Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1080880 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) 55686  13.45%
Silver Clad 32599  7.87%
Coin Silver 24692  5.96%
Slabbed Coins 23585  5.70%
BN 23180  5.60%
Encapsulated Coin 22146  5.35%
RB 21616  5.22%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18611  4.49%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18529  4.47%
Reeded Edge 17430  4.21%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17253  4.17%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16472  3.98%
Rarity 16405  3.96%
PQ 16174  3.91%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15893  3.84%
Incuse 15192  3.67%
Coin drop 15001  3.62%
High Relief 14839  3.58%
Reverse Cameo 14546  3.51%
Obverse or Face side 14247  3.44%