Having recently experienced Numista pages disappearing, to later find the content merged somewhere else - and having additions rejected for reasons like… “The same coin with different finishes should be on the same page”, maybe it's time we got some published info in the FAQ section and a more logical definition approach - like what's recommended below…
Coin Page Separation by N# should be based on:-
A) No separation i.e. same page but separate line where…
i) there is only a change of mint mark (or minor mint stamping variations);
ii) Other minor change e.g. designer marks & iii) year change;
iv) Composition change (but not associated with any items from the B) list below
B) Separation and separate page where there is a…
i) deliberate Mint design change in ether style (e.g. relief, edge or background finish), or
ii) content e.g. 3rd to 4th Obverse portrait; edge text addition or change and
iii) where there is a Mint issuing variance e.g. circulating versus non circulating set
iv) Also where there is a recognised separation and separate catalogue number issued in the leading Catalogue of the subject area
v) Composition change concurrent with any change from the B) list above e.g. from Copper plated to Bronze or Silver AND from circulating to non-circulating as part of a limited edition set
This approach would overcome the limitations in Numista of the current definition approach e.g. It would then clearly show there are six key variations of this 1 Cent Canada 1952-2002 Commemorative coin:-
A) Circulating
i) Copper Plated Steel - N#155561; KM#445
ii) Copper Plated Zinc - N#423; KM#445
B) Non-Circulating
iii) BU - Brilliant - N# Not Listed
iv) Speciman - Brilliant Relief and laser lined background - Copper Plated Steel - N#155561 (but listed as line item of circulating coin);
v) Proof - Frosted Relief on Mirror background - Bronze - N# 63756; KM#445;
vi) Silver - N# Not Listed; KM# 445a
Perhaps someone with the latest version of Volume 2 Collector Issues Charlton Standard Catalogue can clarify what their reference numbers are for all these six variations?
1) differentiating by composition type (which one can't often tell the visual difference between), but not by Finish style (which is the designers key reason for the coin creation) means the images associated with actual differentiation are lost. All you have to do is look up the KM# 445/445a in Krause - where all the other varieties don't even exist, to see the impact of this approach.
So Having separate listings for N#423 and N#155561 (copper plated nickel versus copper plated steel) but no separate listing between N#155561 (regular circulating coin) and the deleted N#94308 (non-circulating Speciman with Brilliant Relief on special raised laser lined background)… doesn't seem to make sense, or add to easier identification. In fact it diminishes easy identification as the knowledge of the different finish type become lost e.g. N#155561 doesn't even have a line for the different finish BU Relief & Background version of this coin from several different sets (like OH! Canada!; Tiny Treasures etc.)
2) Information in the description becomes factually incorrect e.g. one of these line item coins in N# 155561 is circulating and one is not. So apart from being inaccurate, it is no longer possible to separate sub collections in Numista as circulating vs non-circulating
3) Other current leading catalogues recognise these items as a separate coins and give them a separate catalogue number e.g. Charlton
The main beauty and strength of Numista is that it can show all these Mint intended visually different items - but only if we let it!
