Exergues

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A small space often found at the bottom of a coin or medal for inscriptions or designs
2. An area on a coin where specific information or decorative text can be added
3. A designated section on minted currency, typically at the lower part, for additional details or motifs

Etymology: "Exergues" is the plural of "exergue," a noun for the small section at the bottom of a coin or medal where a mint mark, date or inscription might be placed. The term was borrowed from French, where "exergue" is a learned coinage built from Greek roots: "ex" meaning "out of" or "outside," and "ergon" meaning "work." The idea is that the exergue lies outside the main design, set apart from the central field where the principal image sat. The word's sense comes from the way ancient and early modern coins were struck. The main design occupied the body of the coin, and the lower strip was left as a separate band, often just wide enough for a short inscription, a mint signature or a date. Engravers and numismatists adopted the French term to name that band, so the English word describes a physical part of the coin rather than any idea of extra meaning.