Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1131292 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) 56134  13.21%
Silver Clad 33020  7.77%
Coin Silver 25106  5.91%
Slabbed Coins 24027  5.66%
BN 23568  5.55%
Encapsulated Coin 22516  5.30%
RB 22022  5.18%
PF (PF60, PF70) 19003  4.47%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18947  4.46%
Reeded Edge 17835  4.20%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17632  4.15%
Obverse or Face side 17055  4.01%
PR (PR60, PR70) 17018  4.01%
Rarity 16908  3.98%
PQ 16560  3.90%
MS (MS60-MS70) 16251  3.82%
Incuse 15597  3.67%
Coin drop 15460  3.64%
High Relief 15214  3.58%
Reverse Cameo 14964  3.52%