Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 905426 search inquires.

Selected title: First Strike
Explanation: An unofficial term referring to a coin struck shortly after a new die is put into use. Such coins often have prooffike surfaces and resemble proof, in certain (but not all) characteristics. Resurfaced previously-used dies sometimes also have these characteristics
Explanation: A grading service term used by PCGS, NGC, and other grading services. It indicates the coin was in one of the first groups of coins shipped by the US mint. PCGS and NGC will seal the coin in their "First Strike" plastic slab holder with the words " First Strike" inside the PCGS holder

Most popular coin titles

DefinitionSearchesPercentage
Specimen Proof (SP-70 or PF-70) 53761  14.19%
Silver Clad 30955  8.17%
Coin Silver 22997  6.07%
Slabbed Coins 21837  5.76%
BN 21299  5.62%
Encapsulated Coin 20649  5.45%
RB 19689  5.20%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 17021  4.49%
PF (PF60, PF70) 16609  4.38%
Reeded Edge 15746  4.15%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 15720  4.15%
PQ 14507  3.83%
MS (MS60-MS70) 14373  3.79%
PR (PR60, PR70) 14336  3.78%
Rarity 14226  3.75%
Incuse 13435  3.54%
Coin drop 13232  3.49%
High Relief 13225  3.49%
Reverse Cameo 12700  3.35%
Obverse or Face side 12520  3.30%