Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1147149 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) 56274 13.16%
Silver Clad 33154 7.75%
Coin Silver 25247 5.91%
Slabbed Coins 24161 5.65%
BN 23694 5.54%
Encapsulated Coin 22647 5.30%
RB 22169 5.19%
PF (PF60, PF70) 19140 4.48%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 19044 4.45%
Reeded Edge 17964 4.20%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17754 4.15%
PR (PR60, PR70) 17172 4.02%
Obverse or Face side 17165 4.02%
Rarity 17076 3.99%
PQ 16685 3.90%
MS (MS60-MS70) 16353 3.83%
Incuse 15727 3.68%
Coin drop 15614 3.65%
High Relief 15342 3.59%
Reverse Cameo 15104 3.53%