Newbie Q ? SAE
 

Can some fellow americans here explain a little history behind...why is Silver America Eagle designed in such way that sides are upside down. It is really interesting coin and I could not find any explanation for this.
Anyway just got couple of SAEs and I have to tell you that Kookaburra had to step down from the podium as my favorite silver coin :applause_

Re: Newbie Q ? SAE
 

Do you mean that if you are looking at the obverse and rotate the coin about the vertical axis (turn the coin to the left or right), the reverse is upside down relative to the obverse? If so, the reason is that American coins are typically arranged so that one flips the coin about the horizontal axis (flip it up or down) to see the other side in its proper orientation.

Medals are typically designed so the reverse is seen properly when flipped about the vertical axis. So you will hear things like medal arrangement and coin arrangement.

Re: Newbie Q ? SAE
 

Farscott thanks. So if I understand correctly all US coins are like that. I mean I had quite a bit of US coins through my hands but I guess I didn't "look" at them as I do look at silver ones :D

So there is no historical reason behind it but just practical one or should I say the way of doing it.....

Re: Newbie Q ? SAE
 

It's been that way for a couple hundred years. Way back when, if they would reuse the dies to do a "reissue" the would rotate the reverse 45 degrees off so you could tell the difference between the original issue and the reissue.

Re: Newbie Q ? SAE
 

The Kookaburra just stepped up to the top of my podium :D

Re: Newbie Q ? SAE
 

2008 kookas are super frosty!