Because U.S. coins are coin struck, the reverse image is upside down when my coins are mounted into an album with the obverse image rightside up. If the coins were medal struck, the reverse would appear rightside up too. What are the reasons for striking coins with the coin struck orientation ? The only advantage I can think of is that when one holds a coin between thumb and index finger, it is easier to flip it over south to north than west to east. One has to cock his wrist at a more extreme angle to hold the coin on the east-west axis.
Not sure what the reasons are exactly. But some countries do it and some don't. Seems like they always have. So perhaps it is just tradition.
I'm sure you're right, that tradition is why they don't change. I'll just keep holding my albums upside down when I review the reverses.
I have spent some time this morning trying to find an answer to this question. There doesn't seem to be one. Maybe GDJMSP is right. Maybe it boils down to tradition. Of course it could be something silly like how the die gets screwed into place.
I guess my problem is that once I entertained the notion of coin struck and medal struck coins, the fact that my U.S. coins were oriented in a manner to be upside down in my albums left me ... (altogether now!) ... dumbstruck.
