Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1144158 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) 56253 13.18%
Silver Clad 33125 7.76%
Coin Silver 25218 5.91%
Slabbed Coins 24131 5.65%
BN 23672 5.54%
Encapsulated Coin 22618 5.30%
RB 22142 5.19%
PF (PF60, PF70) 19106 4.47%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 19022 4.46%
Reeded Edge 17936 4.20%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17722 4.15%
PR (PR60, PR70) 17146 4.02%
Obverse or Face side 17139 4.01%
Rarity 17044 3.99%
PQ 16666 3.90%
MS (MS60-MS70) 16326 3.82%
Incuse 15698 3.68%
Coin drop 15577 3.65%
High Relief 15307 3.59%
Reverse Cameo 15072 3.53%