5Your Guide to Coin Collector Terminology
Understanding coin collecting can be easier when you’re familiar with the terms used in the numismatic world. Here’s a glossary of essential coin collector terminology, arranged alphabetically for your convenience.
A
- Alloy: A blend of two or more metals mixed together to create a new compound, such as copper and nickel in coins.
- Almost Good: The third-lowest grading category for coins.
- Almost Uncirculated (AU): A high grade for coins that show minimal signs of wear.
- Altered Coin: A coin modified (e.g., mint marks or dates changed) to deceive collectors.
- Annealing: Heating blank coin planchets to soften them before striking.
- Artificial Toning: Chemically changing a coin’s appearance to enhance its value.
- Assay: Testing a coin’s metal purity and weight.
- Attribution: Identifying a coin by its date, mint mark, or other features.
B
- Bag Mark: Scratches or nicks caused by coins rubbing against each other in a bag.
- Base Metal: A non-precious metal used in coin production, like copper or nickel.
- Basining: Polishing the die used to strike coins.
- Beading: Decorative dots along a coin’s edge.
- Billon: A low-grade alloy of silver or gold mixed with a base metal.
- Blank: A plain metal disc ready to be stamped into a coin.
- Brass: An alloy of copper and zinc.
- Brockage: A mint error where a coin is struck with the design of another coin imprinted in reverse.
- Bullion: Precious metals like gold, silver, or platinum in bars or coins valued for their metal content.
- Business Strike: Coins minted for everyday commerce.
C
- Carat: A unit of weight for gemstones, not to be confused with “karat,” which measures gold purity.
- Certified Coin: A coin authenticated and graded by a professional service, such as PCGS or NGC.
- Circulated: Coins that have been used in transactions, showing signs of wear.
- Clad Coinage: Coins with a core of one metal and an outer layer of another.
- Commemorative Coin: A coin issued to honor a person, event, or place.
- Counterfeit Coin: A fake coin made to deceive collectors.
D
- Denticles: Tooth-like raised edges along a coin’s border.
- Die: The engraved tool used to strike the design into coin blanks.
- Die Crack: A raised line on a coin caused by a crack in the die.
- Double Eagle: A $20 U.S. gold coin.
- Double Strike: A coin struck twice, creating a slightly offset image.
E
- Edge: The outer rim of a coin, which may be plain, reeded, or inscribed.
- Effigy: A person’s image depicted on a coin.
- Error Coin: A coin with a production defect, such as an off-center strike.
- Eye Appeal: The aesthetic attractiveness of a coin to the naked eye.
F
- Field: The flat background area of a coin’s design.
- Fine: A mid-grade coin with moderate wear.
- Fineness: The purity of the precious metal in a coin.
G
- Gem: A coin in exceptionally high-grade condition.
- Grade: The overall condition of a coin, as determined by wear and preservation.
- Graded Coin: A coin professionally evaluated for its condition and authenticity.
K
- Key Date: The rarest and most valuable date in a coin series.
M
- Mint Mark: A small letter or symbol on a coin identifying the mint where it was produced.
- Motto: An inscription, like “In God We Trust,” found on many U.S. coins.
N
- Numismatics: The study or collection of coins, currency, and related objects.
- Numismatist: Someone who studies or collects coins.
O
- Obverse: The front or “heads” side of a coin.
- Oxidation: A chemical reaction causing tarnish or discoloration on a coin.
R
- Raw Coin: A coin not yet graded by a professional service.
- Relief: The raised part of a coin’s design.
T
- Toning: Natural discoloration on a coin caused by aging and exposure to air.
- Trial Strike: A test coin produced to adjust minting dies.
U
- Uncirculated: A coin that shows no signs of wear or use, retaining its original luster.
V
- Very Fine (VF): A coin grade above “fine,” showing minimal wear.
- Variety: Slight differences in a coin’s design due to die changes.
This glossary is perfect for new and seasoned collectors looking to deepen their understanding of coin terminology. Copy, paste, and integrate it into your WordPress page to help readers navigate the fascinating world of coin collecting!