Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1090833 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) 55783  13.33%
Silver Clad 32700  7.82%
Coin Silver 24761  5.92%
Slabbed Coins 23677  5.66%
BN 23274  5.56%
Encapsulated Coin 22212  5.31%
RB 21701  5.19%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18683  4.47%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18675  4.46%
Reeded Edge 17505  4.18%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17327  4.14%
Obverse or Face side 16791  4.01%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16589  3.97%
Rarity 16516  3.95%
PQ 16252  3.88%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15967  3.82%
Incuse 15273  3.65%
Coin drop 15094  3.61%
High Relief 14921  3.57%
Reverse Cameo 14638  3.50%