Numismatic Verbiage

Tentacles go better with denticles.

 

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I was just waiting for someone to make a comment about their "testils", since nobody will want to use a diminuitive form after reading this...

 

denticle,then dentil, then dentissimo

 

Hmmm, something to chew on...

 

I've collected in Australia since 1957 and ,until today, had only read/heard " denticles".

 

I prefer "dentils" because it is shorter to type and to say and because "denticles" sounds pretentious to my ear for no reason other than my personal prejudices. But I accept both as correct.

 

And for some reason I just have to be different. I always called them denticals. Which apparently isn't even a word.

 

True, but I guess the pronunciation would be identical.

 

Occasionally I see the word "dentilated" used in the following fashion: "The coin's obverse rim is dentilated whereas the reverse's rim is plain.

You will find "dentilated" and "dentilled" in dictionaries as accepted usages but I don't find "denticled" or "denticlated" listed at all.

Not that any of this matters - use whatever you please. English is a very malleable language that changes all the time.

 

...both dentil and denticle are listed at dictionary.com...Spark

 

Happy to see the minutia of formulaic grammar are critically important discussions on this forum.

I am beginning to feel right at home, and thanks for the welcome @GenX Enthusiast . He is the preeminent forum Forensic Grammatician from what I've been told . . . . . .

Z