Collecting motifs
Collecting coins by motif means organising them not primarily by country, period, face value or metal, but by the design featured on a coin. The focus is on visible motifs such as animals, rulers, buildings, deities, coats of arms, plants, tools, zodiac signs or political symbols. This type of collecting is particularly suited to collectors who wish to explore history through images, symbols and recurring themes.
A thematic coin collection can have a very clear focus, such as ‘Eagles on European coins’, ‘Portraits of rulers from the Roman Empire’ or ‘Architecture on modern commemorative coins’. However, it can also be broader in scope, for example as a collection focusing on power, religion, trade or depictions of nature. It is important that you define your theme precisely enough. This ensures that your collection remains coherent, comparable and expandable in the long term.
Why motifs are a great way to get into numismatics
Coins have never been merely currency or legal tender. They conveyed messages. A portrait of a ruler signified authority; an eagle could symbolise power and protection; a temple referred to religion or state order; a ship often stood for trade, expansion or military strength. Those who collect coins based on their motifs therefore view them as small historical visual media.
This approach can be particularly motivating for beginners. A theme such as animals, buildings or symbols is easier to grasp than a complex catalogue system. At the same time, collecting by motif offers sufficient depth for experienced collectors, as the same symbols can convey very different meanings depending on the era, region and political context.
For Sixbid, as an auction platform, this perspective is particularly interesting: in auction catalogues and results archives, it is possible to compare groups of motifs, monitor market prices and research related pieces from different auctions. Those who collect thematically use catalogues not only to search for individual coins, but as a tool to systematically track visual themes, variants and provenances.
Animal motifs on coins: from symbols of power to observations of nature
Animals are among the oldest and most memorable coin motifs. Lions, eagles, owls, horses, bulls, dolphins and snakes appear on ancient, medieval and modern coins. Often, they do not simply represent an animal, but rather certain qualities: strength, vigilance, fertility, speed, protection or divine connection.
A well-known example is the owl on ancient Attic coins. It symbolises Athena and also became a powerful emblem of the city of Athens. Eagles appear in many contexts of rule and can express the idea of an empire, military power or state authority. Horses, on the other hand, are frequently associated with mobility, war, prestige or regional identity.
If you collect animal motifs, you should decide early on whether you are interested in a single animal, a group of animals or their symbolic meaning. A collection focusing on ‘eagles on coins’ develops differently from a collection on ‘animals of antiquity’ or ‘horse motifs in European struck coins’. An external example illustrating the breadth of historical animal and coin motifs is the Wikimedia Commons category on ancient Roman coins, as it showcases a wide variety of motif types.
Rulers on coins: portraits as a political message
Portraits of rulers are among the most important motifs in the history of coinage. They do not merely show who commissioned a coin to be struck or in whose name it was issued; they symbolise power. The direction of the gaze, hairstyle, headdress, laurel wreath, armour, robes and legend often convey more than a mere name.
During the Roman Imperial period, coin portraits became a central medium of political communication. They disseminated the emperor’s image across vast territories and linked it to titles, messages of victory or religious references. Even in later eras, coins depicted rulers as legitimate authorities, as protectors, as reformers or as representatives of a dynasty.
A collection organised by ruler can be arranged chronologically, for example following a dynasty or succession of rulers. However, it can also serve a comparative purpose: how do portraits change over the course of a reign? Which rulers are depicted in an idealised manner, and which realistically? What symbols accompany the portrait? For an initial overview, the Wikimedia Commons page on Roman monetary systems offers many examples of different coin types and iconography.
Buildings on coins: architecture as a means of remembrance and legitimisation
At first glance, buildings depicted on coins often appear merely decorative. In fact, they frequently allude to political, religious or cultural significance. Temples, city gates, bridges, castles, churches, monuments or modern parliamentary buildings reveal what a community wishes to make visible: power, faith, progress, tradition or national identity.
In antiquity, depictions of temples served to emphasise religious authority and civic prestige. Medieval and early modern coins used castles, city gates or heraldic architecture to visualise spheres of rule. Modern commemorative coins frequently feature well-known buildings because they are instantly recognisable and convey a sense of cultural belonging.
If you collect coins featuring buildings, it is worth taking a close look at the perspective and level of detail. Some coins depict stylised architecture, whilst others attempt to portray specific buildings in a recognisable manner. For your documentation, you should note whether the building has been definitively identified, whether it is intended merely as a symbol, and what historical function it served. As an external example of architectural and museum references in numismatics, the Coin Cabinet at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna offers a good starting point.
Symbols on coins: small symbols with great significance
Symbols convey meaning. A cross, star, crescent, wreath, anchor, sword, coat of arms, cornucopia or set of scales can convey religious, political, economic or legal messages. Precisely because symbols are concise and easily recognisable, they are particularly well suited to coins.
When collecting symbols, you should be wary of jumping to conclusions. The same symbol can have various meanings in various regions and periods. A lion may represent strength, a ruling house, a city or a saint. A star may be used in a religious, dynastic, astronomical or purely ornamental context. A good collection therefore documents not only the visible symbol, but also its context.
It becomes particularly fascinating when several symbols appear together. A portrait with a laurel wreath, an eagle with a bundle of lightning bolts, or a coat of arms next to a crown tells a greater story than a single motif. This is where the numismatic appeal lies: you are not just collecting motifs, but the relationships between image, text, power and history.
How to narrow down a coin collection theme effectively
A theme that is too broad can quickly become overwhelming. ‘Animals on coins’ sounds appealing, but encompasses thousands of coins struck over many centuries. It is better to start your collection with a clear focus. You can narrow it down by motif, era, region, material, face value or historical function.
Collecting idea Possible narrowing down Why it works
Eagles on coins Europe, 19th and 20th centuries – a powerful political symbol, offering many opportunities for comparison
Horses on coins – Antiquity and the Mediterranean region – a good motif for mobility, war and prestige
Portraits of rulers – a dynasty or a succession of rulers – clear structure and chronological development
Temples and sacred buildings – ancient and modern coins struck – link religion, architecture and state representation
Coats of arms and crowns – German-speaking territories – good for regional and dynastic classification
Ships and harbours – trading cities or maritime states – link economy, expansion and identity
Narrowing down your focus also helps when researching auction catalogues. You’ll recognise more quickly which pieces truly fit your theme, which merely appear similar by chance, and where variations are worth pursuing. This ability to distinguish between pieces is particularly important when collecting by motif, because a fine image alone does not constitute a meaningful collection strategy.
What to look out for when buying coins with specific designs
When collecting coins with specific designs, it is tempting to base your decision largely on appearance. This is understandable, as designs have a strong visual impact. Nevertheless, you should check the same numismatic criteria as you would for any other coin: authenticity, grade, provenance, market price, catalogue listing and comparability.
The legibility of the motif is particularly important. A coin may be of historical interest, but may be less suitable for a motif collection if the central image is heavily worn or poorly struck. Conversely, a more common type with a clearly recognisable motif may be more valuable to your collection than a rarer piece whose image is barely discernible.
Also, pay attention to whether the motif appears on the obvers, the revers or as a secondary mark. From a collection perspective, it makes a difference whether an eagle forms the main motif or merely appears as a small detail alongside a figure of a ruler. In your documentation, you should therefore not simply note ‘eagle’, but describe the role of the motif in detail.
Research: How to find suitable pieces in catalogues and archives
Auction catalogs and results archives are particularly valuable for motif collectors. They show not only current lots but also historical hammer prices, variations, condition details and provenance. On Sixbid, you can use auctions and past results to systematically track motif groups and better understand price levels.
Don’t limit your search to English terms. Many catalogues use English, Latin or specialist terminology. If you’re searching for ‘Adler’, you should also check for ‘eagle’. For portraits of rulers, names, titles and dynasties are helpful. For buildings, terms such as ‘temple’, ‘gate’, ‘castle’, ‘church’, ‘bridge’ or ‘monument’ may be relevant. For symbols, it’s worth searching for individual characters and related terms.
For your own research, you can also make use of external collections and image databases. Wikimedia Commons offers a wide range of entry points into categories such as Coins or Numismatics. Such sources are no substitute for specialist cataloguing, but they do help you to compare motifs visually and develop search terms.
Documentation: How to keep your collection of motifs organised
A thematic collection gains in value if you document it properly. Make a note not only of the country, year, denomination, material, weight, diameter and grade, but also of the motif and its function. Describe whether it is a main motif, a secondary motif, an additional mark, a component of a coat of arms or a religious symbol.
It is also useful to include a brief note on the motif. In the case of an animal depiction, you could note whether the animal is depicted in a naturalistic, heraldic or mythological style. For rulers, note the type of portrait, the direction of gaze and any attributes. For buildings, document whether the structure has been identified. For symbols, explain what meaning is likely in the specific historical context.
In this way, your collection becomes more than just a series of fine images. It becomes a comprehensive thematic archive that you can enrich with auction data, bibliographical references and provenance details.
The best way to start: a theme, a clear rule, regular research
If you want to collect coins by theme, start with a subject that really interests you and that can be clearly defined. Don’t simply choose the most fine design; instead, focus on a specific question: What significance did the eagle hold in various systems of government? How did portraits of rulers change over the course of a dynasty? Which buildings were depicted on coins, and why?
This guiding question will give your collection greater structure. You won’t just be buying individual attractive pieces; you’ll be building up a coherent thematic collection step by step. Catalogues, auction archives and external image sources will help you compare designs, recognise variations and make better-informed decisions. This is precisely where the appeal of collecting by design lies: every coin displays an image, but it is your structure that turns them into a collection.