 The anatomy of a coin might seem pretty simple. It's a small circular piece of metal with two sides, but there's more to it than that. Okay, let's start with the obvious, the two sides. Those are referred to as the obverse and the reverse. The obverse is the head side or the front of the coin, so you'll usually see the portrait of a monarch or leader of some kind. Coins are a great way to assert the power and influence of the nation's leader, in fact, they still are today. The reverse is the tail side, which often shows cloaks of arms or more pictorial design. In modern coins, they can feature all manner of subjects from Paddington Bear to Olympic sports to flamingos. Legend or motto is pretty straightforward. That's the text seen on the coin, often across the top of the reverse. Then there's a value also called the denomination. Country and the year of issue. The rim is the raised edge or circumference of the coin's reverse or obverse, which can often be beaded. It's not to be confused with the edge, which is the bit around the outside. The edge of the coin can be smooth, rich or grooved, and in more modern coins can also feature text. Take the £2 coin, for example, which has the Isaac Newton quote standing on the shoulders of giants around the edge. Incidentally, Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher saw the inscription on the £2 coin and decided to name the band's next album after it, though he accidentally left off the airs, so it was the only one shoulder. But back to the coins. A few other terms include relief, that's when the coin is raised, so the side of the coin isn't completely flat. Mint mark, there's often a very small letter in the design, especially on US coins, which refers to the mint where the coin was produced. You might also see the designer's initials on certain coins, sometimes referred to as the signature. The field, that's the flat part of the coin design. So that's the anatomy of a coin, simple stuff, but the differences in all these elements can influence scarcity and the value of a coin, and they all come together to create that beautifully designed piece of history in your pocket, or stored safely in your coin cabinet.