In the Glossary on our website all those interested in numismatics will find the most important technical terms. There is a short explanation of each term. If you still have an unanswered question please contact us. | Obolus | From obelos, which means roasting skewer. Ancient Greek coin worth one sixth of a drachma. Ovulus, the term for the medieval Scherf (half a pfennig, or mite) is derived from this. Today people still say: "Jemand soll seinen Obolus leisten" (i.e. to pay one´s mite). | | | | Obverse | The face or front side of coins and medals. | | | | Ounce | From the Latin uncia = one twelfth of the whole. The uncia was a twelfth of a Roman pound. The ounce was originally a medieval coin weight: eight ounces = one mark. The English troy weight ounce, current since 1526, equals 31.103 g. This ounce is still the standard weight unit for precious metal commodities, such as for the Vienna Philharmonic coin of pure gold. | | |
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