Glossary Of Numismatic Terms

Glossary of Numismatic Terms

A - G

TERM AKA DEFINITION
ALLOY a mixture of two or more metals.
AMERICAN EAGLE BULLION COIN Silver Eagle Gold Eagle Platiunum Eagle platinum, silver and gold coins released by the United States Mint beginning in October 1986.
AMERICAN EAGLE PROOF COIN Proof Eagle Proof Gold Eagle proof-quality bullion {platinum, silver, gold) coins released by the United States Mint beginning in October 1986. Their production process, on specially adapted coining presses and specially polished dies, brings forth even the most minute of details with remarkable clarity.
AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION ANA nonprofit educational organization that encourages the study of money throughout the world.
ANNEALING heating blanks {planchets) in a furnace that softens the metal.
BAG MARK a mark on a coin from contact with other coins in a mint bag.
BI-METALLIC a coin comprised of two different metals, bonded together.
BLANK another word for planchet, the blank piece of metal on which a coin design is stamped.
BULLION platinum, gold or silver in the form of bars or other storage shapes, including coins and ingots.
BULLION COIN Bullion precious metal coin traded at current bullion prices.
BURNISHED Uncirculated the technique used to polish the coin's surface
BUSINESS STRIKE Mint State a coin produced for general circulation (as opposed to a proof or uncirculated coin specially made for collectors).
BUST a portrait on a coin, usually including the head, neck and upper shoulders.
CLAD COINAGE Regular coins that have a core and outer layer made of different non-precious metals. Since 1965, all circulating U.S. dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollars have been clad.
COIN flat piece of metal issued by the government as money.
COLLAR a metal piece that restrains the expanding metal of a planchet during striking.
COMMEMORATIVE Commem a special coin or medal issued to honor an outstanding person, place or event.
CONDITION the physical state of a coin.
COUNTERFEIT Fake a fake coin or other piece of currency made so that people will think it's genuine.
CURRENCY any kind of money - coins or paper money - that's used as a medium of exchange.
DENOMINATION Face Value the different values of money. U.S. coins currently are made in the following six denominations: cent, nickel, dime, quarter, half dollar and dollar.
DIE an engraved stamp used for impressing a design (images, value and mottoes) upon a blank piece of metal to make a coin.
DESIGNER the artist who creates a coin's design (but doesn't necessarily engrave the design into a coinage die).
EDGE the outer border of a coin, considered the "third side" (not to be confused with "rim"). Some coins feature lettering, reeding, or ornamental designs on their edges.
ENGRAVER an artist who sculpts a claymodel of a coin's design in bas relief.
ERROR an improperly produced coin, that was overlooked in production, and later released into circulation.
FACE VALUE the sum for which a coin can be spent or exchanged (a dime's face value is 10¢) as opposed to its collector or precious metal value.
FIELD the portion of a coin's surface not used for design or inscription.
GRADE rating which indicates how much a coin has worn from circulation. The American Numismatic Association (ANA) scale measures - or grades - coins from "About Good - 3" to "Perfect Uncirculated -70".

H - P

TERM AKA DEFINITION
HAIRLINES tiny lines or scratches on coins, usually caused by cleaning or polishing.
HIGH RELIEF A design elements that is raised above the surface, or field
INCUSE opposite of relief, the part of a coin's design that is pressed into the surface.
INSCRIPTION words stamped on a coin or medal.
INTRINSIC VALUE (BULLION VALUE) Melt Value current market value of the precious metal in a coin.
KEY DATE a scarce date required to complete a collection, usually more difficult to find and afford.
LEGAL TENDER coins, dollar bills or other currency issued by a government as official money.
LEGEND principal lettering on a coin.
MEDAL a metal object resembling a coin issued to recognize an event, place, person or group, with no stated value and not intended to circulate as money.
MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE anything that people agree has a certain value.
MINT a place where coins of a country are manufactured under government authority. Today, United States Mint facilities in Philadelphia and Denver produce all U.S. circulating coins.
MINT LUSTER the dull, frosty, or satiny shine found on uncirculated coins.
MINT MARK a small letter on a coin identifying which of the United States Mint's facilities struck the coin.
MINT SET a complete set of coins of each denomination produced by a particular mint.
MINT STATE same as uncirculated.
MINTAGE the quantity of coins produced.
MOTTO a word, sentence or phrase inscribed on a coin to express a guiding national principle. For example, "E Pluribus Unum" inscribed on all U.S. circulating coins is Latin for "out of many, one."
NUMISMATICS the study and collecting of things that are used as money, including coins, tokens, paper bills and medals.
OBSOLETE a coin design or type that is no longer produced.
OBVERSE the front (or "heads") side of a coin. It usually has the date, mint mark and main design.
OFF-CENTER describes a coin that has received misaligned strike from the coin press and has portions of its design missing.
OVERSTRIKE a new coin produced with a previously struck coin used as the planchet.
PATTERN an experimental or trial piece, generally of a new design or metal.
PLANCHET the blank piece of metal on which a coin design is stamped.
PROOF a specially produced coin made from highly polished planchets and dies and often struck more than once to accent the design. Proof coins receive the highest quality strike possible and can be distinguished by their sharpness of detail and brilliant, mirror-like surface.
PROOF SET a complete set of proof coins of each denomination made in a year.

R - Z

TERM AKA DEFINITION
RELIEF the part of a coin's design that is raised above the surface, opposite of incuse.
RESTRIKE a coin that is minted using the original dies but at a later date.
REVERSE the back (or "tails") side of a coin.
RIDDLER a machine that screens out blanks (planchets) that are the wrong size or shape.
RIM the raised edge on both sides of a coin (created by the upsetting mill) that helps protect the coin's design from wear.
ROLL coins packaged by banks, dealers or the United States Mint. The number of coins in a roll depends on the denomination: 50 cents, 40 nickels, 50 dimes, 40 quarters, 20 half dollars, or 25 dollars.
SERIES a collection of coins that contains all date and mint marks of a specific design and denomination. For example, a Kennedy series would include a Kennedy half dollar from each year from each Mint facility (Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco), beginning with the coins first issued in 1964.
SLAB Slabbed nickname for some protective coin encapsulation methods, especially those that are permanently sealed and rectangular.
STRIKE the process of stamping a coin blank with a design. The strength of the imprint - full, average, or weak - affects the value of rare coins.
TYPE SET a collection of coins based on denomination. For example, a nickel type set would contain one of each of the four types of nickels that the United States Mint has produced.
UNCIRCULATED The term "uncirculated" may have three different meanings when applied to a coin:
UNCIRCULATED (1) It can refer to the particular manufacturing process by which a coin is made.
UNCIRCULATED (2) It can be used as a grade when referring to a coin's degree of preservation and quality of the strike.
UNCIRCULATED (3) "Uncirculated" can point to the fact that a coin has not been used in everyday commerce.
UNCIRCULATED NOTE: The United States Mint uses the term uncirculated when referring to the special coining process used to make the coin, which gives it a satin finish. Uncirculated coins are manufactured using the same process as circulating coins, but with quality enhancements such as slightly higher coining force, early strikes from dies, special cleaning after stamping, and special packaging. Uncirculated coins may vary to some degree because of blemishes, toning, or slight imperfections.
UPSETTING MILL a machine that raises the rim on both sides of a blank {planchet)
VARIETY a minor change from the basic design type of a coin.
YEAR SET a collection of all coins issued by a country for any one year (does not necessarily include every mint mark).
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