This is an ongoing work (one of those never-ending projects) consisting of a compilation of all known names used for coins from the ancient times to the present. Where possible, a description of coins of that name is given, as well as the most likely origin of the name, including translations. In many cases, links are made to pages which will show various examples of that denomination. Obviously, the images not all-inclusive but hopefully will give the user an idea of what some of the coin denominations looked like and how coins of the same name differ from country to country and through time.

Naira - A paper money and monetary unit of Nigeria, equal to 100 kobo.  It replaced the pound in 1973.

[Nigeria]

Napoleon - A gold coin of France issued in Italy after the Battle of Marengo.  The coin showed the bust of Napoleon on the obverse.  Also called a marengo.

{From the bust of Napoleon on the obverse.}

[France for Italy]

Nasri - [Tunis]

Naya Paisa - Plural naye paise.  A former monetary unit of India and Bhutan, the 100th part of a rupee.

{1955-1960: From Hindi naya new + paisa paisa or pice.}

[Bhutan, India]

Nazarana - [India-Mughal]

Nazarana Mohur - [India-Mughal]

Nazarana Rupee - [Afghanistan]

Necessity Bar - A crudely shaped, rectangular gold bar made from 1778 to 1833.  It was struck in Colony, United Kingdom and Empire) and issued as necessity money at Cuiba, Goias, Mato Grosso, Rio das Mortes, Sabara, Serro Frio and Vila Rica, assay offices in Brazil, and punched with various stamps including arms on a globe, the date, the weight and the fineness.

[Brazil]

Neugroschen - A Saxon billion coin that was struck from 1841 to 1873.  It was worth 10 pfennigs or 1/30 thaler.

{German neu new + groschen groschen}

[German States-Saxony]

New Pence - [Gibralter, Great Britain, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey]

New Penny - [Great Britain, Guernsey, Jersey]

New Peso - [Mexico, Uruguay]

Ngultrum (Rupee) - A paper money, cupronickel coin, and monetary unit of Bhutan, equal to 100 chetrums.

[Bhutan]

Ngwee - Plural ngwee.  A bronze coin and monetary unit of Zambia, the 100th part of a kwacha.

[Zambia]

Nickel - [United States of America]

Nisar - [India-Mughal]

Nisfi - [India-Mughal]

Nisfiya - [Egypt]

Noble - A former English gold coin, first minted in 1346 by Edward III and having the current value of half a mark or 6 shillings - 8 pence, or 10 shillings.  It was also called angel, george, rose, thistle noble.  It was replaced in 1464 under Edward IV by the rose noble.

[England]

Nomisma - The customary term for the Byzantine gold coin (full form: nomisma chrysoun; Latin: solidus aureus, gold coin).  Following the monetary system established by Constantine the Great in the fourth century, it was struck at 72 to the pound (weight: ca. 4.5 grams).  Its fineness of 24 carats was maintained until the 1030's, when the first signs of gradual debasement appeared.

[Byzantine Empire]

Notgeld - A term that was applied to siege and emergency coins of all sorts, but popularly confined to German local token coinages from 1917 to 1923.  These pieces were struck in zinc, iron, aluminum, cardboard, porcelain and other materials by hundreds of communities in Germany during and just after World War I.

{From German not necessity + geld money.}

[German States]

Noven - A billion coin first issued by Alfonso X (1252-1284) of Castile and Leon.  By the reign of Henry IV (1454-1474), the noven had become so base that it had the appearance of being made of pure copper.  It was struck at many mints and was discontinued in the 16th century.  The obverse classically shows a rampant lion in a lozenge while the reverse is a three-towered castle.  Twenty-four maravedis novenos had the value of one maravedi of gold.

{From Spanish noveno ninth?}

[Spain]

Nummia