Map the legend
Transcribe characters clockwise from a consistent starting point and preserve dots, stars, monograms, and line breaks. Separate the central design from the surrounding legend and note which face carries the date or denomination.
Identify the script and date system
Latin, Cyrillic, Arabic-derived, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Greek, and South Asian scripts require different reading strategies. A number that resembles a familiar year may belong to a regnal, lunar, revolutionary, Buddhist, Islamic, or local calendar.
Expand titles cautiously
Ruler names and titles are often abbreviated. Compare the full sequence rather than matching one recognizable word, because several rulers, countries, or denominations may share it.
Keep an exact transcription
An exact inscription is searchable evidence. Store uncertain characters with placeholders and verify them against photographs or authoritative catalogs instead of silently filling the gaps.