Abbreviation for Serial number (SN)

I see that SN for “serial number”  is not listed among abbreviations in the documentation. Neither as an abbreviation to use or to avoid. 

It is, however, found very often in the variants on german notgeld.  

What shall I do - when updating notes that do use SN, i've tended to also use SN - but on other notes with existing variants spelling it out, I've also done the same. 

But ideally, I would like for it to be standardized. SN is a very attractive abbreviation as space is often premium in the variant descriptions. 

Any thoughts? (I guess the same could be said for KN for Kontrollnummer in german)

Regards

Ernie

I see that SN for “serial number”  is not listed among abbreviations

+1

IMO: exclusive paper money collectors will probably find the “Abbreviations Used on Numista” guideline very “coin-centric” if there's such a term. 

I have seen SN used (instead of “serial number”) usually when there's “No SN” (notes printed without a serial number) but I have also not seen the SN abbreviation used.

Just off the top of my head there a quite a few paper money/banknote abbreviations missing in your list:

BPN = Back Position (or Back Plate) Number (position reference on the sheet matrix or actual printer's plate #)

EPQ= Exceptional Paper Quality or original unprocessed paper quality with embossing

FPN = Front Position (or Front Plate) Number (position reference on the sheet matrix or actual printer's plate #)

ND = No Date (or no date printed on the fields)

PPQ= Perfect Paper Quality or original unprocessed paper quality (same as EPQ) paper has embossing

PMG = Paper Money Guarantee (under Graders)

TPG = Third Party Graders (a certified or “slabbed” banknote given a designated grade by a recognized professional Grader Co).

The reason to limit abbreviations (and the reason for policies) is to make Numista understandable for non-experts who use it. This includes people who have a primary language other then English or French.

I expect most of that audience would have trouble figuring out what “SN” is supposed to mean. I just put “SN” into a search engine and the result that came back was “tin”. And I expect almost none of them would have any clue for BPN or the other jargon mentioned above. (Searching for BPN brought up results for Bare Performance Nutrition and the BioProcessing Network.)

I usually use ‘serial#’.

bjherbison

The reason to limit abbreviations (and the reason for policies) is to make Numista understandable for non-experts who use it. This includes people who have a primary language other then English or French.

 

I expect most of that audience would have trouble figuring out what “SN” is supposed to mean. I just put “SN” into a search engine and the result that came back was “tin”. And I expect almost none of them would have any clue for BPN or the other jargon mentioned above. (Searching for BPN brought up results for Bare Performance Nutrition and the BioProcessing Network.)

+1

In Spanish there is no “official” abbreviation  for

(ES) número  de serie (EN) serial number

at most (ES) n.º de serie = núm. de serie = nro. de serie (witch does not abbreviate much).

As a curiosity, “SN” is similar to

(ES) s/n = s. n. = sin número (EN) without number

Ok, that is fine by me. I'll strive to use ‘Serial number’ from now. 

Just curious though, when I make my edits, I'm setting them for (en) only? And if another is editing the same but with german/spanish they would create different alternatives?

Hello,

bjherbison clearly explained why we prefer to avoid abbreviations as much as possible.

Regarding your last question, the catalogue can be edited only in English and French. The page in English also show the variant comment in French (and vice-versa) to avoid discrepancies. 

If you can, it's preferable to make your edits both in English and French.

Xavier

If you can, it's preferable to make your edits both in English and French.

Related suggestion https://en.numista.com/forum/topic47142.html 😉

Xavier

If you can, it's preferable to make your edits both in English and French.

Sadly, my french skills amount to oui and non. Well and avec, cognac - you get the drift :-)