Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1083218 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) 55704  13.44%
Silver Clad 32639  7.87%
Coin Silver 24711  5.96%
Slabbed Coins 23612  5.70%
BN 23208  5.60%
Encapsulated Coin 22165  5.35%
RB 21638  5.22%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18627  4.49%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18567  4.48%
Reeded Edge 17448  4.21%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17274  4.17%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16493  3.98%
Rarity 16434  3.96%
PQ 16193  3.91%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15911  3.84%
Incuse 15213  3.67%
Coin drop 15023  3.62%
High Relief 14856  3.58%
Reverse Cameo 14572  3.51%
Obverse or Face side 14265  3.44%