ALTERNATE TERMS FOR 'CENTER DOT'

I was impressed with Ken Spindler of San Diego with his citing the use of stop in lieu of center point. I refrained from elaborating on the alternate terms since it is quite trivial and some can be easily vexed by a presentation of a myriad of alternative terms, especially those who insist on a single term with intolerance to the use or display of others. So apologies to these sensitive readers. However, language is quite organic in nature and there are several alternatives to center point, and a stop is certainly one of them.

Mr. Johnson did cite interpunct, which is the more academic term and a quite nice one at that. Other useful terms to describe these markings on numismatic items are plentiful and not limited to the following : punctum, break, punkt, dot, point, period, bead, rondel, interpose, drop mark, and stigma mese.

Numismatic writers and catalogers should develop their own style and stick with whatever term they feel helps them and their audience understand what they wish to mean when describing a dot which is perfectly useful and clear a term in itself. I seriously doubt we shall ever see a numismatic writer refer to a dot in an inscription or legend as a stigma mese, which is a mid high marking used as a break. But, if one ever does I salute you. I like all of the fourteen terms and would be happy to see any of them used.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: OCTOBER 15, 2017 : On What to Call Those Dots in Legends (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n42a15.html)
WHAT DO WE CALL THOSE DOTS IN LEGENDS? (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n41a11.html) VOCABULARY TERM: LEGEND (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n41a12.html)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web