Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1137258 search inquires.

Selected title: Breast feathers
Explanation: The central feathers seen on numerous eagle designs. Fully struck coins usually command a premium and the breast feathers are usually the highest point of the reverse. (They are the most deeply recessed area of the die, so metal sometimes does not completely fill the breast feather area, usually because of insufficient striking pressure. Incorrectly spaced or lapped dies will also cause 'striking' weakness)

Most popular coin titles

DefinitionSearchesPercentage
Specimen Proof (SP-70 or PF-70) 56187 13.19%
Silver Clad 33068 7.77%
Coin Silver 25154 5.91%
Slabbed Coins 24080 5.65%
BN 23615 5.55%
Encapsulated Coin 22563 5.30%
RB 22073 5.18%
PF (PF60, PF70) 19063 4.48%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18987 4.46%
Reeded Edge 17884 4.20%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17680 4.15%
Obverse or Face side 17096 4.01%
PR (PR60, PR70) 17087 4.01%
Rarity 16974 3.99%
PQ 16609 3.90%
MS (MS60-MS70) 16293 3.83%
Incuse 15642 3.67%
Coin drop 15508 3.64%
High Relief 15258 3.58%
Reverse Cameo 15012 3.53%