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Some Numismatic Terms

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adjustment marks
Marks caused by filing a planchet before striking to reduce its weight to the standard, as was sometimes done for early U.S. & English coinage (often found on Queen Anne English Crowns)
album
A book-like holder with slots for storing coins
altered
Intentionally modified after the minting process
ancient
A coin produced prior to about 500 A.D.
artificial toning
colouration added to a coin by treatment with chemicals or other "doctoring"
attribute
n. A characteristic of a coin;
v. To identify a coin by determining the country of origin, denomination, series, date, mintmark and (if applicable) variety
authentic/authentication
An original, non-counterfeit coin; determination by an expert on whether or not a coin is authentic
bag marks
Small scratches and nicks resulting from movement of coins in the same bag (also known as contact marks or keg marks)
bank note
Paper money issued by a bank
bar
A non-numismatic form of precious metal bullion
bas relief
Design elements are raised within depressions in the field
billon
An alloy of silver and another metal, usually copper, which is less than 50% silver
bi-metallic
A coin or coin-like object combining parts composed of two different metal alloys, such as the Canadian two dollar coin.
bit
Pieces of eight were physically cut into eighths; each piece is one bit
blank
A piece of metal being prepared for coinage before the rims have been raised by passing through the upsetting mill
bourse
A location where dealers buy and sell coins with each other and the public, such as at a coin show
broadstrike/broadstruck
A coin struck without a firmly seated collar, resulting in "spreading" outwards, but still showing all design details
brockage
A mirror image of the design from one side of a coin impressed on the opposite side - occasionally, a newly struck coin "sticks" to a die, causing the next coin struck to have a First Strike Mirror Brockage of the coin stuck to the die; by the second strike the mirror is distorted, and later strikes are termed Struck Through A Capped Die
bullion value or bullion price
A coin or other object composed primarily of a precious metal, with little or no value beyond that of the metal
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
An agency of the U.S. Treasury Department responsible for production of currency
business strike (currency strike)
A coin struck for circulation
Canadian
Post confederation Canadian numismatics
cameo
A coin, usually struck as a Proof, with a frosted or satiny central device surrounded by a mirrorlike field
cartwheel
The pattern of light reflected by flow lines of mint state coins, resembling spokes of a wheel;
Name given to the British pennies and twopences of 1797 due to their unusually broad rims
certified coin
A coin authenticated and graded by a professional service
cherrypick
To find and purchase a coin worth a premium over the seller's asking price (generally a rare die variety priced appropriately for a more common variety)
chop mark
A symbol added to money by someone other than the government which issued it to indicate authenticity
circulated
Denotes money that is no longer in mint state, generally as a result of normal handling and exchange
clad
Composed of more than one layer, such as the copper-nickel over copper composition of U.S. dimes, quarters, and halves minted presently
clash mark(s)
Outlines and/or traces of designs from the opposite side of a coin resulting from die clash
cleaning
any process that removes foreign substances, corrosion or toning, e.g. application of solvents, dipping, and rubbing with abrasive materials or substances
cleaned coin
while any coin subjected to a cleaning process could technically be considered cleaned, this term most commonly refers to those which have been abrasively cleaned (a coin which has been abrasively cleaned generally has a lower numismatic value than an otherwise comparable uncleaned specimen)
clip
A coin, planchet or blank missing a portion of metal from its periphery, caused by an error during blank production; types of clips include curved (most common), ragged, straight, eliptical, bowtie, disk and assay
clipping
Deliberate shearing or shaving from the edge of gold and silver coins; patterns and mottos are included on edges to discourage the practice
coin
A piece of metal with a distinctive stamp and of a fixed value and weight issued by a government and used as money (source: Webster's New World Dictionary)
coin show
An event where numismatic items are bought, sold, traded and often exhibited
collar
A device present in a coining press to restrict the outward flow of metal during striking and to put the design, if any, on the edge of the coin
collection
The numismatic holdings of an individual in total or of a particular type
colonial
A coin issued by any colony; frequently refers to those produced by European colonies in the Americas in the 17th and 18th centuries.
commemorative
A coin with a design commemorating a person, place or event
condition census
A list of the finest known specimens of a particular variety of coin
contact marks
Small surface scratches or nicks resulting from movement of coins in the same bag or bin
counterfeit (forgery faux copy)
An imitation of a coin or note made to circulate as if actually money;
An altered or non-genuine coin made to deceive collectors, usually a more valuable date or variety
cud
A raised lump of metal on a coin caused by a piece of a die having broken off
cull
A coin that is extremely worn and/or damaged
cupro-nickel (or copper-nickel)
Composed of an alloy of copper and nickel, as for example U.S. 5 cent coins (other than half dimes) and Canadian 5 cent coins produced since 1982.
currency (banknote)
Paper money
damage
Physical change to a numismatic item, such as a scratch, nick, ding, cleaning, hole or pitting
date
The year(s) shown on a coin, usually the same as the year it was minted
dealer
A person or company that regularly buys and sells numismatic collectibles making a full living from that activity
deep mirror prooflike (DMPL)
Having highly reflective mirrorlike fields, similar to a coin struck as a Proof
delamination
Metal missing or retained but peeling from the surface due to incomplete bonding or impurities in the planchet
denarius
An ancient Roman silver coin weighing about 3 grams, roughly the same size as a U.S. dime but thicker
denomination
The face value of a coin
denticles
Tooth like raise features just inside the rim of some coins (also known as dentils)
design
The devices, lettering, etc. appearing on a coin and their arrangement with respect to each other
designer
The creator of a coin design
device
A major design element, such as the bust of a person
die
A usually cylindrical piece of steel bearing at one end the incuse design of one side of a coin (except for coins with incuse detail, where the die details are in relief)
die chip
A small fragment broken off from a die; metal flowing into the resulting hole during striking results in a small raised lump on the surface of the coin
die clash
Upper and lower dies coming together in a coin press without a planchet between them; design details may be partially impressed in the opposite dies and subsequently as mirror images on coins struck from the clashed dies.
die crack
A narrow fissure in the surface of a die; coins struck with such a die have a narrow raised line corresponding to the crack
die erosion
Wear on a die from use in the minting process
die flow lines
see flow lines
eye appeal
Overall attractiveness (beauty is in the eye of the beholder)
face value
The ordinary monetary worth of a coin or note at the time of issue
field
The flat background on a coin, medal or token
fishscale
Canadian 5 cents silver;
U.S. 3 cent silver coin
flan
British term for a planchet
flip
A soft plastic holder normally used for a single coin
flow lines
Microscopic lines in the surface of a coin resulting from the outward flow of metal during striking
fiat money
Money that is not backed by specie and is legal tender by decree
fractional currency
Paper money with a face value of less than one dollar
fugio cent
The first coin issued by authority of the United States, produced by contractors in 1787
galvano
An epoxy coated plaster relief model of a coin, token or medal created by electrodeposition (much larger than the dies later created from it)
Greysheet
the Coin Dealer Newsletter, a price guide for U.S. coins intended for dealer-to-dealer sight seen transactions
Ghosting
When dies come together without flan in between,you may get a partial omage of one die on the other.When coins struck from this
die the resulting coins will have a weak image of the other die on one side under the correct image.
hairlines
Light scratches in the surface of a coin
half cent
A U.S. coin with a face value of 1/200th of a dollar first minted in 1793 and last minted in 1857
half dime
A U.S. coin with a face value of 5 cents issued with dates between 1794 and 1873; originally called a half disme
half eagle
A U.S. gold coin with a face value of $5 first minted in 1795 and last minted in 1929
hobo nickel
A coin (usually a U.S. Buffalo nickel) physically altered to produce a substantially different image
holed
Having a hole drilled through it, usually as a result of being used for jewelery
holder
Any device designed for storage and sometimes display of numismatic items
also see slab
hub
A steel bar used to make dies having the same raised design on one end as one side of the coins ultimately produced
impaired proof
A proof coin with wear or damage resulting from circulation or other handling
incuse
The opposite of relief -- design elements are impressed into the surface
key date
The rarest (or one of the most rare) and therefore most expensive members of a coin series, e.g. the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent or 1916-D Mercury dime
Krause
A numismatic publishing company (Krause Publications); this company's Standard Catalogue of World Coins
lamination flaw
See delamination
large cent
A U.S. coin with a value of 1 cent, minted from 1793 to 1857, composed primarily of copper and larger in diameter than the current U.S. quarter;
A similar Canadian coin issued between 1858-1920
legal tender
Money that may be legally offered in payment of an obligation and that a creditor must accept (source: Webster's New World Dictionary)
legend
Lettering on a coin other than the denomination or nation which issued it
loonie
Popular name for the Canadian loon dollar coin first issued in 1987
loupe
A type of magnifying glass used by numismatists and jewelers
lustre
The brilliance of a coin, resulting from reflection of light off die flow lines
machine doubling
Doubling of details resulting from loose dies during striking (generally considered to have no numismatic value)
mail bid
An auction format in which bids are submitted by mail; the highest offer for each lot received by the closing date wins the lot (several other rules usually apply)
matte proof
A proof coin with a granular (rather than mirror like) surface produced by dies treated to obtain a minutely etched surface
medal or medallion
A coin-like object struck to honour one or more persons or events depicted or mentioned in its design; an object awarded to persons in recognition of service or other accomplishment
melt/melt value
The worth of precious metal in a coin, determined by multiplying the amount of the metal it contains by the spot price of the metal
mint
A facility for manufacturing coins
mintage
The quantity of a denomination of coins produced at a mint during a period of time (usually one year)
mint bloom
The original surface of a newly minted coin
mintmark
A letter or symbol designating the mint which produced the item bearing it
mint set
A specially packaged group of uncirculated coins from one or more mints of the same nation containing at least one coin for most or all of the denominations issued during a particular year
mint state
In the same condition as when delivered from the mint (natural toning excepted); uncirculated
misplaced date
One or more digits of a date punched away from the intended location, such as in the denticles or in the central design
motto
A phrase imprinted on a coin, for most U.S. coins "E PLURIBUS UNUM"
mule
A coin struck from two dies not intended to be used together
multiple strike
A coin struck more than once as a result of not being properly ejected from the coining press
natural toning
Coloration resulting from chemical change on the surface during normal environmental exposure over a prolonged period
net price
A term signifying that the seller is unwilling to sell for less than the price marked
numismatics
The collection and study of coins, tokens, medals, paper money and other objects exchanged for goods and services or manufactured by similar methods.
numismatist
A person who collects and/or studies numismatic items
obol
A small silver coin of ancient Greece, originally a day's wages for a rower on a galley or a citizen on jury duty.
obverse
The front or "heads" side of a coin, often bearing a portrait and date
off centre 
Incorrectly centred during striking, resulting in part of the design missing (off the edge)
original/original toning
Having natural surfaces resulting from long exposure to ordinary environmental conditions; uncleaned
overdate
A coin struck from a die with at least one digit of the date repunched over a different digit, e.g. 1809/6 or 1942/1.
overgraded
Designated with a higher grade than merited
over mintmark
One mintmark on top of a different mintmark, such as a 'D' over an 'S' (denoted D/S)
paper money
Paper notes with standardized characteristics issued as money
paranumismatica
British term for exonumia
patina
A thin layer of naturally oxidized metal on the surface of a coin acquired with age
pattern
A coin struck as a test piece for a new design, sometimes without a date
pick up point
An area where a feature, such as die doubling, is most evident
piece of eight
A former Spanish coin with a face value of eight reales; the U.S. dollar was originally valued at and tied to eight reales
pitted
Having a rough surface due to loss of metal by corrosion
planchet
A piece of metal prepared for coinage with raised rims but as yet unstruck
plugged
Denotes that a holed coin has been filled
porous
Having a granular surface as the result of oxidation, most frequently found with older copper coins
prestige set
A set of coins produced by the U.S. Mint containing one or more proof commemorative coins released in the same year, as well as a proof cent, nickel, dime, quarter and half
problem coin
Any coin that has been cleaned or damaged or has other undesirable characteristics
proof
A coin specially manufactured to have extra sharp detail, mirrorlike fields and sometimes frosted or "cameo" devices, produced for sale to collectors at a premium or for exhibition or presentation. Different Proof Finishes
Not all proofs are the same. The most common understanding of proof is that the flat background parts of the coin have a highly polished mirror finish, and the raised parts of the design have a matt finish, giving a higher level of contrast between the two. This is achieved by sand-blasting the die, the hardened steel punch with which the blank coins are struck, to give a matt finish, followed by giving the raised parts of the die a highly polished surface, usually by polishing them with diamond powder. The coin blanks themselves are usually produced to a higher quality of finish before striking. Proof coins are usually double struck at lower striking speeds, to give a higher and sharper definition. They are usually produced on a special machine, and may be hand, rather than mechanically fed into and extracted from the coining press. They are usually individually inspected, and packaged. A proof coin should provide an excellent specimen, and its quality should approach perfection.
Some proof coins are made with an all matt finish, as for example the 1902 Edward VII Coronation proof coins, while others are produced as "reverse proofs", i.e. with the raised parts polished and the background matt.
prooflike
Having mirrorlike fields, similar to a coin struck as a Proof
proof like
A coin specially manufactured by the Royal Canadian Mint with mirror fields
proof set
A specially packaged group of coins containing at least one of most or all of the denominations of proof coins struck by a nation in a particular year
quarter eagle
A U.S. gold coin with a face value of $2.50 first minted in 1796 and last minted in 1929
rarity
An infrequently encountered or available item; the number of surviving specimens of a particular issue, as may be indicated by a rarity scale index
rarity scale
A convention for designating the rarity of a coin, such as Sheldon's system (with values such as R1 for common pieces and R6 for extremely rare specimens) and the Universal Rarity Scale invented by Alan Herbert (with designations such as URS3)
real
A former basic monetary unit of Spain and Spanish colonies in the Americas
Red Book
The Handbook of U.S. Coins, a retail price guide for U.S. coins published annually, originally written by R.S. Yeoman
reeded edge
An edge with raised parallel lines, a.k.a. milled or grained
relief
Features rising above the field
repunched date
A date with one or more of the digits punched more than once in different locations and/or orientations
repunched mintmark (RPM)
A mintmark punched more than once in different locations and/or orientation
restrike
A coin struck with authentic dies later than the date it bears
reverse
The back or "tails" side of a coin
rim
The outer edge of a coin, often raised to avoid premature wear
round
A disc shaped piece of precious metal bullion
scrip
A note issued by and redeemable at a merchant or group of merchants
series
Coins of the same major design and denomination, including every combination of date and mintmark minted, e.g. Morgan dollars
Sheldon scale
A numerical grading system ranging from 1 to 70 created by Dr. William H. Sheldon to denote proportional values of large cents minted from 1793 to 1814 and subsequently adaped as a general grading scale
shinplaster
Canadian fractional banknotes
sight seen
Available for examination to a potential buyer before a purchase decision is made
sight unseen
Not available for examination to a potential buyer before a purchase decision is made, as is usually the case with mail order transactions
silver certificate
A note (paper money) once redeemable for its face value in silver
silver clad
A clad coin with one layer containing silver, such as U.S. halves struck from 1965 to 1970
silver eagle
A coin produced by the U.S. mint beginning in 1986 containing one ounce of silver and having a nominal face value of $1 (not released for circulation)
slab
A coin certified by a professional grading service as authentic and encapsulated in a sealed hard plastic holder also containing a label bearing the service's opinion of its grade and other information
slider
A coin with very slight traces of wear, such that it almost passes for an uncirculated specimen
specie
Precious metal used to back money, usually gold and silver
split grade
Different grades for the obverse and reverse sides
spot
Short for spot price;
A small area of corrosion or foreign substance
spot price
The market price for immediate delivery of a commodity, such as a precious metal
spread
The difference between buy and sell prices on the same item(s) of a dealer, broker, etc.
The extent of separation between impressions on a doubled die.
stella
A U.S. gold coin pattern with a face value of $4 minted in 1879 and 1880
striations
Incuse marks caused by rolling bars during planchet production
strike
The process of impressing the design from a die into a planchet to make a coin, token or medal;
The completeness of detail (as in weak strike, full strike, etc.) created during this process
strike doubling
See machine doubling
tetradrachma
An ancient Greek silver coin weighing about 13 to 17 grams, roughly the same size as a U.S. quarter but three times thicker
thumbing
The rubbing of skin oil onto a coin in an attempt to hide contact marks/stains
token
A coin-like object redeemable for a particular product or service, such as transportation on a bus or subway; an unofficial coin issued by a business or town to be used as small change, e.g., in 17th-19th century Britain, and in France in the 20th century
toning
Colour acquired from chemical change on the surface
trade dollar
A U.S. coin with a face value of $1 minted from 1873 through 1885 specifically for commerce in the Orient;
A U.K. coin with a face value of $1 minted from 1895 through 1935 specifically for commerce in the Orient
trime
A U.S. coin with a face value of 3 cents minted in predominantly silver alloys from 1851-1873
tube
A plastic container designed for storing a roll or other quantity of coins of the same size
type coin
Any coin of a particular design and denomination, usually one of the more common dates
type set
A collection of coins of various designs; rather than try to complete the series, the goal of the type collector is to obtain at least one example of several different types
uncirculated
Never circulated; without any wear (coins, Medals, tokens not paper money)
VAM
Any variety of U.S. silver dollar described in the book Morgan and Peace Dollars by Van Allen and Mallis.
variety
Any coin struck from a die pair that differs from others with the same date and mintmark, such as one exhibiting die doubling, different style letters or numerals, or a repunched mintmark
want list
A tabulation of collectibles sought by a collector, often including limits on condition and/or price
water mark
A design put into paper at the manufacturing stage by pressing it while wet between rollers bearing the design
wear
Metal lost during handling and contact with other objects
whizzing
Alteration by mechanical polishing to produce a shiny surface
world coins
Coins issued by various nations, as in a collection comprised of coins thereof.

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