Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 857758 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) 52630  14.55%
Silver Clad 30147  8.33%
Coin Silver 22156  6.12%
Slabbed Coins 21026  5.81%
BN 20390  5.64%
Encapsulated Coin 19880  5.49%
RB 18805  5.20%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 16172  4.47%
PF (PF60, PF70) 15681  4.33%
Reeded Edge 14951  4.13%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 14897  4.12%
PQ 13727  3.79%
MS (MS60-MS70) 13591  3.76%
PR (PR60, PR70) 13554  3.75%
Rarity 13182  3.64%
Incuse 12597  3.48%
High Relief 12484  3.45%
Coin drop 12308  3.40%
Reverse Cameo 11840  3.27%
Obverse or Face side 11741  3.25%