Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 937874 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) 54278  13.96%
Silver Clad 31392  8.08%
Coin Silver 23472  6.04%
Slabbed Coins 22308  5.74%
BN 21849  5.62%
Encapsulated Coin 21107  5.43%
RB 20209  5.20%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 17498  4.50%
PF (PF60, PF70) 17108  4.40%
Reeded Edge 16210  4.17%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 16198  4.17%
PQ 14975  3.85%
PR (PR60, PR70) 14820  3.81%
Rarity 14811  3.81%
MS (MS60-MS70) 14809  3.81%
Incuse 13945  3.59%
High Relief 13696  3.52%
Coin drop 13694  3.52%
Reverse Cameo 13238  3.41%
Obverse or Face side 12969  3.34%