Some coins have oblique milling varieties. They may be described as "oblique milling to the left" or "oblique milling to the right." How does one distinguish the two varieties? I've searched CT and the internet and have yet to find an explanation. I'm assuming the slant is determined with the obverse side up -- but please correct me if I'm in error. However, for example, is oblique milling to the right determined: a) starting from the bottom and slanting up to the right? b) or is it from the top slanting down to the right? Any guidance is appreciated. Thanks.
Do you have a specific example? I could try to see if I have one and see which way the milling slopes compared to the designation. A coin with diagonal milling is "chiral" in the sense that there are only two mirror-imaged possibilities. Facing the front, do the grooves rotate clockwise or counterclockwise compared to the cylindrical axis of the coin. I would assume the "right" or "left" refers to the direction the milling shifts as you go from top to bottom, though I suppose people could have defined it the other way around.
I would guess something like that: Regular milling - |||||| Oblique right - ////// Oblique left - \\\\\\ It doesn't matter if you look obverse or reverse, the milling on the edge is still in the same direction. I know that old Russian coins can have oblique milling (although it is called as "rope edge")
I've never heard the term so I suspect that it's not a factor for what I collect. A more detailed explanation would be interesting to me.
@muhfff, thanks for your input. You present a clearer and more visual representation of what I was asking. But as @muhff says his response is a guess. So among catalogers and auction descriptions, what is the correct orientation? Is "oblique right": a) from the bottom up to the right ///// or b) from the top down to the right \\\\\ Italian States, British India, and Russian coins come to mind right now as having coins with oblique milling. I'm sure there are many others.
But what it you view the coin's edge upright, as though it were balanced on its edge? That is how I view an edge. Your "oblique left" now goes up and to the right.
I know some coins of British Guiana have a security edge. I collect world coins, so im always happy if the edge has a design, lettering etc. I have a couple coins with milled edges, but I can't find how to tell if it's right or left. I think edges are ignored most of the time.
Well, You can view the edge of the coin in any angle You want However, as much as I have seen, people usually "read" the edge from left to right, especially if the edge has some lettering. For example it makes more sense to read "IN GOD WE TRUST" instead of "TSURT EW DOG NI" (imagine that these letters are under 90 degrees angle) or even the same sentence under 90 degrees angle in the "other way" "-Z...". I cant see any good reason why the milling should be "read" differently
This is an excellent question with an easy answer. Oblique left: \\\\\\\\\\ Oblique right: ////////// This is the “standard” used by notable reference guides such as those authored by Peck or Pridmore. I quickly realized that the edge is one of most important, if not the most important, side(s) to study when collecting early English and Irish copper.
I think of it this way Milling is normally straight up and down llllll If the milling get pushed and falls over to the right ////// it is right oblique milling If it get pushed and falls over to the left \\\\\\ it is left oblique milling.
Thanks, @Coinsandmedals, I was especially looking for a written reference. And I'm happy you provided two.
Thanks, @Conder101. You provided an excellent mnemonic device. Simple ... but with a hidden brilliance. This is a good example of why I enjoy Coin Talk. There is really a lot of helpful advice given.