Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 669040 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) 38159 13.15%
Silver Clad 27266 9.39%
Coin Silver 19454 6.70%
BN 17264 5.95%
Encapsulated Coin 16675 5.74%
Slabbed Coins 16588 5.71%
RB 15897 5.48%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 12982 4.47%
PF (PF60, PF70) 12702 4.38%
Reeded Edge 12413 4.28%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 12124 4.18%
PQ 10871 3.75%
MS (MS60-MS70) 10826 3.73%
PR (PR60, PR70) 10697 3.69%
High Relief 10021 3.45%
Incuse 10000 3.44%
Coin drop 9364 3.23%
Obverse or Face side 9294 3.20%
Rarity 9269 3.19%
Reverse Cameo 8395 2.89%