Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1081770 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) 55691  13.44%
Silver Clad 32604  7.87%
Coin Silver 24699  5.96%
Slabbed Coins 23592  5.70%
BN 23189  5.60%
Encapsulated Coin 22151  5.35%
RB 21626  5.22%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18615  4.49%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18536  4.47%
Reeded Edge 17438  4.21%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17258  4.17%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16478  3.98%
Rarity 16412  3.96%
PQ 16178  3.91%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15899  3.84%
Incuse 15201  3.67%
Coin drop 15009  3.62%
High Relief 14842  3.58%
Reverse Cameo 14555  3.51%
Obverse or Face side 14253  3.44%