Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 857952 search inquires.

Selected title: Three Cent Piece
Explanation: Common term used for the US coin with the value of three cents. Two different metals were used for these coins back in the 1800's. Prior to 1865 the US made three cent pieces out of an alloy of mostly silver. Hence the name 'three cent silver'. The public complained because the 3 cent silvers were small and thin. By 1865 the US government changed the composition and design of the three cent coins. Three cent nickels were made of 75% copper and 25% nickel from 1865 to 1889. From the looks of the coin you would think it was made out of pure nickel. They were larger and thicker than the three cent silvers. Hence the name 'three cent nickel'.

Most popular coin titles

DefinitionSearchesPercentage
Specimen Proof (SP-70 or PF-70) 52644 14.55%
Silver Clad 30151 8.33%
Coin Silver 22160 6.12%
Slabbed Coins 21032 5.81%
BN 20393 5.64%
Encapsulated Coin 19883 5.49%
RB 18808 5.20%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 16182 4.47%
PF (PF60, PF70) 15687 4.33%
Reeded Edge 14958 4.13%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 14903 4.12%
PQ 13731 3.79%
MS (MS60-MS70) 13595 3.76%
PR (PR60, PR70) 13559 3.75%
Rarity 13192 3.65%
Incuse 12601 3.48%
High Relief 12489 3.45%
Coin drop 12314 3.40%
Reverse Cameo 11846 3.27%
Obverse or Face side 11746 3.25%