Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 859146 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) 52687 14.54%
Silver Clad 30177 8.33%
Coin Silver 22182 6.12%
Slabbed Coins 21054 5.81%
BN 20413 5.63%
Encapsulated Coin 19907 5.49%
RB 18831 5.20%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 16208 4.47%
PF (PF60, PF70) 15708 4.33%
Reeded Edge 14979 4.13%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 14927 4.12%
PQ 13750 3.79%
MS (MS60-MS70) 13624 3.76%
PR (PR60, PR70) 13585 3.75%
Rarity 13217 3.65%
Incuse 12624 3.48%
High Relief 12511 3.45%
Coin drop 12342 3.40%
Reverse Cameo 11867 3.27%
Obverse or Face side 11768 3.25%