Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1065413 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) 55537  13.51%
Silver Clad 32447  7.89%
Coin Silver 24553  5.97%
Slabbed Coins 23444  5.70%
BN 23020  5.60%
Encapsulated Coin 22019  5.36%
RB 21484  5.23%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18492  4.50%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18300  4.45%
Reeded Edge 17298  4.21%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17129  4.17%
Rarity 16241  3.95%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16225  3.95%
PQ 16040  3.90%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15771  3.84%
Incuse 15065  3.66%
Coin drop 14866  3.62%
High Relief 14719  3.58%
Reverse Cameo 14386  3.50%
Obverse or Face side 14129  3.44%