Provincial coins letters

[COINS FAN]

Hello,
Im new to provincial coins. Is the letters L Z or L E on reverse considered as legend or marks?
As here: http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4797421

[Pekka K]

L = year, Z = 7.

Pekka K

[Jochen]

Greek numbers:

A = 1
Β = 2
Γ = 3
Δ = 4
Ε = 5
ς  = 6
Ζ = 7
Η = 8
Θ = 9
 
Ι = 10
Κ = 20
Λ = 30
Μ = 40
Ν = 50
Ξ = 60
O = 70
Π = 80
Q = 90
 
P = 100
Σ = 200
T = 300
Y = 400
Φ = 500
X = 600

Best regards

[COINS FAN]

Thank you. How do we describe those letters so? As legend?
I mean Reverse legend: L Z
Or as field marks? So anepigraph legend

[okidoki]

http://bpmurphy.ancients.info/misc/rpcdates.htm

[COINS FAN]

Perfect. 
Now the only question is: how to describe the reverse?
Anepigraph with letters L and Z
Or just L and Z

[shanxi]

You should also include the date in Common Era

e.g. LZ (year 7 = 243/4 AD)

distinguish separated letter from non separated letters, L - Z and LZ

describe the postion (e.g. LZ above, or LZ to left)

[COINS FAN]

Ok, so it is a legend and not a mark right?

[shanxi]

Not a legend (the words along the edge of the coin, e.g. around a head).
Words or letters in the center are called inscription.

[COINS FAN]

Ok because as you read here: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4797421
It is wrote: reverse legend: L Z
So it is bad description?

[curtislclay]

On my understanding the legend of a coin is the same thing as its inscription: the lettering both around the edge and in the field.

Definition of legend in my old collegiate dictionary: "2. An inscription, motto, or title, as on a medal or coin....4. Print. A title or a brief description beneath an illustration."

[shanxi]

Different opinions:

Numiswiki:

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=legend

[Jochen]

Don't forget the term "mark". So Numiswiki calls the letters "S - C" on Roman brass. And "L Z" is very similar, I think.

Jochen

[curtislclay]

You cite Stevenson's explanation of c. 1850 (he died in 1853), not published until 1889. I think this distinction between legend and inscription is not generally made today; I wonder where Stevenson got it.

Melville Jones, Dictionary of Roman Coins: "Legend (literally 'what is to be read'). A legend is the writing or inscription which is placed upon a coin as a part of its design, as opposed to a mint mark, mark of value, countermark or graffito. It may give the reader information about the person or persons by whose authority the coin is issued, identify the type which appears on the coin or convey a message which is religious or of some other kind."

By this definition I think the dates on Alexandrian coins would not be part of the "legend", though both they and the obv. legend would be part of the "inscription", which is the more general term.

[Flav V]

I have same problem. On my website, i cant change "legend" for "inscription". The place where i can write is automatically called ''legend'' or ''mark''. I think i will write the date on the legend place.