Introduction
Shopping cart
Rate this page
Terminology and Glossary (A-C)
2 by 2 - Nickname for a typical holder for one coin. Measures 2 inches by 2 inches. Often made of cardboard with a clear mylar material in the center. Cardboard 2x2s are not the best way to store coins for the long term
Abrasions - Light rubbing or scuffing from friction, coin where another coin or object has slid across or bumped the coin. It can also be caused by the coin sliding in a holder or coin drawer and it is not as deep or noticeable as bag marks. It is usually found on the high parts of a coin or in the open fields (background)
Accumulation - A group of coins, sometimes not of any certain type or date. Also can be a "hoard"
Adjustment Marks - Small striations or file marks found on early United States coins. Caused during planchet preparation (before striking) by drawing a file across the coins to remove excess metal so as to reduce the planchet to its proper weight. The result is a series of parallel grooves
Album - A book-like holder with slots for storing coins
Alloy - A combination of two or more metals melted into one compound
Alteration - The tampering with a feature of a coin's surface such as the date, mint mark, etc. to give it the appearance of being another date, mint mark or variety; Intentional modification of a coin after the minting process. An illegal practice
Altered Date - A false date on a coin-a date altered to make a coin appear to be one of a rarer or more valuable issue, often done to try to deceive someone
Aluminium - A lightweight silvery grey metal, atomic number 13, atomic weight 26.981538, specific gravity 2.7; discovered in 1825, and used for coins, usually as an alloy, since about 1900
Ancient Coin - Reference to any coin issued before A.D. 500
Annealing - The process of heating coin blanks (planchlets) in a furnace to soften the metal prior to striking coins out of them
Anvil Die (Bottom die) - A coin is struck using two dies. One for the obverse (front) of the coin and another for the reverse (back). The anvil die is the one on the bottom, which is usually the reverse. The term comes from when the die was placed on an anvil with the coin blank (planchet) on top. The hammer die (top die) was placed on top of the coin and struck with a hammer.
Arrows - Design element usually found in the left (viewer's right) claw of the eagle seen on many United States coins. After 1807, there usually were three arrows while prior to that time the bundle consisted of numerous ones
Artificial Toning - Coloration added to a coin by treatment with chemicals or other "doctoring"
Ask Price - The price a dealer or trader is asking for a coin. Often used to indicate the "wholesale" asking price between dealers or on a coin trading network
Assay - To determine the purity of the metal by scientific means
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
Aurichalcum - A brass alloy containing copper and zinc, used in ancient coins; also called aurichalcum, orichalcum. Its name literally means gold copper, because of its yellow colour resembling gold
Authentic/Authentication - An original, non-counterfeit coin; determination by an expert on whether or not a coin is authentic
Back or Reverse side - The "tails", usually opposite from the portrait or date
Bag Mark - A surface mark, usually in the form of a nick, acquired by a coin when it came in contact with others in a mint bag. Bag marks are most common on large and heavy silver and gold coins (also known as contact marks or keg marks)
Bag Toning - Coloring acquired from the bag in which a coin was stored. The cloth bags in which coins were transported contained sulfur and other reactive chemicals. When stored in such bags for extended periods, the coins near and in contact with the cloth often acquired beautiful red, blue, yellow and other vibrant colors. Sometimes the pattern of the cloth is visible in the toning; other times, coins have crescent-shaped toning because another coin was covering part of the surface, preventing toning. Bag toning is seen mainly on Morgan silver dollars, though occasionally on other series
Bar - A non-numismatic form of precious metal bullion, usually an "ingot" shaped as a rectangle. Gold and silver bars vary in size from 1 gram up to thousands of ounces
Bas Relief - Design elements raised within depressions in the field
Basal State - The condition of a coin that is identifiable only as to date mint mark (if present), and type; one-year-type coins may not have a date visible
Basal Value - The value base from which Dr. William H. Sheldon's 70-point grade/price system started; this lowest-grade price was one dollar for the 1794 large cent upon which he based his system
Base Metal - A non-precious metal, such as copper, nickle or zinc
Basining - The process of polishing a die to impart a mirrored surface or to remove clash marks or other injuries from the die
Beaded Border - Small, round devices around the edge of a coin, often seen on early U.S. coins. These were replaced by dentils
Bear market - A period when people are selling things off - when the outlook seems grim and there isn't much hope in the horizon. Prices go down on a regular basis
Bid - The price a dealer (or dealers) are offering to pay for a coin. Sometimes used to indicate a standing offer at that price from a coin dealer or on a trading network
Bid Sheet - A page in an auction catalogue, that is usually perforated at the inner edge for easy removal, on which the customer can record his bids. This sheet is then mailed in or given to the auctioneer; Weekly, monthly, and quarterly wholesale sheets used by coin dealers are sometimes referred to as bid sheets
Bilingual - Refers to the inscription on a coin that is in two languages
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 - Slang used to indicate one eighth of a dollar. In early days of this country's history the Spanish Milled Dollar (pillar dollar or 8 reales) circulated. Due to a shortage of smaller coins these silver dollars were often cut into pieces shaped like slices of pizza. A small piece equal to one eighth of the dollar was called a "piece of eight" or a "bit". The nursery rime "two bits, four bits, 6 bits, a dollar" comes from this time in history." Example, two bits = two eighths or a quarter
Black Book - An annually revised guide to values for U.S. coins, published in a softcover format
Black Coins - Mix of copper and silver (less than 10%). The silver was at the surface (like silver plated copper), but very quick it was corrupted and the coins became black
Blakesley Effect - The flattened area that occurs opposite the "clip" on incomplete planchet coins
Blanks (planchet) - Pieces of metal being prepared for coinage before the rims have been raised by passing through the upsetting millintended. Intended for coinage but as yet unstruck
Blemishes - Minor nicks, marks, flaws or spots of discoloration that mark the surface of a coin
Blended - A term applied to an element of a coin (design, date, lettering, etc.) that is worn into another element or the surrounding field
Bluebook - A blue-cover, wholesale pricing book for United States coins issued on a yearly basis
Bluesheet - Slang for the Certified Coin Dealer Newsletter
Body Bag - Slang term for a coin returned from a grading service in a plastic sleeve within a flip. The coin referred to is a no-grade example and was not graded or encapsulated. Coins are no-grades for a number of reasons, such as questionable authenticity, cleaning, polishing, damage, repair, and so on
Border - Protective periphery either of radial lines or beads within the raised rim of a coin
Bourse - A location where dealers buy and sell coins with each other and the public, such as at a coin show
Boy wonder - Slang name for a young coin dealer who bursts upon the numismatic scene and quickly becomes a top flight dealer
Braided Hair - Style of hair on half cents and large cents from 1840 onward consisting of hair pull back into a tight bun with a braided hair cord
Branch Mint - One of the various subsidiary government facilities that struck, or still strikes, coin; Any US Mint other than Philadelphia
Brass - An alloy of copper and zinc, usually yellow in colour, therefore sometimes mistaken for gold. Brass was used by the ancient Romans for some of its base metal coins, and frequently used for counters and jetons in the late 18th century
Brassage - The production or labour cost of coins, possibly from the french word bras meaning arm, as coins were originally hand hammered, and minters needed a strong arm
Breast feathers - The central feathers seen on numerous eagle designs. Fully struck coins usually command a premium and the breast feathers are usually the highest point of the reverse. (They are the most deeply recessed area of the die, so metal sometimes does not completely fill the breast feather area, usually because of insufficient striking pressure. Incorrectly spaced or lapped dies will also cause "striking" weakness)
Breen-Gillio - Numbering system base on the book on California fraction gold coins by Walter Breen and Ron Gillio titled California Pioneer Fraction Gold
Breen Book - Slang for Walter Breen's magnum opus, Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins, published in 1988
Breen letter - A document, usually one page, written or typed by Walter Breen giving his opinion on a particular numismatic item. Before certification, this was the usual method employed by collectors and dealers desiring to sell an esoteric item such as a branch-mint Proof, early Proof, and so on
Brilliant - Untoned, without tarnish or oxidation, preserved with original cartwheel (frosty) or prooflike lustre. A copper coin is considered brilliant if it retains full original red. A silver, nickel or gold coin is usually considered brilliant in the absence of toning or oxidation (although it may have some spots or light toning hues about the periphery) and its original lustre is considerable intact
Broadstrike/Broadstruck - A coin struck without a firmly seated collar, resulting in "spreading" outwards, but still showing all design details
Bronze - A base metal alloy of copper and tin, but other metals such as zinc are sometimes added. Bronze was the first high-tech alloy known to man. It was used from ancient Greek times, through ancient Rome, and is still used in modern times, although many modern "bronze" or "copper" coins are nowadays made of copper plated steel to reduce costs
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
Bronze - An alloy of copper, zinc, and tin with a composition of (generally) 95 % copper, 4% zin, 1% zinc. Bronze has been used for coinage since since ancient times. The exact formula has varied in different places and eras
Buckled die - A die that has "warped" in some way, possibly from excess clashing, and that produces coins which are slightly "bent." This may be more apparent on one side and occasionally apparent only on one side
Buffing (whizzed) - A polishing of a coin sometimes with an abrasive that leaves a finish that attempts to counterfeit mint luster. A buffed coin often is worth less than one that has not been cleaned
Bulged die - A die that has clashed so many times that a small indentation is formed in it. Coins struck from this die have a "bulged" area
Bull Market - A period when people are extraordinarily enthusiastic in buying things (coins)
Bullion Coin - Coin with little numismatic value, sold for its precious metal content and traded at the current bullion price
Bulged die - A die that has clashed so many times that a small indentation is formed in it. Coins struck from this die have a "bulged" area
Bureau of Engraving and Printing - An agency of the U.S. Treasury Department responsible for production of currency
Burnishing - A process by which the surfaces of a planchet or a coin are made to shine through rubbing or polishing. This term is used in two contexts – one positive, one negative. In a positive sense, Proof planchets are burnished before they are struck – a procedure done originally by rubbing wet sand across the surfaces to impart a mirror like finish. In a negative sense, the surfaces on repaired and altered coins sometimes are burnished by various methods. In some instances, a high-speed drill with some type of wire brush attachment is used to achieve this effect
Burnishing lines - Lines resulting from burnishing, seen mainly on open-collar Proofs and almost never found on close-collar Proofs. These lines are incuse in the fields and go under lettering and devices
Burnt - Slang for a coin that has been over-dipped to the point were the surfaces are dull and lackluster
Business Strike - A coin intended for circulation in the channels of commerce (as opposed to a proof coin specifically struck for collectors)
Bust - The portrait on a coin, usually the head or head and shoulders
Cabinet Friction - Sometimes called "cabinet wear" or "cabinet rub" is wear to the higher portions of a coin's design, caused by being kept in an unlined wooden cabinet drawer over a long period of time. Wooden cabinets for coin storage were extensively used by collectors from about 1600 to the late 1800's
Cameo - A coin, usually struck as a Proof, with a frosted or satiny central device surrounded by a mirrorlike field. Modern day proof coins are struck from specially treated dies to give this frosted (cameo) appearance. On older proof coins, the first produced by a die might have a cameo appearance. Later, as the dies starts to wear (or break in) the coins produced will have less and less of the cameo frosting. Most proof US coins prior to the mid 1960's will have a mirror like surface over the whole coin. One with a frosted cameo design will bring a premium, sometimes a substantial one. Even today, some coins sell for more if the cameo effect is more pronounced than the typical coin
Capped Bust - A term describing any of the various incarnations of the head of Miss Liberty represented on early U.S. coins by a bust with a floppy cap. This design is credited to John Reich
Capped Die - The term applied to an error in which a coin gets jammed in the coining press and remains for successive strikes, eventually forming a "cap" either on the upper or lower die. These are sometimes spectacular with the "cap" often many times taller than a normal coin
Carbon spot - A spot seen mainly on copper and gold coins, though also occasionally found on U.S. nickel coins (which are 75% copper) and silver coins (which are 10% copper). Carbon spots are brown to black spots of oxidation that range from minor to severe – some so large and far advanced that the coin is not graded because of environmental damage
Carson City - The United States branch Mint located in Carson City, Nevada that struck coins from 1870 until 1885 and again from 1889 until 1893. These are among the most popular branch-mint issues
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
Cash - A chinese unit of coinage, usually base metal. Also any money in the form of notes or coins
Cast Coin - A coin that was made by pouring melted metal into a mold or cast. Not made by striking a die against a coin blank like most coins. Casting was a common process used to try to counterfeit coins
Cast Counterfeit - A replication of a genuine coin usually created by making molds of the obverse and reverse, then casting base metal in the molds. A seam is usually visible on the edge unless it has been ground away
Castaing machine - A device invented by French engineer Jean Castaing, which added the edge lettering and devices to early U.S. coins before they were struck. This machine was used until close collar dies were introduced which applied the edge device in the striking process
Census - A compilation of the known specimens of a particular numismatic item
Certified Coin (slabbed) - A coin authenticated and graded by a professional service. Often a certified coin is accompanied by a photograph certificate or is sealed in a plastic slab
Certified Coin Dealer Newsletter - The official name for the Bluesheet that lists bid/ask/market prices for third-party certified coins
Certified Coin Exchange - The bid/ask coin trading and quotation system owned by the American Teleprocessing Company
Charlotte - The United States branch Mint located in Charlotte, North Carolina that only struck gold coins from 1838 until its seizure by the Confederacy in 1861. It did not reopen as a mint after the Civil War, although it did serve as an official assay office from 1867 until 1913
Chasing - A method used by forgers to create a mint mark on a coin. It involves heating the surfaces and moving the metal to form the mint mark
Cherrypick - To find and purchase a coin worth a premium over the seller's asking price (generally a rare die variety priced appropriately for a more common variety)
Choice - An adjective used to describe an especially selected speciment of a given grade. Thus, Choice EF-45 represents an especially selected Extremely Fine coin (normal or typical Extremely Fine being EF-40)
Chop Mark - Oriental marks or characters stamped into previously made coins, often found on silver trade dollars and other precious metal coins. When coins were used for trading purposes, an oriental assayer would test a piece of the coin for purity. If it met his approval he would stamp his mark into the coin indicating to others it was pure and accurate weight. Today some collectors specialize in "Chop marked" coins. However, for many coins the chop marks may hurt the value
Circulated - A coin used commercially and therefore suffers wear and tear; a used coin
Circulation - Coins used in commerce to purchase items by the populace are in circulation
Civil War Token - Unofficial pieces made to approximate size of current U.S. cents and pressed into circulation during the Civil War because of a scarcity of small change
Clad Coinage - Issues of United States dimes, quarters, halves, and dollars made since 1965. Each coin has a center core, and a layer of copper-nickel or silver on both sides. Clad differs from a plated coin in that the clad blank (or planchlet) is treated to seal the layers of metal together
Clad bag - Usually applied to a one-thousand dollar bag of 40-percent silver half dollars although it also could apply to any bag of "sandwich" coins
Clashed dies - Dies that have been damaged by striking each other without a planchet between them. Typically, this imparts part of the obverse image to the reverse die and vice versa
Classic Era - The term describing the period from 1792 until 1964 when silver and gold coins of the United States were issued. (Gold coins, of course, were not minted after 1933)
Classic Head - A depiction of Miss Liberty that recalls the "classic" look of a Roman or Greek athlete wearing a ribbon around the hair. The motif was first used on the John Reich designed large cent struck from 1808 until 1814. The next year, the half cent was changed to this design. This head was also copied by William Kneass for the quarter eagle and half eagle designs first struck in 1834
Clash Marks - Impressions of the reverse design on the obverse of a coin or the obverse design on the reverse of a coin due to die damage caused when the striking dies impacted each other with great force and without an intervening planchet
Cleaning - Refers to removing dirt or otherwise altering the appearance of a coin through the use of chemical or abrasive materials that damage or scratch the surface in a detectable fashion. Cleaning is different than whizzing or mechanical alteration of the surface. A gentle cleaning in water or solvent that leaves no marks or residue is usually not considered harmful. Cleaning by either mechanical or chemical means that are detectable will generally result in lowering the grade and value of a coin
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 from its periphery, 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
Clogged die - A die that has grease or some other contaminant lodged in the recessed areas. Coins struck from such a die have diminished detail, sometimes completely missing
Coin - A piece of metal intended for use as legal tender and stamped with inscriptions and exact monetary value. Issued by an authority (often a government or bank) that guarantees its weight and purity
Coin drop - It is the term used to describe a publicity stunt where a valuable coin is deliberately dropped (placed) into circulation. This usually is done specifically to promote a coin show in the community. The American Numismatic Association has been doing coin drops for about a decade. A few collectors complain about "wasting" good coins, but when properly conducted, a coin drop is a cost-effective way to promote a numismatic event
Coin Dealer Newsletter - Weekly periodical, commonly called the Greysheet, listing bid and ask prices for many United States coins
Coin Envelope - A special envelope made from paper which has little or no harmful chemicals that may affect a coin's appearance, condition or value
Coin Show - An event where numismatic items are bought, sold, traded and often exhibited
Coin Universe - Internet site established in 1994 for the trading of numismatic items
Coin Universe 3000 - An index of 3000 prices of the most important United States rare coins in the most collectible grades
Coin Universe Daily Price Guide - A price guide available on the internet listing approximate selling prices for PCGS graded coins of nearly every United States issue in multiple grades. These prices are compiled from electronic networks, auctions, price lists, coin shows, and so on
Coin Universe Hall of Fame - A listing of famous numismatists, past and present, available on the internet through the Coin Universe portal
Coin World - Weekly numismatic periodical established in 1960
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 - A coin issued by any colony; frequently refers to those produced by European colonies in the Americas in the 17th and 18th centuries. Most were made of copper and in small denominations
Commemoratives - Coins issued by the government to celebrate and honour an outstanding person, place, or event in history. They are extremely popular with collectors
Commercial grade - A grade that is usually one level higher than the market grade; refers to a coin that is "pushed" a grade, such as an EF/AU coin (corresponding to 45+) sold as AU-50
Common date - A particular issue within a series that is readily available. No exact number can be used to determine which coins are common dates as this is relative to the mintage of the series. (i.e. A 1799 eagle is a common date within its series just as an 1881-S silver dollar is a common date within the Morgan series. Obviously, the 1799 eagle is rare compared to the 1881-S dollar)
Complete set - A term for all possible coins within a series, all types, or all coins from a particular branch Mint. Examples would include a complete set of a series (The three-dollar series can have but one complete set, that being the Harry Bass Foundation set that includes the unique 1870-S. Yes, it is possible that the cornerstone coin could appear someday and change the unique status; a complete gold type set would include examples of all types from 1795 until 1933; a complete set of Charlotte Mint gold dollars must include the 1849-C Open Wreath example of which there are but four currently verified)
Condition - The physical state of a coin. Usually indicating the amount of wear
Condition Census - A list of the finest known specimens of a particular variety of coin
Condition Rarity - A term to indicate a common coin that is rare when found in high grades. Also, the rarity level at a particular grade and higher
Conjoined - Joined together, usually used to describe two or more portraits, one behind the other. Examples include coins of William and Mary
Consign - To hand merchandise over to someone you entrust to sell for you
Contact Marks - Small surface scratches or nicks resulting from movement of coins in the same bag or bin
Contemporary counterfeit - A coin, usually base metal, struck from crudely engraved dies and made to pass for face value at the time of its creation. Sometimes such counterfeits are collected along with the genuine coins, especially in the case of American Colonial issues
Copper Nickel (Cupro nichel) - A metal alloy of 88% copper and 12% nickel. This alloy was used for US Flying Eagle and Indian cents from 1856 to the middle of 1864. The alloy caused these small cents to have a pale copper color. Back then people called these cents "white cents" because of their pale color. A few other countries have used some copper nickel alloys of various percentages in their coin production
Copper - A metallic element. Since ancient times, one of the three main metals used for coins, along with gold and silver. It is also used in alloys of both gold and silver, to improve their working properties and their durability. Copper is also used with other base metals to form other alloys, such as bronze and brass, used for coins. Many "copper" coins issued during the past two centuries were actually made of bronze. Recently many "copper" coins have been made of copper plated steel
Coppers - Nick name for older copper coins, particularly the large cents, and half cents
Copy - Refers to a reproduction of a coin or paper note. Some copies may be illegal. Current government regulations require reproductions of US coins and paper money to be much larger or smaller than the original. For copies of tokens and non-US-government coins the "hobby protection act" requires that the item contains the word "copy" or "reproduction" in a readable visible place. Advice: Don't get caught making a copy of something without finding out exactly what is legal
Corrosion - Chemical reaction on the surface of a coin. Corrosion can result from a coin coming in contact with other things (chemicals) including chemicals in the air. This can come about because of things coming in contact with the coin years earlier. Corrosion damages a coins surface and is usually worse in copper, nickel, zinc, and silver coins. Some experts think that toning on the surface of a coin may help slow down this harmful process
Counter - A metallic disc resembling a coin, often used as a token in games of cards
Counterfeit (forgery faux copy) - 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
Counterstamp - A design, group of letters, or other mark stamped on a coin for special identification or advertising purposes. Counterstamped coins are graded the way regular (uncounterstamped) coins are, but the nature and condition of the counterstamp must also be described
Countermark - A mark applied to an older coin to modify its value or validity. A countermark will usually cover only a portion of the original coin, which can therefore clearly still be identified
Crown - A British coin originally valued at five shillings, later 25 pence, and since 1990 £5. Also any crown or dollar sized coins. Named because the original crown coins had a crown as a major part of its design
Crown Size - A coin diameter ranging from 35mm to 40mm
Cud - A raised lump of metal on a coin caused by a piece of a die having broken off; When a coin is struck by a broken die, the place where the die is broken or missing will often show up as extra metal on the surface of a coin. This extra piece of metal or "cud" can be from a piece of the die being missing or a still intact, but moved
Cull - A coin that is extremely worn and/or damaged
Cupro-nickel (or copper-nickel) - An alloy of copper and nickel which is silvery coloured, and since the early 20th century used to replace silver in coins. Examples include the U.S. 5 cent coins (other than half dimes) and Canadian 5 cent coins produced since 1982
Currency - Refers to coins and paper money that are legal tender. However, many people use the word currency for paper money only
