Numismatic Terms
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adjustment marks
Marks caused by filing a planchet before striking to reduce its weight to the standard, as was sometimes done for early U.S. coinage
album
A book-like holder with slots for storing coins
altered
Intentionally modified after the minting process, such as by changing the date or by adding or removing a mintmark, usually in an attempt to deceive collectors (example: 1944-D Lincoln cent altered to appear to be a much more valuable 1914-D)
ancient
A coin produced prior to about 500 A.D.
artificial toning
coloration added to a coin by treatment with chemicals or other "doctoring"
attribute
n. A characteristic of a coin;
v. To identify a coin by determining the country of origin, denomination, series, date, mintmark and (if applicable) variety
auction
An offering to sell an individual item or group of items in which the price is determined by the highest bidder, sometimes with a reserve (minimum) price
authentic/authentication
An original, non-counterfeit coin; determination by an expert on whether or not a coin is authentic
bag marks
Small scratches and nicks resulting from movement of coins in the same bag (also known as contact marks or keg marks)
bank note
Paper money issued by a bank
bar
A non-numismatic form of precious metal bullion
bas relief
Design elements are raised within depressions in the field
billon
An alloy of silver and another metal, usually copper, which is less than 50% silver
bi-metallic
A coin or coin-like object combining parts composed of two different metal alloys, such as the Canadian two dollar coin.
bit
Pieces of eight were physically cut into eighths; each piece is one bit
blank
A piece of metal being prepared for coinage before the rims have been raised by passing through the upsetting mill
bourse
A location where dealers buy and sell coins with each other and the public, such as at a coin show
broadstrike/broadstruck
A coin struck without a firmly seated collar, resulting in "spreading" outwards, but still showing all design details
brockage
A mirror image of the design from one side of a coin impressed on the opposite side - occasionally, a newly struck coin "sticks" to a die, causing the next coin struck to have a First Strike Mirror Brockage of the coin stuck to the die; by the second strike the mirror is distorted, and later strikes are termed Struck Through A Capped Die
bullion
A coin or other object composed primarily of a precious metal, with little or no value beyond that of the metal
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
An agency of the U.S. Treasury Department responsible for production of paper money
business strike
A coin struck for circulation
Canadian
Post confederation Canadian numismatics
cameo
A coin, usually struck as a Proof, with a frosted or satiny central device surrounded by a mirrorlike field
cartwheel
- The pattern of light reflected by flow lines of mint state coins, resembling spokes of a wheel;
- Name given to the British pennies and twopences of 1797 due to their unusually broad rims
- A U.S. silver dollar
certified coin
A coin authenticated and graded by a professional service
cherrypick
To find and purchase a coin worth a premium over the seller's asking price (generally a rare die variety priced as a more common variety)
chop mark
A symbol added to money by someone other than the government
which issued it to indicate authenticity
circulating commemorative
A commemorative coin (see below) issued through the usual
distribution channels as regular money, e.g. each of four U.S. five
cent coin designs issued during 2004 and 2005. Non-circulating
commemoratives are not released into circulation, but rather sold
directly to collectors
circulated
Denotes money that is no longer in mint state, generally as a
result of normal handling and exchange
clad
Composed of more than one layer, such as the copper-nickel over
copper composition of U.S. dimes, quarters, and halves minted presently
clash mark(s)
Outlines and/or traces of designs from the opposite side of a
coin resulting from die clash
cleaning
any process that removes foreign substances, corrosion or toning,
e.g. application of solvents, dipping, and rubbing with abrasive
materials or substances
cleaned coin
while any coin subjected to a cleaning process could technically
be considered cleaned, this term most commonly refers to those which
have been abrasively cleaned (a coin which has been abrasively cleaned
generally has a lower numismatic value than an otherwise comparable
uncleaned specimen)
clip
A coin, planchet or blank missing a portion of metal, caused by
an error during blank production; types of clips include curved (most
common), ragged, straight, eliptical, bowtie, disk and assay
clipping
Deliberate shearing or shaving from the edge of gold and silver
coins; patterns and mottos are included on edges to discourage the
practice
coin
A piece of metal with a distinctive stamp and of a fixed value
and weight issued by a government and used as money
coin show
An event where numismatic items are bought, sold, traded and
often exhibited
collar
A device present in a coining press to restrict the outward flow
of metal during striking and to put the design, if any, on the edge of
the coin
collection
The numismatic holdings of an individual in total or of a
particular type
colonial
- In general, a coin or token used in a colony
- In the United States, the term refers to coins and tokens struck
during the colonial era by some of the colonies and by private
manufacturers, as well as by the states during the first several years
following the Declaration of Independence
colorized
indicates that paint, enamel or a color sticker has been applied
after the minting process
commemorative
A coin with a design honoring or as a reminder of a specific
person, place or event. Commemorative coins are normally struck for a
limited period of time (several weeks to several years).
condition census
A list of the finest known specimens of a particular coin date
and/or variety
contact marks
Small surface scratches or nicks resulting from movement of coins
in the same bag or bin
counterfeit
- An imitation of a coin or note made to circulate as if actually
money;
- An altered or non-genuine coin made to deceive collectors, usually a
more valuable date or variety
cud
A raised lump of metal on a coin. Results from metal flow during
striking into the space created when a piece of a die has broken off
cull
A coin that is extremely worn and/or damaged
cupro-nickel (or copper-nickel)
Composed of an alloy of copper and nickel, as for example U.S. 5
cent coins (other than half dimes) and Canadian 5 cent coins produced
since 1982.
currency
Paper money
damage
Physical change to a numismatic item, such as a scratch, nick,
ding, cleaning, hole or pitting
date
The year(s) shown on a coin, usually the same as the year it was
minted
dealer
A person or company that regularly buys and sells numismatic
collectibles
deep mirror prooflike (DMPL)
Having highly reflective mirrorlike fields, similar to a coin
struck as a Proof
delamination
Metal missing or retained but peeling from the surface due to
incomplete bonding or impurities in the planchet
denarius
An ancient Roman silver coin weighing about 3 grams, roughly the
same size as a U.S. dime but thicker
denomination
The face value of a coin
denticles
Tooth like raised features just inside the rim of some coins
(also known as dentils)
design
The devices, lettering, etc. appearing on a coin and their
arrangement with respect to each other
designer
The creator of a coin design
device
A major design element, such as the bust of a person
die
A usually cylindrical piece of steel bearing at one end the
incuse design of one side of a coin (except for coins with incuse
detail, where the die details are in relief)
die chip
A small fragment broken off from a die; metal flowing into the
resulting hole during striking results in a small raised lump on the
surface of the coin
die clash
Upper and lower dies coming together in a coin press without a
planchet between them; design details may be partially impressed in the
opposite dies and subsequently as mirror images on coins struck from
the clashed dies.
die crack
A narrow fissure in the surface of a die; coins struck with such
a die have a narrow raised line corresponding to the crack
die erosion
Wear on a die from use in the minting process
die flow lines
see flow lines
die state
The condition of a die at a particular point in its life
die polish
Small raised lines in the field of a coin resulting from
polishing of a die to remove chips, clash marks, etc.
dipping
Cleaning by immersion in a liquid capable of removing molecules
from the surface, such as a solution containing thiourea
disme
The original spelling of dime, 1/10 of a dollar
double denomination
A rare error in which a previously struck coin is restruck by the
die pair of another denomination
double die
A dubious term sometimes intended to mean a doubled die coin and
sometimes indicating machine doubling (because there is often a
substantial difference in value between the two, a savvy buyer will be
sure to determine which case is true for any coin described as such)
doubled die
- A die with doubled device details, letters and/or numerals
resulting from any of several possible differences between the multiple
hub impressions during its manufacture
- A coin struck from such a die
double eagle
A U.S. gold coin with a face value of $20, first minted in 1849
and last minted in 1933
drachma
An ancient Greek silver coin weighing about 3 grams, roughly the
same size as U.S. dime but thicker
eagle
- A U.S. gold coin with a face value of $10, first minted in 1795
and last minted in 1933
- The U.S. $50 face value gold bullion coin minted from 1986 to
present.
edge
The "third side" of a coin, encompassing the perimeter
E Pluribus Unum
"Out of many, one"; the motto on many U.S. coins
engraver
a person responsible for creating dies with specific designs
error
- Any unintentional deviation in the minting process resulting in
one or more coins with different characteristics than intended
- A coin produced by such an unintentional deviation
exergue
The lower part of a coin or medal, usually divided from the field
by a line and often containing the date, mintmark or engraver's
initial(s).
exonumia
Tokens, medals and other non-monetary coin-like objects
eye appeal
Overall attractiveness (beauty is in the eye of the
beholder)
face value
The ordinary monetary worth of a coin or note at the time of
issue
field
The flat background on a coin, medal or token
fishscale
- Canadian 5 cents silver;
- U.S. 3 cent silver coin
flan
British term for a planchet
flip
A pliable clear plastic holder normally used for a single coin
flow lines
Microscopic lines in the surface of a coin resulting from the
outward flow of metal during striking
fiat money
Money that is not backed by specie and is legal tender by decree
fractional currency
Paper money with a face value of less than one dollar
fugio cent
The first coin issued by authority of the United States, produced
by contractors in 1787
galvano
An epoxy coated plaster relief model of a coin, token or medal
created by electrodeposition (much larger than the dies later created
from it)
grade
A term summarizing the overall condition of a coin or other
numismatic item
grading
The process of evaluation leading to assignment of a grade
Greysheet
the Coin Dealer Newsletter, a price guide for U.S.
coins reflecting typical market prices for dealer-to-dealer sight seen
transactions
hairlines
Light scratches in the surface of a coin
half cent
A U.S. coin with a face value of 1/200th of a dollar first minted
in 1793 and last minted in 1857
half dime
A U.S. coin with a face value of 5 cents issued with dates
between 1794 and 1873; originally called a half disme
half eagle
A U.S. gold coin with a face value of $5 first minted in 1795 and
last minted in 1929
hobo nickel
A coin (usually a U.S. Buffalo nickel) carved or otherwise
modified into a substantially different design
holed
Having a hole drilled or punched through it, often so that it may
be used for jewelry
holder
Any device designed for storage and sometimes display of
numismatic items
hub
A steel bar used to make dies having the same raised design on
one end as one side of the coins ultimately produced
impaired proof
A proof coin with wear or damage resulting from circulation or
other handling
incuse
The opposite of relief -- design elements are impressed into the
surface
Indian Peace Medals
Medals presented to native Americans by European governments, fur
trading companies, Quakers, and, later, by US government
representatives, as a show of friendship and peace.
key date
Among the scarcest (and therefore most expensive) members of a
coin series, e.g. the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent or 1916-D Mercury dime
Krause
A numismatic publishing company (Krause Publications); this
company's Standard Catalog of World Coins
lamination flaw
See delamination
large cent
- A U.S. coin with a value of 1 cent, minted from 1793 to 1857,
composed primarily of copper and larger in diameter than the current
U.S. quarter
- A similar Canadian coin issued 1858-1920
legal tender
Money that may be legally offered in payment of an obligation and
that a creditor must accept (source: Webster's New World Dictionary)
legend
Lettering on a coin other than the denomination or nation which
issued it
loonie
Popular name for the Canadian loon dollar coin first issued in
1987
loupe
A type of magnifying glass used by numismatists and jewelers
luster
The brilliance of a coin, resulting from reflection of light off
die flow lines
machine doubling
Doubling of details resulting from loose dies during the minting
process (generally considered to have no numismatic value)
mail bid
An auction format in which bids are submitted by mail; the
highest offer for each lot received by the closing date wins the lot
(several other rules usually apply)
matte proof
A proof coin with a granular (rather than mirrorlike) surface
produced by dies treated to obtain a minutely etched surface
medal
A coin-like object struck to honor one or more persons or events
depicted or mentioned in its design; an object awarded to persons in
recognition of service or other accomplishment
melt/melt value
The worth of precious metal in a coin, determined by multiplying
the amount of the metal it contains by the spot price of the metal
mint
A facility for manufacturing coins
mintage
The quantity of a denomination of coins produced at a mint during
a period of time (usually one year)
mint bloom
The original surface of a newly minted coin
mintmark
A letter or symbol designating the mint which produced the item
bearing it
mint set
A specially packaged group of uncirculated coins from one or more
mints of the same nation containing at least one coin for most or all
of the denominations issued during a particular year
mint state
In the same condition as when delivered from the mint (natural
toning excepted); uncirculated
misplaced date
One or more digits of a date punched away from the intended
location, such as in the denticles or in the central design
motto
A phrase imprinted on a coin, for most U.S. coins "E PLURIBUS
UNUM"
mule
A coin struck from two dies not intended to be used together
multiple strike
A coin struck more than once as a result of not being properly
ejected from the coining press
natural toning
Coloration resulting from chemical change on the surface during
normal environmental exposure over a prolonged period
net price
A term signifying that the seller is unwilling to sell for less
than the price marked
numismatics
The collection and study of coins, tokens, medals, paper money
and other objects exchanged for goods and services or manufactured by
similar methods
numismatist
A person who collects and/or studies numismatic items
obol
A small silver coin of ancient Greece, originally a day's wages
for a rower on a galley or a citizen on jury duty.
obverse
The front or "heads" side of a coin, often bearing a portrait and
date
off center
Incorrectly centered during striking, resulting in part of the
design missing (off the edge)
original/original toning
Having natural surfaces resulting from long exposure to ordinary
environmental conditions; uncleaned
overdate
A coin struck from a die with at least one digit of the date
repunched over a different digit, e.g. 1809/6 or 1942/1.
overgraded
Designated with a higher grade than merited
over mintmark
One mintmark on top of a different mintmark, such as a 'D' over
an 'S' (denoted D/S)
paper money
Paper notes with standardized characteristics issued as money
paranumismatica
British term for exonumia
patina
A thin layer of naturally oxidized metal on the surface of a coin
acquired with age
pattern
A test piece for a new design, sometimes without a date
pick up point
An area where a feature, such as die doubling, is most evident
piece of eight
A former Spanish coin with a face value of eight reales; the U.S.
dollar was originally valued at and tied to eight reales
pitted
Having a rough surface due to loss of metal by corrosion
planchet
A piece of metal prepared for coinage with raised rims but as yet
unstruck
plugged
Denotes that a holed coin has been filled
porous
Having a granular surface as the result of oxidation, most
frequently found with older copper coins
prestige set
A set of coins produced by the U.S. Mint from 1983-84 and 1986-97
containing one or more proof commemorative coins released in the same
year, as well as a proof cent, nickel, dime, quarter and half
problem coin
Any coin that has been cleaned or damaged or has other
undesirable characteristics
proof
A coin specially manufactured to have extra sharp detail,
mirrorlike fields and sometimes frosted or "cameo" devices, produced
for sale to collectors at a premium or for exhibition or presentation
prooflike
Having mirrorlike fields, similar to a coin struck as a Proof
proof like
A coin specially manufactured by the Royal Canadian Mint with
mirror fields
proof set
A specially packaged group of coins containing at least one of
most or all of the denominations of proof coins struck by a nation in a
particular year
quarter eagle
A U.S. gold coin with a face value of $2.50 first minted in 1796
and last minted in 1929
rarity
- An infrequently encountered or available item
- The number of known surviving specimens of a particular issue,
as may be indicated by a rarity scale index
rarity scale
A system for designating the relative number of specimens known
to exist. The two most commonly used in numismatics are Sheldon's scale
(ranging from R1 for common pieces to R8 for those that are unique or
nearly so) and the Universal Rarity Scale developed by Q. David Bowers
(with the lower designations, such as URS1, indicating greater rarity
and higher numbers for more common items).
raw
Not certified as authentic, graded and encapsulated in a sealed
hard plastic holder by an independent service
real
A former basic monetary unit of Spain and Spanish colonies in the
Americas
Red Book
A Guide Book of U.S. Coins, a retail price guide for
U.S. coins published annually, originally written by R.S. Yeoman
reeded edge
An edge with raised parallel lines, a.k.a. milled or grained
relief
Features rising above the field
repunched date
A date with one or more of the digits punched more than once in
different locations and/or orientations
repunched mintmark (RPM)
A mintmark punched more than once in different locations and/or
orientations
restrike
A coin struck with authentic dies later than the date it bears
reverse
The back or "tails" side of a coin
rim
The outer edge of a coin, often raised to avoid premature wear
round
A disc shaped piece of precious metal bullion
scrip
A note issued by and redeemable at a merchant or group of
merchants
series
Coins of the same major design and denomination, including every
combination of date and mintmark minted, e.g. Morgan dollars
Sheldon scale
A numerical grading system ranging from 1 to 70 created by Dr.
William H. Sheldon to denote proportional values of large cents minted
from 1793 to 1814 and subsequently adaped as a general grading scale
shinplaster
Canadian fractional banknotes
sight seen
Available for examination to a potential buyer before a purchase
decision is made
sight unseen
Not available for examination to a potential buyer before a
purchase decision is made, as is usually the case with mail order
transactions
silver certificate
A note (paper money) once redeemable for its face value in silver
silver clad
A clad coin with one layer containing silver, such as U.S. halves
struck from 1965 to 1970
silver eagle
A coin produced by the U.S. mint beginning in 1986 containing one
ounce of silver and having a nominal face value of $1 (not released for
circulation)
slab
A coin certified by a professional grading service as authentic
and encapsulated in a sealed hard plastic holder also containing a
label bearing the service's opinion of its grade and other information
slider
A coin with very slight traces of wear, such that it almost
passes for an uncirculated specimen
specie
Precious metal (usually gold and silver)
split grade
Different grades for the obverse and reverse sides
spot
- Short for spot price;
- A small area of corrosion or foreign substance
spot price
The market price for immediate delivery of a commodity, such as a
precious metal
spread
- The difference between buy and sell prices for the same item(s)
of a dealer, broker, etc.
- The extent of separation between impressions on a doubled die.
stella
A U.S. gold coin pattern with a face value of $4 minted in 1879
and 1880
striations
Incuse marks caused by rolling bars during planchet production
strike
- The process of impressing the design from a die into a planchet
to make a coin, token or medal
- The degree to which details are transfered during this process (as in
weak strike, full strike, etc.)
strike doubling
See machine doubling
territorial gold coins
pieces of various shapes, denominations and intrinsic worth
privately struck in the general area of recently discovered gold
deposits for the needs of local commerce
tetradrachma
An ancient Greek silver coin weighing about 13 to 17 grams,
roughly the same size as a U.S. quarter but three times thicker
thumbing
The rubbing of skin oil onto a coin in an attempt to hide contact
marks
token
- A coin-like object redeemable for a particular product or
service, such as transportation on a bus or subway
- An unofficial coin issued by a business or local government to
be used as small change, e.g., in 17th-19th century Britain, and in
France during the 20th century
toning
Color acquired from chemical change on the surface
trade dollar
- A U.S. coin with a face value of $1 minted from 1873 through
1885 specifically for commerce in the Orient
- A U.K. coin with a face value of $1 minted from 1895 through 1935
specifically for commerce in the Orient
trime
A U.S. coin with a face value of 3 cents minted in predominantly
silver alloys from 1851-1873
tube
A plastic container designed for storing a roll or other quantity
of coins of the same size
type coin
Any coin of a particular design and denomination, usually one of
the more common dates
type set
A collection of coins of various designs; rather than try to
complete the series, the goal of the type collector is to obtain at
least one example of several different types
uncirculated
Never circulated; without any wear
VAM
Any variety of U.S. silver dollar described in the book Morgan
and Peace Dollars by Van Allen and Mallis.
variety
Any coin struck from a die pair that differs from others with the
same date and mintmark, such as one exhibiting die doubling, different
style letters or numerals, or a repunched mintmark
want list
A tabulation of collectibles sought by a collector, often
including requirements for condition and/or price
water mark
A design put into paper at the manufacuring stage by pressing it
while wet between rollers bearing the design
wear
Metal lost during handling and contact with other objects
whizzing
Alteration by mechanical polishing to produce a shiny surface
world coins
Coins issued by various nations, as in a collection comprised of
coins thereof