Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1129227 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) 56108  13.22%
Silver Clad 33000  7.77%
Coin Silver 25088  5.91%
Slabbed Coins 24010  5.66%
BN 23555  5.55%
Encapsulated Coin 22503  5.30%
RB 22009  5.18%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18986  4.47%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18937  4.46%
Reeded Edge 17821  4.20%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17619  4.15%
Obverse or Face side 17042  4.01%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16998  4.00%
Rarity 16880  3.98%
PQ 16546  3.90%
MS (MS60-MS70) 16239  3.83%
Incuse 15581  3.67%
Coin drop 15441  3.64%
High Relief 15197  3.58%
Reverse Cameo 14944  3.52%