Obverse and reverse

"Obverse" redirects here. For the concept in logic, see Obversion. For the book publisher, see Obverse Books.
"Heads and tails" redirects here. For the chance game, see Coin flipping. For other uses, see Heads and Tails.
Roman imperial coin, struck c. 241, with the head of Tranquillina on the obverse, or front of the coin, and her marriage to Gordian III depicted on the reverse, or back side of the coin, in smaller scale; the coin exhibits the obverse – "head", or front – and reverse – "tail", or back – convention that still dominates much coinage today. Legend: SABINIA TRANQVILLINA AVG / CONCORDIA AVGG.
A Roman imperial coin of Marcus Claudius Tacitus, who ruled briefly from 275 to 276, follows the convention of obverse and reverse coin traditions. Legend: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG / VICTORIA GOTTHI

The obverse and reverse are the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags, seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse means the back face. The obverse of a coin is commonly called heads, because it often depicts the head of a prominent person, and the reverse tails.

In numismatics, the abbreviation obv. is used for obverse,[1] while ℞,[1] )([2] and rev.[3] are used for reverse. Vexillologists use the symbols "normal" Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag for the obverse and "reverse" Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag for the reverse. The "two-sided" Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag, "mirror" Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side, and "equal" Reverse side is congruent with obverse side symbols are further used to describe the relationship between the obverse and reverse sides of a flag.

In fields of scholarship outside numismatics, the term front is more commonly used than obverse, while usage of reverse is widespread.[citation needed]

The equivalent terms used in codicology, manuscript studies, print studies and publishing are "recto" and "verso".[citation needed]

  1. ^ a b David Sear. Greek Imperial Coins and Their Values. Spink Books, 1982. ISBN 9781912667352 p. xxxv.
  2. ^ Jonathan Edwards. Catalogue of the Greek and Roman Coins in the Numismatic Collection of Yale College, Volume 2. Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor, 1880. p. 228.
  3. ^ Allen G. Berman. Warman's Coins And Paper Money: Identification and Price Guide. Penguin, 2008. ISBN 9781440219153