Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1086682 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) 55768  13.42%
Silver Clad 32683  7.87%
Coin Silver 24751  5.96%
Slabbed Coins 23660  5.69%
BN 23259  5.60%
Encapsulated Coin 22200  5.34%
RB 21679  5.22%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18662  4.49%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18649  4.49%
Reeded Edge 17490  4.21%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17310  4.17%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16560  3.99%
Rarity 16488  3.97%
PQ 16237  3.91%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15955  3.84%
Incuse 15250  3.67%
Coin drop 15072  3.63%
High Relief 14898  3.59%
Reverse Cameo 14618  3.52%
Obverse or Face side 14314  3.44%