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US Coin Collecting Glossary of Key Terms

As you start your adventure into coin collecting here are some terms you must know from the beginning to help you maximize your experience.  Have fun and thanks to all of our eBay customers over the last 6 years.  You make it fun!

artificial toning
coloration added to a coin by treatment with chemicals or other "doctoring"

bag marks
Small scratches and nicks resulting from movement of coins in the same bag (also known as contact marks or keg marks)

bi-metallic
A coin or coin-like object combining parts composed of two different metal alloys, such as the Canadian two dollar coin.

bullion
A coin or other object composed primarily of a precious metal, with little or no value beyond that of the metal

business strike
A coin struck for circulation

cameo & deep cameo
A coin, usually struck as a Proof, with a frosted or satiny central device surrounded by a mirrorlike field, the details seem to float above the coin 

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

colonial
In the United States, the term refers to coins and tokens struck during the colonial era by some of the colonies and by private manufacturers, as well as by the states during the first several years following the Declaration of Independence

contact marks
Small surface scratches or nicks resulting from movement of coins in the same bag or bin

cull
A coin that is extremely worn and/or damaged

deep mirror prooflike (DMPL)
Having highly reflective mirrorlike fields, similar to a coin struck as a Proof

design
The devices, lettering, etc. appearing on a coin and their arrangement with respect to each other

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 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

double eagle
A U.S. gold coin with a face value of $20, first minted in 1849 and last minted in 1933

eagle
A U.S. gold coin with a face value of $10, first minted in 1795 and last minted in 1933
The U.S. $50 face value gold bullion coin minted from 1986 to present.

E Pluribus Unum
"Out of many, one"; the motto on many U.S. coins

field
The flat background on a coin, medal or token

grade
A term summarizing the overall condition of a coin or other numismatic item usually coins range from AG3 (about good) to MS70 (perfect mint state)

key date
Among the scarcest (and therefore most expensive) members of a coin series, e.g. the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent or 1916-D Mercury dime

luster also lustre
The brilliance of a coin, resulting from reflection of light off die flow lines

matte proof
A proof coin with a granular (rather than mirrorlike) surface produced by dies treated to obtain a minutely etched surface

mintage
The quantity of a denomination of coins produced at a mint during a period of time (usually one year)

mintmark
A letter or symbol designating the mint which produced the item bearing it

mint state
In the same condition as when delivered from the mint (natural toning excepted); uncirculated

NGC
Numistic Guarantee Corporation, a grading sServic, one of the most respected certification companies today

numismatist
A person who collects and/or studies numismatic items

obverse
The front or "heads" side of a coin, often bearing a portrait and date

original toning
Having natural surfaces resulting from long exposure to ordinary environmental conditions; uncleaned

patina
A thin layer of naturally oxidized metal on the surface of a coin acquired with age

PCGS
Professional Coin Grading Service, one of the most respected certification services today

prestige set
A set of coins produced by the U.S. Mint from 1983-84 and 1986-97 containing one or more proof commemorative coins released in the same year, as well as a proof cent, nickel, dime, quarter and half

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

prooflike
Having mirrorlike fields, similar to a coin struck as a Proof, Morgan Dollars in this condition are prized.

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

raw
Not certified as authentic, graded and encapsulated in a sealed hard plastic holder by an independent service

Red Book
A Guide Book of U.S. Coins, a retail price guide for U.S. coins published annually, originally written by R.S. Yeoman, most common guide today

reverse
The back or "tails" side of a coin

rim
The outer edge of a coin, often raised to avoid premature wear

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

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

strike
The process of impressing the design from a die into a planchet to make a coin, token or medal

toning
Color acquired from chemical change on the surface, Rainbow Toning is a coin that exhibits rainbow like colors

type coin
Any coin of a particular design and denomination, usually one of the more common dates

uncirculated
Never circulated; without any wear, may still have bag marks and toning

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

 
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