myntposer

Myntposer is a Swedish term used in numismatics to refer to the depiction and arrangement of figures on coins, particularly the portrait or effigy on the obverse and the figure or scene on the reverse. The term is not universally standardized in major reference works, but it appears in catalogues and discussions as a way to describe the visual poses used by coin designers. In practice, myntposer covers choices about how a ruler or personage is presented, including the pose (profile, three-quarter, or full-face), the direction the subject faces (left or right), and the level of bust that is shown.

The study of coin poses intersects with portraiture, iconography, and heraldry. Across periods and regions, engravers favored certain poses for reasons of tradition, aesthetics, and symbolism. For example, many coins use a portrait in profile or three-quarter view, while reverses may show allegorical figures or historical scenes in complementary poses. Changes in pose can help scholars date coins, distinguish mints or periods, or identify workshops and engravers.

As a niche term, myntposer is most commonly used by Swedish collectors and researchers. It complements broader topics in numismatics such as obverses and reverses, bust style, and facial features, and it is used to describe patterns rather than a formal taxonomy.

See also: Numismatics, Coin portraiture, Obverse and reverse, Iconography.