Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 terms used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 458098 search inquires.

Selected term: Buffing (whizzed)
Explanation: 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

Most popular coin terms

DefinitionSearchesPercentage
Specimen Proof (SP-70 or PF-70) 29532 13.88%
Silver Clad 22805 10.72%
BN 14206 6.68%
Encapsulated Coin 13358 6.28%
RB 12014 5.65%
Slabbed Coins 10967 5.16%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 10179 4.79%
Coin Silver 9931 4.67%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 9345 4.39%
Reeded Edge 9283 4.36%
PF (PF60, PF70) 8726 4.10%
PQ 7832 3.68%
MS (MS60-MS70) 7665 3.60%
PR (PR60, PR70) 7590 3.57%
High Relief 7484 3.52%
Obverse or Face side 7244 3.41%
Rarity 6330 2.98%
Reverse Cameo 6233 2.93%
Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) 6068 2.85%
Clad Coinage 5900 2.77%