Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1038479 search inquires.

Selected title: 1-O-V or 2-R-III or similar
Explanation: These odd looking notations look complicated but are actually quite simple. They are used as a numbering system for doubled die coins. The first number is the number assigned to the die. The letter in the middle will be either an 'O' (obverse), or 'R' (reverse). The third item is the class number, i.e. the type or cause of the doubling. It is noted by using Roman numerals I thru VIII. Other notations that may be used are MD for master die, MH for modified hub, Pr for proof coin, (3) for tripled die, and (4) for quadrupled die. EXAMPLE: 1963D 1? 1-O-VII tells us that the coin is a One Cent piece dated 1963, struck in Denver, die #1, the doubling is on the obverse, and is a class VII variety

Most popular coin titles

DefinitionSearchesPercentage
Specimen Proof (SP-70 or PF-70) 55284 13.59%
Silver Clad 32222 7.92%
Coin Silver 24318 5.98%
Slabbed Coins 23238 5.71%
BN 22809 5.61%
Encapsulated Coin 21830 5.37%
RB 21271 5.23%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18283 4.50%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18004 4.43%
Reeded Edge 17062 4.20%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 16926 4.16%
PR (PR60, PR70) 15995 3.93%
Rarity 15978 3.93%
PQ 15823 3.89%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15573 3.83%
Incuse 14881 3.66%
Coin drop 14616 3.59%
High Relief 14500 3.57%
Reverse Cameo 14188 3.49%
Obverse or Face side 13921 3.42%