Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1141988 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) 56227 13.18%
Silver Clad 33109 7.76%
Coin Silver 25203 5.91%
Slabbed Coins 24116 5.65%
BN 23654 5.54%
Encapsulated Coin 22602 5.30%
RB 22118 5.18%
PF (PF60, PF70) 19094 4.48%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 19013 4.46%
Reeded Edge 17920 4.20%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17711 4.15%
PR (PR60, PR70) 17129 4.01%
Obverse or Face side 17125 4.01%
Rarity 17026 3.99%
PQ 16648 3.90%
MS (MS60-MS70) 16317 3.82%
Incuse 15687 3.68%
Coin drop 15559 3.65%
High Relief 15296 3.59%
Reverse Cameo 15054 3.53%