Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1058143 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) 55472  13.54%
Silver Clad 32376  7.90%
Coin Silver 24480  5.97%
Slabbed Coins 23380  5.71%
BN 22968  5.61%
Encapsulated Coin 21961  5.36%
RB 21417  5.23%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18429  4.50%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18142  4.43%
Reeded Edge 17229  4.20%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17059  4.16%
Rarity 16181  3.95%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16156  3.94%
PQ 15966  3.90%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15711  3.83%
Incuse 15008  3.66%
Coin drop 14790  3.61%
High Relief 14646  3.57%
Reverse Cameo 14318  3.49%
Obverse or Face side 14066  3.43%