Definition:

An inscription is any of the lettering, numbers, or other symbols on a coin that convey information about who minted the coin, why they minted it, how much it's worth, etc. The coin's inscription is basically synonymous with "the writing on the coin." The inscriptions on most coins are of two types: the motto and the legend.

See Also: Motto, Legend

Examples: I couldn't read the coin's foreign-language inscription, so I matched up its value in the travel guide.