Glossary of Terms

AG (about good): the grade of a coin that is very heavily worn

American Numismatic Association (ANA): nonprofit educational organization that encourages the study of money throughout the world

ANACS: an independent coin grading service

annulet: a small ring, such as is found under the cross on the obverse of the shield nickel

AU (about uncirculated): the grade of a coin that may appear uncirculated, but has traces of light wear

annealing: the heating of a die or planchet to soften the metal before preparation of the die or striking of the coin

assay: to analyze and determine the characteristics and composition of a metal

attributes: the elements of a coin that help determine grade, such as marks, luster, strike and eye appeal

bag mark: a mark on a coin from contact with other coins in a US Mint bag

blank: the blank, flat piece of metal on which a coin design is struck (identical to planchet)

blundered die: a die with a grossly mispunched number(s) or letter(s), such as the 1897 Indian Cent with the part of a "1" protruding from Liberty's neck.

BN (brown): a term applied to a copper coin without the original red color of copper

BU (brilliant uncirculated): the grade of a coin without any signs of wear that has never been in circulation (identical to mint state or uncirculated)

bullion: gold or silver in the form of coins, bars or ingots

burnishing: a process in which the surfaces of a planchet or coin are made to shine through rubbing or polishing

business strike: a coin produced for general circulation, unlike a proof coin, which is specifically produced for collectors

bust: the device or design on a coin representing the head, neck and sometimes the shoulder of a person or personification of a person (such as Liberty)

CAM (cameo): a term applied to a proof coin that has frosted devices and lettering that contrast with the fields

carbon spot: a brown to black spot of oxidation on the surface of a coin

cartwheel: an effect seen on some coins under a bright light source, where the luster rotates like the spokes of a wagon wheel

circulated: a coin with any type of wear

clad coin: a coin that has an outer layer of one metal that is bonded to a core of a different metal

clash: the term used to refer to the upper and lower dies coming together without a planchet between them. In most cases, portions of the designs on each die transfer to the other die and all coins struck by those dies will exhibit these marks until they are polished off, worn away, or the die(s) retired

cleaned: a term applied to a coin whose original surface has been altered or removed

CN (copper nickel): an alloy of copper and nickel used in early cents and nickels

coin: a flat piece of metal issued by a governmental authority as money

commemorative: a special coin or medal issued to honor an outstanding person, place, or event in history

condition: The physical state of a coin 

corrosion: damage resulting from reactive chemicals upon metals 

counterfeit: a fake piece of currency made to appear genuine

cud: an area of a coin struck by a die that has a complete break across part of its surface

currency: any kind of money used as a medium of exchange

DCAM (deep cameo): a term applied to a proof coin that has deeply frosted devices and lettering that contrast with the fields

DDO (doubled die obverse): an obverse die which exhibits doubled images in one or more places

DDR (doubled die reverse): A reverse die which exhibits doubled images in one or more places.

denomination: the value assigned by a governmental authority to a specific coin, such as cent, nickel, dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar

dentils: the toothlike devices around the rim of many coins 

device: a specific design element on a coin

die: an engraved stamp used for impressing a design on a blank piece of metal to produce a coin

die break: a defect in a die that has cracked during use and impacts the strike of a coin

die markers: characteristics on a coin's surface which were transferred directly form the die. These assist in identifying the variety from other similar coins

die variety: a coin of a certain type or design which is recognizably different from others of the same date and/or mintmark.

designer: an artist who creates a coin design ding: a small to medium size mark on a coin

dipped: a term for a coin that has been placed in a mild acid wash solution to remove toning

DMPL (deep mirror prooflike): a term applied to a coin with deeply reflective mirrorlike fields

doubled die: a die that has been struck more than once by a hub in misaligned positions, resulting in the doubling of design elements

double struck: a coin that has not been ejected from the dies and is struck a second time

edge: the "third side" of a coin that may be plain, reeded or ornamented 

EF (extremely fine): the grade of a coin that is slightly worn with sharp and well defined features

engraver: an artist who sculpts a model of a coin design

environmental damage: damage to a coin that results from exposure to the elements

EPU (E Pluribus Unum): the motto appearing on most U.S. coinage. Roughly translated from the Latin to mean "From Many, One."

error coin: an improperly produced coin that was overlooked in production and released into circulation

F (fine): the grade of a coin that has moderate to considerable even wear throughout 

fasces: a Roman symbol of authority used on the reverse side of a Mercury dime, with a bundle of rods wrapped around an ax with a protruding blade

FB (full bands): a term used for a Mercury dime where the central bands of the fasces on the reverse side are fully separated

FBL (full bell lines): a term used for a Franklin half dollar where the lower set of lines on the Liberty Bell are fully visible

FH (full head): a term used for a Standing Liberty quarter where the helmet on Miss Liberty's head has full detail 

field: the area of a coin's surface with no design or inscription

first strike: a coin struck early in the life of a die 

flip: a clear plastic coin holder 

frost: a crystallized-metal effect visible in the recessed areas of a die

frosted devices: raised elements on coins struck with treated dies that have frost in their recessed areas

FS (full steps): a term used for a Jefferson nickel where 5 1/2 or 6 steps are fully defined on the portrait of Monticello

G (good): the grade of a coin that is heavily worn with the design visible but faint in areas 

gem: a generic term used for a superb coin

grade: a rating that indicates the amount of wear and preservation of a coin

hairline: a thin line or scratch on a coin that may result from cleaning or polishing

haze: a cloudy film visible on the surface of a coin

holder: any device for housing a coin 

hub: the steel device from which a die is produced

ICG (Independent Coin Graders): an independent coin grading service

IGWT: abbreviation for "In God We Trust."

incuse: the part of a coin's design that is pressed into the surface 

inscription: the words stamped on a coin or medal

key date: a scarce date usually required to complete a coin collection

large date: description of the date on some coins which is larger than the intended date. In most of these cases, the incorrect logo date punch was used, such as a dime punch on a half dime

legal tender: all currency issued by a governmental authority as official money

legend: lettering on a coin's surface other than the denomination and issuing country

Lg: abbreviation for Large, generally referring to a date or mintmark.

loupe: a magnifying glass used to examine coins

luster: the amount and strength of light reflected from the surface of a coin 

lustrous: a term used to describe the original mint luster on a coin

Matte Proof: an experimental proof strike with sandblasted or acid-pickled surfaces

medal: a metal coinlike item issued by a governmental authority to recognize an event, place, person or group 

mint: a facility where coins are produced under governmental authority

mintage: the total number of coins produced at a specific mint in a specific year 

mint mark: a small letter on a coin that identifies the US Mint facility where the coin was struck 

mint set: a complete set of coins of each denomination produced by a mint 

mint state (MS): a coin without any signs of wear that has never been in circulation (identical to brilliant uncirculated or uncirculated)

mottled: uneven toning characterized by splotchy areas of drab colors

motto: a word or phrase on a coin that expresses a guiding principle

MS (mint state): a coin without any signs of wear that has never been in circulation (identical to brilliant uncirculated or uncirculated)

NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation): an independent coin grading service 

numismatics: the study or collection of coins, tokens, paper money and medals

obverse: the front or "heads" side of a coin

off-center: a coin that is struck off-center by a coin press and is missing portions of its design

OMM (over mintmark): One mintmark over a different one, such as a"D/S, O/CC."

original roll: coins in fixed quantities, wrapped in paper and stored at the time of issuance

overdate: a date on a coin over a different date. May be one or more different numbers

overstrike: a coin produced over a previously struck coin 

pattern: an experimental coin usually used to test a new design or composition

PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service): an independent coin grading service

PL (prooflike): a term used for a business strike Morgan dollar with a mirror-like surface 

planchet: the blank, flat piece of metal on which a coin design is struck (identical to blank)

PQ (premium quality): a term applied to coins that are the finest examples within a particular grade

PR (proof): a coin produced for collectors from highly polished planchets and dies, often struck twice to accent the design

pristine: a term applied to coins in original, unimpaired condition

prooflike: a term used to describe the mirror-like surfaces on business strike coins that resemble proof coins 

proof set: a complete set of proof coins of each denomination produced by a mint

PUP (Pick up point): The specific area on a coin where first to look to try to find a given variety. This could be the motto, the date, the profile, etc.

punch: the narrow tool used to punch a device into a die, usually a mintmark or date, or a portion of a date

PVC: a chemical used in coin flips (polyvinyl chloride)

rarity scale: an educated guess or estimate of the surviving specimens of any given coin or variety

raw: a coin that has not been encapsulated by a grading service

RB (red brown): a term applied to a copper coin that has between 5% - 95% of its original color remaining

RD (red): a term applied to a copper coin that has maintained 95% or more of its original color

reeded edge: the lines or "ribs" on a coin's edge which are produced at the time of striking by the collar (a steel ring used to retain the planchet in the striking chamber and on the lower die during the striking process)

relief: the part of a coin's design that is raised above the surface opposite of incused.

replica: a copy or reproduction of a coin 

restrike: a coin that is minted using the original dies, but at a later date 

reverse: the back or "tails" side of a coin

riddler: a machine that screens out blanks or planchets that are the wrong size or shape

rim: the area on the obverse and reverse of a coin where the border meets the edge. A part of the obverse and reverse die design

roll: a package of a specific number of coins by denomination

series: a collection of coins that contains all dates and mint marks of a specific design and denomination 

sheldon scale: the numeric grading system from 1 through 70 that was devised by Dr. William Sheldon in 1948 for Large Cents and later adopted by the coin industry for all coins

slab: a permanent protective coin encapsulation provided by independent grading services that indicates the date, mint mark and grade of a coin

slider: a term used for an AU (about uncirculated) coin that looks like or is sold as an uncirculated coin

Sm (Small): generally refers to a date or mintmark

small date: several U.S. coins have both "regular" and "small" dates of the same year, such as the 1960 cent issues

small mintmark: a mintmark which is smaller in relation to the normal size used for that year. A large mintmark is just the opposite

SMS (special mint set): a set of coins, neither business strike nor proof, that was struck by the US Mint between 1965-1967 to replace proof sets

strike: the process of stamping a coin blank or planchet with a design

surface(s): the entire area of a coin, although often used to indicate the field areas only

toning: the coloration changes of a coin caused by the reactive metal composition

TDO (tripled die obverse): an obverse which exhibits a tripled image in one or more areas.

TDR (tripled die reverse): a reverse which exhibits a tripled image in one or more areas

truncation: the lower edge of the bust on a coin, usually just above the date

type: a major change in the design on a coin, such as the Type of '38 and Type of '40 steps on the Jefferson nickel reverse

type set: a collection of all coins of a specific denomination 

uncirculated: a coin without any signs of wear that has never been in circulation (identical to mint state or brilliant uncirculated) 

upsetting mill: a machine that raises the rim on both sides of a blank or planchet

variety: a change from the basic design type of a coin

VF (very fine): the grade of a coin with light to moderate wear on the highest points of the design and clear major details

VG (very good): the grade of a coin that is well worn with clear main features 

whizzing: the process of mechanically moving the surface metal of a coin to simulate luster

XF (extremely fine): the grade of a coin that is lightly worn with sharp and well defined features (identical to EF)