 Medal Manufacturing & Publishing
      12.6 Medal Types

13 -- Collecting and Collectors' Terms

The collecting avocation and terms in common use by coin and medal collectors

      13.1 Coin & Medal Collecting
      13.3 Collectors' Terms

14 -- Not Elsewhere Classified

      All other terms

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
VOCABULARY TERM: TABLE MEDAL (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n30a16.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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