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Numismatic terminology
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This article is a collection of concise Numismatic
and coin collecting terms for the beginner or professional.
Numismatics (ancient Greek: νομισματική)
is the scientific study of money and its history in all its
varied forms. While numismatists are often characterized as
studying coins, the discipline also includes the study of
banknotes, stock certificates, medals, medallions, and tokens
(also referred to as Exonumia).
Sub-fields or related fields of numismatics are:
Exonumia - is the study of coin-like objects
such as token coins and medals, and other items used in
place of legal currency or for commemoration.
Notaphily - is the study of paper money
or banknotes.
Scripophily - is the study and collection
of stocks and bonds.
A
[ top ]
Adjustment The filing down of a blank
to the correct weight before striking, shown by file marks.
Alliance coinage Coins minted by
two or more state governments in conjunction.
Alloy Homogeneous mixture of two or
more elements, where the resulting compound has metallic properties.
Altered Date False date put on a
coin to defraud collectors, usually to make it appear more
valuable. Usually easily spotted with the aid of a magnifying
glass.
Anepigraphic coin Coin without an
inscription.
Annealing Process of heating and
cooling metal in order to relieve stresses.
Assay Test to ascertain the weight
and purity of a coin.
Attribution Identifier of a coin
such as date, mint, or denomination.
B
[ top ]
Bag Mark Surface mark, or nick, on
a coin usually from contact with other coins in a mint bag.
More often seen on large gold or silver coins.
Banker's Mark A small countermark
applied to a coin by a bank or a trader indicating that they
consider the coin to be genuine and of legal weight. Most
often found on ancient and medieval coins, but most commonly
on silver coins which circulated in China, where they are
referred to as chop-marks.
Base metal Non-precious metal or
alloy containing no gold or silver.
Beading Raised dot border along the
rim of a coin.
Billon Low-grade alloy of gold or
silver with a high percentage of another metal, usually copper.
Bi-metallic A coin with one type of
metal in the center with an outer ring of a different metal,
such as the Canadian "toonie" two-dollar coin.
Blank Prepared disk of metal on which
the coin design will be stamped. Also called a 'planchet'.
In practice, 'Blank' is also referred to un-struck side of
the coin.
Brass Copper based alloy with zinc.
Brockage Originally metal wasted in
coin production, now coins struck when the previous coin remained
stuck to a die, creating an incuse impression in the next
struck coin (primarily found in ancient coins).
Bronze Copper based alloy with tin.
Bullion Precious metals (platinum,
gold and silver) in the form of bars, ingots or plate, or
where quantity is considered as a valuation.
Business Strike A coin intended for
everyday use in commerce.
C
[ top ]
Carat Unit measurement of the weight
of precious stones. Usually marked 'c' or 'car'. 1 carat =
200 milligrams. Not to be confused with 'Karat' used with
gold.
Cast Coins Coins produced by pouring
metal into a mold. Used for the first Ancient Roman bronze
"As" coins and Chinese "cash" coins, but
rarely used today.
Centum One one-hundredth of the basic
monetary unit from Latin, English cent, Romance languages
centavos, centimos, centesimos or centimes usually one hundredth
of a base unit like dollar, euro, peso etc.
Certified Coin Coin that has been
graded and authenticated by one of numerous independent grading
services.
Circulated Term used to indicate
a coin that has wear.
Clad Coinage Issues of coins that
contain a center core and outer layer of differing alloys.
Collar Outer ring of the die chamber
that holds the blank in place while the obverse and reverse
are being stamped.
Contact Marks Minor abrasions on
uncirculated coinage from contact with other coins.
Countermark or Counterstamp Partial
or complete over-stamping of a coin or token in order to change
its value or issuing authority, or to display an advertisement,
political slogan or symbol, etc. Stamping may consist of a
number (value), symbol (authority), letters (advertisement
or slogan), or any combination of the above.
Crown Large coin often struck in
precious metal. Modern crowns are usually not highly-circulated.
The United States's last crown-sized coin for circulation
was the Eisenhower Dollar, last struck in 1978.
D
[ top ]
Debase To lower the silver/gold value
of the coin by altering its purity, but with the same market
value as the pure coin.
Denticles Small toothlike projecting
points on the inside edge of coins.
Designer Artist or creator of a coin's
design.
Device Pattern or emblem used in the
design of a coin.
Die Metal piece engraved with the
design used for stamping the coin.
Die Clash Caused when a blank coin
planchet fails to be placed between two dies during the minting
process, causing the empty dies to smash together. The design
of one or both may impress into the opposite die, causing
a "shadow" of the design to appear on subsequent
coins minted with the damaged dies. The impact of the two
dies may also result in die cracks or defects.
Die Crack Fine raised line on a coin
that was caused by a crack in the die.
Die Defect Imperfection of various
sorts caused by a damaged die. May refer to a crack or clash
or a chip out of the die, etc.
Die Variety Minor alteration in the
basic design of a coin throughout its lifespan.
Dipped, Dipping Chemical cleaning
of a coin with a diluted acid. Common in the 1960s and '70's
but it was discovered that dipping destroys the surface of
the coin, thus dramatically reducing the coin's value.
Double Eagle (U.S.A) United States
gold $20 coin.
 Double
strike coin where a die struck, bounced, then
struck again, offset from first strike (used for ancient coins
where hubs were not used).
Double Die Die that received two
misaligned impressions from a hub; more commonly, a coin struck
by such a die.
Doubloon Popular name of a Spanish
gold coin originally valued at 4 dollars.
Dump (Australia) Centre of the holey
dollar with a value of fifteen pence.
E
[ top ]
Eagle (U.S.A) United States $10.00
gold coin as well as all bullion pieces made from 1986 through
the present.
Edge Rim of a coin often containing
a series of reeds, lettering or other decoration.
Ecu Large French silver coin made
during the end of the monarchy. Also proposed European currency
unit.
Effigy The image or likeness of a
person, usually on the obverse of a coin or medal.
Electrotype Reproduction made by electrodeposition
frequently used in museum displays.
Electrum Naturally or artificially
occurring mixture of gold and silver used in some of the world's
first coinage.
Elongated coin An oval medalet produced
by a roller die using a coin, token or medal as a planchet,
usually a cent.
Encapsulated Coins Authenticated,
graded and preserved in plastic by an independent service.
Engraver Person who cuts the image of a design onto
a die.
Error Usually a mis-made coin not
intended for circulation, but can also refer to an engraving
or die-cutting error not discovered until the coins are released
to circulation. The mis-made coin errors are usually unique,
but the engraving errors appear on all of the coins produced
until the error is corrected.
Essai, Essay A trial strike, also
in currency a strike intended to test the design.
Exergue A segment of the coin design
separated by a line (usually indicating the ground in the
design) in which a legend is placed/inscribed.
F
[ top ]
Fantasy Generally a representation
of a rare or never issued coin.
Field Background area of a coin not
used for a design or inscription.
Filler Coin that is very worn but
rare enough for inclusion in a collection.
Fineness Purity of precious metal
content expressed in terms of one thousand parts. 90% is expressed
as .900 fine.
Flan Blank metal piece before striking,
also called a planchet or blank.
Fleur de coin (FDC) Coin of exceptionally
high quality, where quality is determined not just by wear
of the coin in circulation but also by the wear and artistic
quality of the dies from which it was minted. These factors
are crucial for ancient coinage where variability was higher
than in modern mints.
G
[ top ]
Gem Coin of exceptionally high condition.
Grade The condition of a coin or amount
of wear that a coin has received. Common grade terms, from
worst to best, are About Good (AG), Good (G), Very Good (VG),
Fine (F), Very Fine (VF), Extra/Extremely Fine (EF), Almost
Uncirculated (AU), Uncirculated (UNC), and Brilliant Uncirculated
(BU).
H
[ top ]
Hub Positive-image punch that impress'
the coins design onto a die.
Holey dollar (Australia) Spanish dollar
with a hole in centre, stamped with New South Wales 1813
on obverse and five shilling on reverse.
I
[ top ]
Incuse Part of the coins design that
has been impressed below the surface (intaglio).
Ingot Mass of pure metal from a mould
with a certain value and purity.
Inscription Lettering and wording
on a coin.
Intrinsic Value Current market value
of the raw precious metal content of a coin.
K
[ top ]
Karat Unit measurement of the purity
of gold. Usually marked 'K', or 'k'. 24K = pure gold, 18K
= .750 fine. Not to be confused with 'Carat' used with precious
stones. Note that both originally referred to the seed of
the carob tree ('Ceratonia siliqua' or 'Siliqua Graeca').
A Roman coin called the solidus weighed 24 'carats' or 'siliquae',
1/6th of a scruple; this became the standard in purity in
western Europe.
Key Coin Rarest or highest valued
coin within a series.
L
[ top ]
Laureate Head crowned with a laurel
wreath.
Legal Tender Coins or currency which
must be accepted in payment of debt.
Legend Principle inscription on a
coin.
Lettered Edge The outside edge of
a coin containing an inscription.
Low Relief A coin with the raised
design not very high above the field.
Luster Appearance of a coin's ability
to reflect light; brilliance.
M
[ top ]
Master die Original die from which
working dies are made.
Medal-coin; See also NCLT.
Milled Edge Raised rim around the
outer surface of a coin.
 Mint
Error Defective coin produced by a mint.
Mint Luster Shiny "frost"
on the surface of an uncirculated or mint coin.
Mint Mark Small letter (or other
symbol) indicating which mint the coin was struck at.
Mint Roll Uncirculated coins set
wrapped by issuing authority of a certain quantity.
Mint Set Set of uncirculated coins
packaged and sold by the mint.
Mis-strike Off centre striking of
a coin.
Monster Box Large plastic shipping
boxes for silver bullion coins, holding 500 coins. US Silver
Eagles are shipped in green monster boxes while Maple Leafs
are shipped in red monster boxes.
Motto Inspirational phrase or wording.
Examples include "In God we Trust" on US coins or
"Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite" on French coins.
Mule Coin struck from two dies not
intended to be used together.
N
[ top ]
NCLT Non circulating legal tender. 1
commemorative coins, 2 old coins, 3 rare coins, 4 restricted
coins.
O
[ top ]
Obverse Front or face side
of coin.
Overdate Shown date made by superimposing
numbers on a previously dated die.
Over Graded Coin in worse condition
than stated.
Overstrike Impression with new dies
on a previously struck coin.
P
[ top ]
Pattern The term "pattern"
is used in numismatic world, to describe any coin minted from
official dies that is not a regular emission, and intended to
check or try out new metals, way of design or plan of coinage.
Patterns can be divided in three categories:
Pattern: A coin which represents a new design, motto,
or denomination, proposed but not adopted, at least for the
same year. Most of the unadopted designs fit into this modality.
Die Trials: Coins made with the regular issue dies,
in metals other than the proper. Usually minted to verify
details of a new coin, value or design.
Experimental Pieces: Very similar process to "Die
Trials", but with subtle differences. A coin minted with
a die, official or not, to try a new metal, alloy, or shape.
Patina Surface film caused by oxidation,
usually green or brown, mostly found on older silver, copper
or bronze coins.
Pedigree Record of previous owners
of a rare coin.
Piefort A piece struck on a planchet
twice or more the normal thickness. The French spelling used
in Europe is piedfort.
Planchet Blank prepared piece of metal
on which the coin is struck.
Privy Small mark, often hidden, on
a coin, traditionally to indicate the mintmaster or moneyer.
Proclamation Coins Coins declared
legal tender even though they are not issued by the sovereign,
but by another sovereign.
Proof Coins specially struck for collectors
using polished dies and planchets.
Proof Set Set of proof coins packaged
and sold by the mint.
Punch Mark Coin struck from 'punching'
the coin with symbols or seal. Ex: Five Punch Marked coins
of ancient India. Punch Marks generally represent animals,
tree, hills, and human figures. These coins were issued by
royal authority and generally marked with banker's punches
on the reverse.
Q
[ top ]
Quarter (U.S.A./Canada) United States
or Canada $0.25 coin. Short for Quarter Dollar.
Quarter Eagle (U.S.A) United States
$2.50 coin.
R
[ top ]
Raw Coin that has not been encapsulated
by any coin grading service.
Reeded Edge Edge of a coin with grooved
lines around the perimeter. Also known as a milled edge.
Relief Part of the coin's design that
is raised above the field.
Re-strike Coin struck from genuine
dies at a date later than the original issue.
Reverse Back side of the coin. Opposite
of 'Obverse'.
Rim Raised portion of the design along
the edge that protects the coin from wear.
Round Round one ounce silver bullion
piece.
S
[ top ]
Series Set of years coin was minted
with a specific design and denomination.
Scruple One Roman scruple = 1/24 Roman
uncia; the modern (nominal) estimate of the weight of the
Roman scruple is 1.125 g.
Slab Plastic case containing a coin
that has been graded and encapsulated.
Spanish dollar Coin issued in Spain
and its colonies from 1497 to 1864. Equal to 8 Reals. Also
known as a 'Piece of Eight'.
Spot Price Quoted market value of
precious metals in bullion form.
Stainless Steel A combination of
iron, carbon and another element, usually nickel, to prevent
rusting.
T
[ top ]
Token Privately-issued piece that has
redeemable value for goods or services, but not an official
government coin.
Trade Dollar Silver dollar issued
specifically for trade with a foreign country.
Truncation Sharply cut off bottom
edge of a portrait or bust.
Type Coin's basic distinguishing
design.
Type Set One of each coin of a particular
design, series or period.
U
[ top ]
Uncirculated Coin that has never been
used, thus retaining its original luster.
Uniface A coin struck with the design
on one side only.
Union A proposed United States gold
coin worth one hundred dollars. Only one pattern 'half union'
is known to exist. Platinum $100 coins are not technically
'unions'.
Unique Item of which only one is known
to exist.
Upset A coin struck which the obverse
and reverse are at different angles to each other.
V
[ top ]
Variety Coin's design that sets it apart
from the normal issue.
Y
[ top ]
Year Set Set of coins for any specific
year containing one of each denomination of that year.
This
glossary is available under the terms
of the GNU Free Documentation
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