The KM number stands for Krause-Mishler. The Krause publication is a leading publication for and is known for “Standard Catalogue of World Coins”
This article describes how the KM numbers are given and some other aspects.
As a general premise the KM numbers are unique to a coinage and are running number starting from 1 and increasing in whole numbers. If there are more than one recognized variations of the same coins, then the variations are numbered as n.xx, starting from .1 and going above. If the same coins is in multiple metals, then the other metal is numbered as n.a.
Q) Are KM Numbers Unique?
A) KM Numbers are Unique to a recognized coinage of a country/area/period. For example the KM numbers are Unique for Republic India Coins and it starts from 1 and goes up as more and more coins are released. The numbering for British India, India-Nizam, or other princely states would have numbers beginning from 1 and going above. Thus a British India Coinage will have KM # 1 and Republic India will also have KM# 1 and they are both different coins.
Q) Are KM Numbers running numbers?
A) KM Numbers are running numbers, there ideally are no gaps in the numbers.
Q) Are KM numbers in chronological order?
A) Yes, By and Large a KM number is in chronological order, so an KM# 10 would be issued much earlier than a KM# 50. Except when a new country is indexed for the first time, the known coins are ordered by denomination and year.
Q) What happens if a coin is missed in cataloguing in order?
A) In case when a coin is missed giving a number and its recognized later, the current available number is given. If you see the coin numbers of recent commemorative, you will notice that quite a few coins were released in rapid succession and hence the numbering is strictly not in chronological order.
Q) Are KM numbers always whole numbers?
A) Mostly Yes. However when the coin has multiple variations, the variations are numbered as n.1,n.2, For example the cupronickel Rs 5 from 1992 to 2004 there are 4 recognized variations. Hence the coins are numbered 154.1, 154.2, 154.3, 154.4. There will no coin numbered 154.
Q) Why are some main numbers missing?
A) Gaps are typically created when a KM number is assigned by error to a coin already catalogued earlier or at times an incorrect coin is catalogued and this gets corrected in subsequent versions and hence leaves a gap.
Q) Why do some KM Numbers have an alphabet “a” at the end of the number?
A) If a coin is issued in multiple metals, the secondary metal is given an alphabet extension. For example 2006 Jagat Guru Shree Narayan Gurudev Commemorative coin comes in both Stainless Steel and Cupronickel. The Cupronickel is numbered 355 and the Stainless Steel is numbered 355a.
Q) What coins are numbered?
A) All coins including Standard, Circulation Commemorative, Proof Set, UNC are numbered.
Q) How are proof Sets and UNC numbered?
A) Proof sets and UNC are not numbered as a Set. However the individual coins in the set are numbered. There is a separate listing that gives out the Proof Set and the coin number that make the set.
Q) Are coins in Proof Sets numbered as separate coins from the UNC or circulation commemoratives?
A) No. Coins are not distinguished on finish. If a particular coin is available in all 3 types, it’s just given only one number. The exception would be if there is a change in the metal or variation in design as described above.
Q) Are same coins minted by different mints given different numbers?
A) No. Coins are not distinguished based on mint marks.
Q) Do KM numbers change and the same coin later has a different number?
A) No. Once a KM number is allocated, the number stays with it for life. They do not change.
Q) Are error coins numbered?
A) Error coins are not given a KM number but are numbered differently as PN or A; depending on the type of the error. Not all types of errors are noted.
This article describes how the KM numbers are given and some other aspects.
As a general premise the KM numbers are unique to a coinage and are running number starting from 1 and increasing in whole numbers. If there are more than one recognized variations of the same coins, then the variations are numbered as n.xx, starting from .1 and going above. If the same coins is in multiple metals, then the other metal is numbered as n.a.
Q) Are KM Numbers Unique?
A) KM Numbers are Unique to a recognized coinage of a country/area/period. For example the KM numbers are Unique for Republic India Coins and it starts from 1 and goes up as more and more coins are released. The numbering for British India, India-Nizam, or other princely states would have numbers beginning from 1 and going above. Thus a British India Coinage will have KM # 1 and Republic India will also have KM# 1 and they are both different coins.
Q) Are KM Numbers running numbers?
A) KM Numbers are running numbers, there ideally are no gaps in the numbers.
Q) Are KM numbers in chronological order?
A) Yes, By and Large a KM number is in chronological order, so an KM# 10 would be issued much earlier than a KM# 50. Except when a new country is indexed for the first time, the known coins are ordered by denomination and year.
Q) What happens if a coin is missed in cataloguing in order?
A) In case when a coin is missed giving a number and its recognized later, the current available number is given. If you see the coin numbers of recent commemorative, you will notice that quite a few coins were released in rapid succession and hence the numbering is strictly not in chronological order.
Q) Are KM numbers always whole numbers?
A) Mostly Yes. However when the coin has multiple variations, the variations are numbered as n.1,n.2, For example the cupronickel Rs 5 from 1992 to 2004 there are 4 recognized variations. Hence the coins are numbered 154.1, 154.2, 154.3, 154.4. There will no coin numbered 154.
Q) Why are some main numbers missing?
A) Gaps are typically created when a KM number is assigned by error to a coin already catalogued earlier or at times an incorrect coin is catalogued and this gets corrected in subsequent versions and hence leaves a gap.
Q) Why do some KM Numbers have an alphabet “a” at the end of the number?
A) If a coin is issued in multiple metals, the secondary metal is given an alphabet extension. For example 2006 Jagat Guru Shree Narayan Gurudev Commemorative coin comes in both Stainless Steel and Cupronickel. The Cupronickel is numbered 355 and the Stainless Steel is numbered 355a.
Q) What coins are numbered?
A) All coins including Standard, Circulation Commemorative, Proof Set, UNC are numbered.
Q) How are proof Sets and UNC numbered?
A) Proof sets and UNC are not numbered as a Set. However the individual coins in the set are numbered. There is a separate listing that gives out the Proof Set and the coin number that make the set.
Q) Are coins in Proof Sets numbered as separate coins from the UNC or circulation commemoratives?
A) No. Coins are not distinguished on finish. If a particular coin is available in all 3 types, it’s just given only one number. The exception would be if there is a change in the metal or variation in design as described above.
Q) Are same coins minted by different mints given different numbers?
A) No. Coins are not distinguished based on mint marks.
Q) Do KM numbers change and the same coin later has a different number?
A) No. Once a KM number is allocated, the number stays with it for life. They do not change.
Q) Are error coins numbered?
A) Error coins are not given a KM number but are numbered differently as PN or A; depending on the type of the error. Not all types of errors are noted.
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