Welcome to Coin Talk! Register Now, it's easy and FREE!

Thousands of coin collectors, numismatists, coin dealers, bullion investors, and enthusiasts make Coin Talk their number one source for numismatic news, information about US and world coins, discussions and community.

You are currently viewing Coin Talk as a guest, which limits your access to content, contests and information. By joining our free community, you will be able to join in discussions, contact other members, place free advertisements, enter contests, and much more. Registration is easy and free. Register Now

CoinTalk > Coin Forums > Coin Chat What is the significance of twelve?

User Name Remember Me? Password

LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes 11-09-2009, 02:19 AM   #1 (permalink) HumptyDumpty Junior Member     Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 247 What is the significance of twelve? Hello all, I was going through coins that I saved from my travel, and yes, I am a little bit of a conspiracy theorist, but that aside, I'd like to get some views on what the significance of twelve on coins are. Twelve stars and lines on the Euro, twelve pillars on the cent, twelve strings in the harp of the Israeli 1/2 Sheqel coin, and twelve lines on the 10 Israeli coin (nine on the outer rim and 3 on the inner circle. Last edited by HumptyDumpty; 11-09-2009 at 02:23 AM.   11-09-2009, 02:20 AM   #2 (permalink) HumptyDumpty Junior Member     Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 247 Forgot to attach a scan Attached Thumbnails     11-09-2009, 06:12 AM   #3 (permalink) danfierce70 Member     Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 247 My Mood: Um... You have really good eyesight and too much free time? I'm kidding. Twelve is just one of those magical numbers. There were twelve disciples, twelve in a dozen (unless you're talking donuts) and twelve dozen in a gross (unless you're talking a George Clooney movie. No dozens there, just gross.) and twelve months in our calendar year.   11-09-2009, 06:36 AM   #4 (permalink) goossen Senior Member     Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Asuncion, Paraguay Posts: 475 My Mood: The 12 stars in the Euro coins represent the 12 main countries of the Euro zone. There are many other uses of 12; 12 hours, 12 zodiac signs, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 inches in a foot. And of course: twelve pence in a shilling __________________ WINS #552 My coins (with pictures): http://www.paraguaycoins.com/   11-09-2009, 07:50 AM   #5 (permalink) abe Junior Member     Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wrong Turn, West Virginia Posts: 838 My Mood: Quote: Originally Posted by goossen The 12 stars in the Euro coins represent the 12 main countries of the Euro zone. There are many other uses of 12; 12 hours, 12 zodiac signs, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 inches in a foot. And of course: twelve pence in a shilling Isn't Ophiuchus our 13th zodiac sign?   11-09-2009, 07:58 AM   #6 (permalink) kanga 50 Years and Still At It     Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,931 My Mood: And 12 is evenly divisible by a lot of numbers: 2, 3, 4, 6 (and 1 and 12, but that's obvious). 60 is another number like that. __________________ ANA Member APS Member ARA Member Be yourself ... everyone else is already taken.   11-09-2009, 11:56 AM   #7 (permalink) chrisild Coin Collector     Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NW · DE · EU Posts: 2,325 Quote: Originally Posted by goossen The 12 stars in the Euro coins represent the 12 main countries of the Euro zone. Errm, no. The 12 stars are the Stars of Europe, used by both the Council of Europe and the European Union (which are two different entities). http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/emblem/index_en.htm The euro area, or euro zone if you prefer, had 11 members when it started in 1999, and today has 16 members, but that will of course not influence the number of the stars. Christian Last edited by chrisild; 11-09-2009 at 12:00 PM.   11-09-2009, 12:24 PM   #8 (permalink) Just Carl Numismatist   Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 5,151 Quote: Originally Posted by abe Isn't Ophiuchus our 13th zodiac sign? And that is the real reason. No one wants to use 13, so they just use 12 instead and stop there. Lots of buildings do not have a 13th floor you know. And remember there really isn't a lot of room on coins so if someone tried to put, say 50 to represent all the states, there would be no room for anything else.   Bookmarks Digg del.icio.us StumbleUpon Google Would you like to support CoinTalk? Coin Talk Code of Honor 1. Post unto others as you would have them post unto you. 2. Keep it clean, like a 1950s family television show. 3. If you don't like the coin, don't trash the person. « Venezuela Caracas Real Ano 2 | Taking your spare change and learning to grade from it! » Thread Tools Show Printable Version Email this Page Display Modes Rate This Thread Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode Rate This Thread: 5 : Excellent 4 : Good 3 : Average 2 : Bad 1 : Terrible Posting Rules You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts BB code is On Smilies are On [IMG] code is On HTML code is Off Trackbacks are On Pingbacks are On Refbacks are On Forum Rules Similar Threads Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post 1747 three pound twelve hairspring What's it Worth 9 07-21-2009 12:23 AM A Note of Special SIGNificance lettow Paper Money 21 04-28-2009 10:29 PM What is the significance of this? rlm's cents US Coins Forum 3 09-24-2007 07:29 PM Top Twelve Investment Coins for 2006 Bonedigger Coin Chat 23 01-03-2006 12:00 PM LinkBack LinkBack URL About LinkBacks

» Newsletter Sign up for CoinTalk's Newsletter enter your email address below. » Unanswered Posts Do You Have the Answer? » Sponsors » Recent Posts What's your favorite... Unusual Cents.... Souvenir cards Bad Scales or My... Is Hoarding Pre-1982... CoinWorld Subcription... Ancients need help... Max Bid? Trade Dollar New or some suggestion... Intro 2008 american buffalo... Select 1938-1939... Next Level: GOLD... Any speculation on... bad coin or just bad... Numismatic Jobs... 3 six's or two nines? Saving for the collapse. 1943 copper penny, how... I have a coin with no... » Today's Top Posters Top Posters in Last 1 Days mpcusa [37] coin_man_95 [35] foundinrolls [24] hiho [18] Paddy54 [18] Duke Kavanaugh [17] mikenoodle [13] CheetahCats [13] ozarktravler [13] Just Carl [13]