Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1038177 search inquires.

Random title: Burnishing
Explanation: 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

Most popular coin titles

DefinitionSearchesPercentage
Specimen Proof (SP-70 or PF-70) 55283 13.59%
Silver Clad 32219 7.92%
Coin Silver 24314 5.98%
Slabbed Coins 23237 5.71%
BN 22803 5.61%
Encapsulated Coin 21829 5.37%
RB 21270 5.23%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18281 4.50%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18002 4.43%
Reeded Edge 17060 4.19%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 16924 4.16%
PR (PR60, PR70) 15994 3.93%
Rarity 15975 3.93%
PQ 15818 3.89%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15572 3.83%
Incuse 14880 3.66%
Coin drop 14613 3.59%
High Relief 14498 3.56%
Reverse Cameo 14182 3.49%
Obverse or Face side 13921 3.42%