Numismatic terminology
Encyclopedia
This article is a collection of Numismatic
and coin collecting
terms with concise explanation for the beginner or professional.
Numismatics (ancient Greek
: ) is the scientific study of money
and its history in all its varied forms. While numismatists are often characterized as studying coin
s, the discipline also includes the study of banknotes, stock certificates, medal
s, 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 coin
s and medal
s, and other items used in place of legal currency or for commemoration.
Notaphily
: is the study of paper money
or banknote
s.
Scripophily
: is the study and collection of stock
s and bonds
.
: The filing down of a blank to the correct weight before striking, shown by file marks. File marks are often still visible on the surface of a coin even after being struck.
Alliance coinage : Coins minted by two or more state governments in conjunction. The Euro coins would be an example of this.
Alloy
: Homogeneous mixture of two or more elements, where the resulting compound has metallic properties. Common coin alloys include cupro-nickel (copper and nickel) and bronze
(copper and tin).
Altered Date : False date put on a coin to defraud collectors, usually to make it appear more valuable. Such alterations are often easily spotted with the aid of a magnifying glass.
Anepigraphic coin : Coin without an inscription. Many ancient coins used only a simple picture of an animal to show value or weight.
Annealing
: Process of heating and cooling metal in order to relieve stresses. This is often done with coin blanks to make the metal less brittle before striking.
Assay
: Test to ascertain the weight and purity of a coin.
Attribution : Identifier of a coin such as date, mint, denomination, or variety.
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 also on silver coins which circulated in China and Japan, where they are referred to as chop-marks.
Base metal
: Non-precious metal or alloy containing no gold or silver. Common base metals used in coinage include nickel
and copper
.
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
. Billon is often the result of a sudden debasing of circulating silver coinage due to hyperinflation
.
Bi-metallic : A coin with one type of metal in the center with an outer ring of a different metal. An example is the Canadian "toonie
" two-dollar coin.
Blank
: Prepared disk of metal on which the coin design will be stamped. Also called a 'planchet' or 'flan'. In practice, 'Blank' is also referred to the un-struck or flat side of a uniface
coin or medal.
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. Also refers to coins whose market value is determined by metallic content rather than scarcity.
Bullion Value : Current market value of the raw precious metal content of a coin. For example, the bullion value for Canadian silver coins, 1920 to 1966, is 12 times the face value when silver is $20.00 per troy ounce.
Business Strike
: A coin intended for everyday use in commerce.
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. Modern counterfeit coins are often cast.
Centum : One one-hundredth of the basic monetary unit from Latin. The English cent, Romance languages centavos, centimos, centesimos or centimes are 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. See also Encapsulated coin.
Church Tokens
: Also known as Communion Tokens, they were generally issued initially by Scottish parishes (die stamped one-side only to show the parish) and later in USA and Canada; they were square or oblong, and were made of lead, iron or brass and measured 1/4" to 1".
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 metals or alloys bonded together. The current U.S. Quarter
, dime, and half dollar are made of cupronickel clad copper.
Coin alignment
: A method of striking in which the obverse and reverse dies are aligned 180 degrees from each other. All American coins are struck this way.
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. Also called "bag marks".
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 due to being too large and/or too heavy. The United States's last crown-sized coin for circulation was the Eisenhower Dollar
, last struck in 1978.
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 coin planchet fails to be placed between two dies during the minting process, causing the 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. A defect from a chipped die is called a cud.
Die State : A variation in appearance to a coin struck by a single die, resulting from wear or alteration of the die. For example, the presence or absence of die cracks may signal a specific die state.
Die Variety : Minor variation in a die, including repunched mintmarks, doubling, or deliberate minor changes to the die design.
Dime
: United States $0.10 coin. Derived from the old English "Tithe", meaning "1 of 10" (The Dime is one tenth of a dollar.) While the term is American in origin, Canadians often use the term as well.
Dipped, Dipping : Chemical cleaning of a coin with a diluted acid.
Double Eagle
(U.S.A) : United States gold $20 coin. Struck from 1850 to 1933.
Double strike : A coin where a die is struck, bounced, then struck again, offset from first strike (used for ancient coins where hubs were not used).
Doubled 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.
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
: Artificial or naturally 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 Coin: A coin that has been 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. This may result in two or more varieties of the coin in the same year.
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.
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 and/or damaged, but may still be included in a collection if it is a Key Coin.
Fineness
: Purity of precious metal content expressed in terms of one thousand parts. 90% is expressed as .900 fine. The purest gold bullion coin is .99999 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. See also Grade.
Flip Strike : An error caused by the coin flipping over after being struck, and then struck a second time. Each face of the coin will have a "ghost" of the opposite face.
Grade
: The condition of a coin or amount of wear that a coin has received. Common grade terms used in North America, from worst to best, are Poor (Po), Fair (Fr), About Good (AG), Good (G), Very Good (VG), Fine (F), Very Fine (VF), Extra/Extremely Fine (EF or XF), Almost Uncirculated (AU), Uncirculated (UNC), and Brilliant Uncirculated (BU). Grading criteria may also include color, strength of strike, and "eye appeal".
Holey dollar
(Australia) : Spanish 8 Real coin with a hole in centre, stamped with New South Wales 1813 on obverse and five shilling on reverse.
Hub
: Positive-image punch that impresses the coin's design onto a die.
). Not as popular as the "relief" method due to difficulty striking clearly and shorter lifespan of dies.
Ingot
: Mass of pure metal from a mould. It may be stamped with its weight and purity.
Inscription : Lettering and wording on a coin.
Intrinsic Value : Current market value of a coin based on its metallic content. For a coin struck on precious metals, this is the same as its bullion value.
: 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', 1/6 of a scruple; this became the standard in purity in western Europe.
Key Coin : A rarer or higher valued coin within a series. As an example, 1923 and 1925 are key coins in the Canadian small cent series.
: Head crowned with a laurel wreath. The American Barber coins from 1892 to 1915 and the first portrait of Queen Elizabeth II used in Great Britain from 1953 to 1967 are examples.
Legal Tender
: Coins or currency which must be accepted in payment of debt.
Legend
: Principal 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. Percentage of the original mint luster is one of the factors in determining grades of "Mint State" coins (e.g. MS-60, MS-65).
Maundy money
: An annual gift made on Maundy Thursday
of a set of pure silver coins made by the Royal Mint and distributed personally by the Monarch to the poor of Canterbury
. The number of sets reflects the number of years the Monarch has occupied the throne.
Medal Alignment
: A method of striking coins in which both the obverse and reverse dies are aligned in the same direction. Most Canadian coins are struck this way.
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 state coin.
Mint Mark
: Small letter (or other symbol) indicating at which mint the coin was struck. Examples are "S" for San Francisco on US coins or "A" for Paris on French coins.
Mint Roll : Uncirculated coins wrapped in rolls by issuing authority of a certain quantity.
Mint Set : Set of uncirculated coins packaged and sold by the mint.
Mint State(MS): Another word for "Uncirculated" or "Fleur de Coin", usually used in North America. Conditions range from MS-60 to MS-70.
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 Canadian 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 never intended to be used together.
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.
Pattern
: Coin minted from official dies that is not a regular issue, and intended to evaluate new alloys or designs. 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. The resulting coins usually have a mirror field and raised areas are frosted in appearance.
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.
(U.S.A./Canada) : United States or Canada $0.25 coin. Short for Quarter Dollar.
Quarter Eagle
(U.S.A) : United States gold $2.50 coin.
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, opposite of "incuse".
Re-strike : Coin struck from genuine dies at a date later than the original issue. Some of the 1804 US Silver Dollars were restrikes.
Reverse
: Back or tails side of the coin. Opposite of 'Obverse'.
Rim
: Raised portion of the design along the edge that protects the coin from wear. It also makes the coins stackable and easy to roll by machine.
Round : Round one ounce bullion piece, generally issued privately.
.
Scruple : One Roman scruple = 1/24 Roman uncia; the modern (nominal) estimate of the weight of the Roman scruple is 1.125 g.
Silver Dollar: A one-dollar coin minted in the U.S. (until 1935), and Canada
(until 1967). Dollar coins made after those dates are sometimes called "silver dollars" although they are actually made of nickel or other metal. Dollar coins struck in Canada since 1987 are more commonly referred to as Loonie
s because of the loon design on the reverse.
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 Reales
. Also known as a 'Piece of Eight'. It was legal tender in the United States until 1857.
Spot Price : Quoted market value of one troy ounce of a precious metal in bullion form.
Stainless Steel
: A combination of iron, carbon and another element, usually chromium, to prevent rusting. Coins struck on stainless steel are very durable and maintain their shiny appearance, but the hardness of the metal requires that the coins have a low relief in order to prolong die life.
Token
: Privately issued piece that has redeemable value for goods or services, but is not an official government coin. An example would be subway tokens.
Tombac
: A type of brass
that was used to make Canadian 5 cent
coins in 1942 and 1943. There was a shortage of the usual nickel due to World War II
. A shortage of copper
forced a switch to Chromium
plated steel in 1944.
Trade Dollar
: Silver dollar issued specifically for trade with a foreign country.
Truncation : Sharply cut off bottom edge of a portrait or bust. The coin engraver's initials are often found on the truncation.
Type : Coin's basic distinguishing design.
Type Set : One of each coin of a particular design, series or period.
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 on which the obverse and reverse are out of alignment.
of that year.
: A grey inexpensive metal, usually alloyed with copper
to make brass
coins, but is also used in pure form for emergency coinage when the usual coinage metal is not available due to war or other serious crisis. Much of the coinage struck in Nazi-Occupied Europe was tin-plated zinc.
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
and coin collecting
Coin collecting
Coin collecting is the collecting or trading of coins or other forms of minted legal tender.Coins of interest to collectors often include those that circulated for only a brief time, coins with mint errors and especially beautiful or historically significant pieces. Coin collecting can be...
terms with concise explanation for the beginner or professional.
Numismatics (ancient Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: ) is the scientific study of money
Money
Money is any object or record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic context. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account; a store of value; and, occasionally in the past,...
and its history in all its varied forms. While numismatists are often characterized as studying coin
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
s, the discipline also includes the study of banknotes, stock certificates, medal
Medal
A medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...
s, medallions, and tokens
Token coin
In the study of numismatics, tokens are coin-like objects used instead of coins. The field of tokens is part of exonumia. Tokens are used in place of coins and either have a denomination shown or implied by size, color or shape...
(also referred to as Exonumia
Exonumia
Exonumia are numismatic items other than coins and paper money. This includes "Good For" tokens, badges, counterstamped coins, elongated coins, encased coins, souvenir medallions, tags, wooden nickels and other similar items...
).
Sub-fields or related fields of numismatics are:
Exonumia
Exonumia
Exonumia are numismatic items other than coins and paper money. This includes "Good For" tokens, badges, counterstamped coins, elongated coins, encased coins, souvenir medallions, tags, wooden nickels and other similar items...
: is the study of coin
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
-like objects such as token coin
Token coin
In the study of numismatics, tokens are coin-like objects used instead of coins. The field of tokens is part of exonumia. Tokens are used in place of coins and either have a denomination shown or implied by size, color or shape...
s and medal
Medal
A medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...
s, and other items used in place of legal currency or for commemoration.
Notaphily
Notaphily
Notaphily is the study of paper money or banknotes. A notaphilist is a collector of banknotes, paper money, paper currency or plastic notes.-History:It is believed that people have been collecting paper money for as long as it has been in use...
: is the study of paper money
Money
Money is any object or record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic context. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account; a store of value; and, occasionally in the past,...
or banknote
Banknote
A banknote is a kind of negotiable instrument, a promissory note made by a bank payable to the bearer on demand, used as money, and in many jurisdictions is legal tender. In addition to coins, banknotes make up the cash or bearer forms of all modern fiat money...
s.
Scripophily
Scripophily
Scripophily is the study and collection of stock and bond certificates. A specialized field of numismatics, scripophily is an interesting area of collecting due to both the inherent beauty of some historical documents as well as the interesting historical context of each document. Some stock...
: is the study and collection of stock
Stock
The capital stock of a business entity represents the original capital paid into or invested in the business by its founders. It serves as a security for the creditors of a business since it cannot be withdrawn to the detriment of the creditors...
s and bonds
Bond (finance)
In finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay interest to use and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity...
.
A
AdjustmentAdjustment
Adjustment means regulating, adapting or settling in a variety of contexts:...
: The filing down of a blank to the correct weight before striking, shown by file marks. File marks are often still visible on the surface of a coin even after being struck.
Alliance coinage : Coins minted by two or more state governments in conjunction. The Euro coins would be an example of this.
Alloy
Alloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
: Homogeneous mixture of two or more elements, where the resulting compound has metallic properties. Common coin alloys include cupro-nickel (copper and nickel) and bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
(copper and tin).
Altered Date : False date put on a coin to defraud collectors, usually to make it appear more valuable. Such alterations are often easily spotted with the aid of a magnifying glass.
Anepigraphic coin : Coin without an inscription. Many ancient coins used only a simple picture of an animal to show value or weight.
Annealing
Annealing (metallurgy)
Annealing, in metallurgy and materials science, is a heat treatment wherein a material is altered, causing changes in its properties such as strength and hardness. It is a process that produces conditions by heating to above the recrystallization temperature, maintaining a suitable temperature, and...
: Process of heating and cooling metal in order to relieve stresses. This is often done with coin blanks to make the metal less brittle before striking.
Assay
Assay
An assay is a procedure in molecular biology for testing or measuring the activity of a drug or biochemical in an organism or organic sample. A quantitative assay may also measure the amount of a substance in a sample. Bioassays and immunoassays are among the many varieties of specialized...
: Test to ascertain the weight and purity of a coin.
Attribution : Identifier of a coin such as date, mint, denomination, or variety.
B
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. Also called "contact marks".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 also on silver coins which circulated in China and Japan, where they are referred to as chop-marks.
Base metal
Base metal
In chemistry, the term base metal is used informally to refer to a metal that oxidizes or corrodes relatively easily, and reacts variably with diluted hydrochloric acid to form hydrogen. Examples include iron, nickel, lead and zinc...
: Non-precious metal or alloy containing no gold or silver. Common base metals used in coinage include nickel
Nickel
Nickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile...
and copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
.
Beading : Raised dot border along the rim of a coin.
Billon
Billon (alloy)
Billon is an alloy of a precious metal with a majority base metal content . It is used chiefly for making coins, medals, and token coins.The word comes from the French bille....
: Low-grade alloy of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
or silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
with a high percentage of another metal, usually copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
. Billon is often the result of a sudden debasing of circulating silver coinage due to hyperinflation
Hyperinflation
In economics, hyperinflation is inflation that is very high or out of control. While the real values of the specific economic items generally stay the same in terms of relatively stable foreign currencies, in hyperinflationary conditions the general price level within a specific economy increases...
.
Bi-metallic : A coin with one type of metal in the center with an outer ring of a different metal. An example is the Canadian "toonie
Toonie
The Canadian 2 dollar coin, commonly called Toonie, was introduced on February 19, 1996 by Public Works minister Diane Marleau. The Toonie is a bi-metallic coin which bears an image of a polar bear, by Campbellford, Ontario artist Brent Townsend, on the reverse. The obverse, like all other current...
" two-dollar coin.
Blank
Planchet
A planchet is a round metal disk that is ready to be struck as a coin. An older word for planchet is flan. They are also referred to as blanks.-History:The preparation of the flan or planchet has varied over the years...
: Prepared disk of metal on which the coin design will be stamped. Also called a 'planchet' or 'flan'. In practice, 'Blank' is also referred to the un-struck or flat side of a uniface
Uniface (numismatics)
A uniface is a reference to a one-sided Coin or Banknote, usually issued in low denomination, in times of war or in the early evolution of coins and banknotes; other examples are made as trial strikes of dies....
coin or medal.
Brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
: Copper based alloy with zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
.
Brockage
Brockage
In coin collecting, brockage refers to a type of error coin in which one side of the coin has both the normal image and a mirror image of the opposite side impressed upon it....
: 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
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
: Copper based alloy with tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
.
Bullion : Precious metals (platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
, gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
and silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
) in the form of bars, ingots or plate, or where quantity is considered as a valuation. Also refers to coins whose market value is determined by metallic content rather than scarcity.
Bullion Value : Current market value of the raw precious metal content of a coin. For example, the bullion value for Canadian silver coins, 1920 to 1966, is 12 times the face value when silver is $20.00 per troy ounce.
Business Strike
Regular issue coinage
Business strike is a term that distinguishes coins created for commerce from commemorative coins and proof coins. Regular issue coins are normally produced in relatively large numbers, and are primarily meant to be used as pocket change, not collected...
: A coin intended for everyday use in commerce.
C
Cameo : Strong distinction in the surface appearance of foreground devices relative to the field. Proof coins often exhibit this feature.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. Modern counterfeit coins are often cast.
Centum : One one-hundredth of the basic monetary unit from Latin. The English cent, Romance languages centavos, centimos, centesimos or centimes are 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. See also Encapsulated coin.
Church Tokens
Communion token
A communion token is a metal token issued to members of Presbyterian churches in order to provide them entrance to the Lord's Supper. There were many types issued in Scotland in the 18th and 19th centuries, but they were largely superseded by communion cards....
: Also known as Communion Tokens, they were generally issued initially by Scottish parishes (die stamped one-side only to show the parish) and later in USA and Canada; they were square or oblong, and were made of lead, iron or brass and measured 1/4" to 1".
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 metals or alloys bonded together. The current U.S. Quarter
Quarter (United States coin)
A quarter dollar, commonly shortened to quarter, is a coin worth ¼ of a United States dollar, or 25 cents. The quarter has been produced since 1796. The choice of 25¢ as a denomination, as opposed to 20¢ which is more common in other parts of the world, originated with the practice of dividing...
, dime, and half dollar are made of cupronickel clad copper.
Coin alignment
Coin orientation
Coin orientation is a feature of coins printed by some nations. In these nations, most coins, including all modern coins, have their reverse turned, or aligned, in a specified way relative to the obverse...
: A method of striking in which the obverse and reverse dies are aligned 180 degrees from each other. All American coins are struck this way.
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. Also called "bag marks".
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 due to being too large and/or too heavy. The United States's last crown-sized coin for circulation was the Eisenhower Dollar
Eisenhower Dollar
The Eisenhower dollar is a $1 coin issued by the United States government from 1971–1978...
, last struck in 1978.
D
Debase : To lower the silver/gold value of the coin by altering its purity, but with the same face value as the pure coin. This often happens during periods of high inflation.Denticles : Small toothlike projecting points on the inside edge of coins.
Designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
: 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 coin planchet fails to be placed between two dies during the minting process, causing the 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. A defect from a chipped die is called a cud.
Die State : A variation in appearance to a coin struck by a single die, resulting from wear or alteration of the die. For example, the presence or absence of die cracks may signal a specific die state.
Die Variety : Minor variation in a die, including repunched mintmarks, doubling, or deliberate minor changes to the die design.
Dime
Dime (United States coin)
The dime is a coin 10 cents, one tenth of a United States dollar, labeled formally as "one dime". The denomination was first authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792. The dime is the smallest in diameter and is the thinnest of all U.S...
: United States $0.10 coin. Derived from the old English "Tithe", meaning "1 of 10" (The Dime is one tenth of a dollar.) While the term is American in origin, Canadians often use the term as well.
Dipped, Dipping : Chemical cleaning of a coin with a diluted acid.
Double Eagle
Double Eagle
A Double Eagle is a gold coin of the United States with a denomination of $20. . The coins are made from a 90% gold and 10% copper alloy....
(U.S.A) : United States gold $20 coin. Struck from 1850 to 1933.
Doubled Die
Doubled die
Doubled die is a term in numismatics used to refer to doubling in the design elements of a coin. Doubled dies can appear as an outline of the design or in extreme cases, having legends and dates appear twice in an overlapping fashion....
: Die that received two misaligned impressions from a hub; more commonly, a coin struck by such a die.
Doubloon
Doubloon
The doubloon , was a two-escudo or 32-reales gold coin, weighing 6.77 grams . Doubloons were minted in Spain, Mexico, Peru, and Nueva Granada...
: 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
Eagle (U.S.A) :- United States $10.00 gold coin
- Series of US Bullion coins minted from 1986 through the present.
Edge
Rim (coin)
The rim of a coin is the sharp circular edge which surrounds the coin design.This is the part which exceeds the area of the die which strikes the coin during production, and as a result is pushed upward and sharpened to form a sort of border around the coin's design...
: 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
Effigy
An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,...
: The image or likeness of a person, usually on the obverse of a coin or medal.
Electrotype
Electrotyping
Electrotyping is a chemical method for forming metal parts that exactly reproduce a model. The method was invented by Moritz von Jacobi in Russia in 1838, and was immediately adopted for applications in printing and several other fields...
: Reproduction made by electrodeposition frequently used in museum displays.
Electrum
Electrum
Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, with trace amounts of copper and other metals. It has also been produced artificially. The ancient Greeks called it 'gold' or 'white gold', as opposed to 'refined gold'. Its color ranges from pale to bright yellow, depending on the...
: Artificial or naturally occurring mixture of gold and silver used in some of the world's first coinage.
Elongated coin
Elongated coin
Elongated coins are coins that have been elongated and embossed with a new design with the purpose of creating a commemorative or souvenir token. The collecting of elongated coins is a branch of numismatics...
: An oval medalet produced by a roller die using a coin, token or medal as a planchet, usually a cent.
Encapsulated Coin: A coin that has been authenticated, graded and preserved in plastic by an independent service.
Engraver : Person who cuts the image of a design onto a die.
Error
Mint-made errors
Mint-made errors are errors in a coin made by the mint during the minting process. Mint error coins can be the result of deterioration of the minting equipment, accidents or malfunctions during the minting process, or intentional interventions by mint personnel...
: 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. This may result in two or more varieties of the coin in the same year.
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
Face Value : Value that is written on a coin. For example, an American 1 cent coin has a face value of 1 cent. A collectable coin or bullion coin is usually worth many times its face value.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 and/or damaged, but may still be included in a collection if it is a Key Coin.
Fineness
Fineness
The fineness of a precious metal refers to the ratio of the primary metal to any additives or impurities.A piece of alloy metal containing a precious metal may have the weight of its precious component referred to as its fine weight. For example, 1 troy ounce of 18 karat gold may be said to have a...
: Purity of precious metal content expressed in terms of one thousand parts. 90% is expressed as .900 fine. The purest gold bullion coin is .99999 fine.
Flan
Flan
Crème caramel , flan , or caramel custard is a custard dessert with a layer of soft caramel on top, as opposed to crème brûlée, which is custard with a hard caramel top...
: 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. See also Grade.
Flip Strike : An error caused by the coin flipping over after being struck, and then struck a second time. Each face of the coin will have a "ghost" of the opposite face.
G
Gem : Coin of exceptionally high condition, such as Gem Uncirculated or Gem Proof.Grade
Coin grading
In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....
: The condition of a coin or amount of wear that a coin has received. Common grade terms used in North America, from worst to best, are Poor (Po), Fair (Fr), About Good (AG), Good (G), Very Good (VG), Fine (F), Very Fine (VF), Extra/Extremely Fine (EF or XF), Almost Uncirculated (AU), Uncirculated (UNC), and Brilliant Uncirculated (BU). Grading criteria may also include color, strength of strike, and "eye appeal".
H
High Relief : A coin with the raised design high above the field. Coins struck in high relief often have problems with details not coming up sharp enough and dies having a shorter than usual lifespan. If the design is higher than the rim, the coin may not be stackable, and the highest points of the design will wear away very quickly.Holey dollar
Holey dollar
Holey dollar is the name given to coins used in the early history of two British settlements: Prince Edward Island and New South Wales. The middle was punched out of Spanish dollars, creating two parts: a small coin, known as a "dump" in Australia, and a "holey dollar".-Prince Edward Island :From...
(Australia) : Spanish 8 Real coin with a hole in centre, stamped with New South Wales 1813 on obverse and five shilling on reverse.
Hub
Hub
Originally, the term hub referred to the central part of a wheel.Hub, HUB, Hubs, or HUBS has many uses, as listed below.-Wheels:* Bicycle hub, the central part of a bicycle wheel*Hub gear, bicycle gear...
: Positive-image punch that impresses the coin's design onto a die.
I
Incuse : Part of the coin's design that has been impressed below the surface (intaglioIntaglio
Intaglio are techniques in art in which an image is created by cutting, carving or engraving into a flat surface and may also refer to objects made using these techniques:* Intaglio , a group of printmaking techniques with an incised image...
). Not as popular as the "relief" method due to difficulty striking clearly and shorter lifespan of dies.
Ingot
Ingot
An ingot is a material, usually metal, that is cast into a shape suitable for further processing. Non-metallic and semiconductor materials prepared in bulk form may also be referred to as ingots, particularly when cast by mold based methods.-Uses:...
: Mass of pure metal from a mould. It may be stamped with its weight and purity.
Inscription : Lettering and wording on a coin.
Intrinsic Value : Current market value of a coin based on its metallic content. For a coin struck on precious metals, this is the same as its bullion value.
K
KaratCarat (purity)
The karat or carat is a unit of purity for gold alloys.- Measure :Karat purity is measured as 24 times the purity by mass:where...
: 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', 1/6 of a scruple; this became the standard in purity in western Europe.
Key Coin : A rarer or higher valued coin within a series. As an example, 1923 and 1925 are key coins in the Canadian small cent series.
L
LaureateLaureate
In English, the word laureate has come to signify eminence or association with literary or military glory. It is also used for winners of the Nobel Prize.-History:...
: Head crowned with a laurel wreath. The American Barber coins from 1892 to 1915 and the first portrait of Queen Elizabeth II used in Great Britain from 1953 to 1967 are examples.
Legal Tender
Legal tender
Legal tender is a medium of payment allowed by law or recognized by a legal system to be valid for meeting a financial obligation. Paper currency is a common form of legal tender in many countries....
: Coins or currency which must be accepted in payment of debt.
Legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
: Principal 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. Percentage of the original mint luster is one of the factors in determining grades of "Mint State" coins (e.g. MS-60, MS-65).
M
Master die : Original die from which working hubs are made.Maundy money
Maundy money
Royal Maundy is a religious service in the Church of England held on Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday. At the service, the British Monarch or a royal official ceremonially distributes small silver coins known as "Maundy money" as symbolic alms to elderly recipients...
: An annual gift made on Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great & Holy Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries, is the Christian feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in the Canonical gospels...
of a set of pure silver coins made by the Royal Mint and distributed personally by the Monarch to the poor of Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
. The number of sets reflects the number of years the Monarch has occupied the throne.
Medal Alignment
Medallic orientation
Medallic orientation is a feature of coins. When viewing one side of a coin with medallic orientation, correct side up, the coin must be flipped about its vertical axis in order to see the other side the correct way up...
: A method of striking coins in which both the obverse and reverse dies are aligned in the same direction. Most Canadian coins are struck this way.
Medal-coin: See also NCLT.
Milled Edge : Raised rim around the outer surface of a coin.
Mint-made errors
Mint-made errors are errors in a coin made by the mint during the minting process. Mint error coins can be the result of deterioration of the minting equipment, accidents or malfunctions during the minting process, or intentional interventions by mint personnel...
: Defective coin produced by a mint.
Mint Luster : Shiny "frost" on the surface of an uncirculated or mint state coin.
Mint Mark
Mint mark
A mint mark is an inscription on a coin indicating the mint where the coin was produced.-History:Mint marks were first developed to locate a problem. If a coin was underweight, or overweight, the mint mark would immediately tell where the coin was minted, and the problem could be located and fixed...
: Small letter (or other symbol) indicating at which mint the coin was struck. Examples are "S" for San Francisco on US coins or "A" for Paris on French coins.
Mint Roll : Uncirculated coins wrapped in rolls by issuing authority of a certain quantity.
Mint Set : Set of uncirculated coins packaged and sold by the mint.
Mint State(MS): Another word for "Uncirculated" or "Fleur de Coin", usually used in North America. Conditions range from MS-60 to MS-70.
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 Canadian Maple Leafs are shipped in red monster boxes.
Motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
: 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 never intended to be used together.
N
NCLT : Non circulating legal tender. 1 commemorative coins, 2 old coins, 3 rare coins, 4 restricted coins.O
Obverse : Front or heads 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
Pattern coin
A pattern coin is a coin which has not been approved for release, produced for the purpose of evaluating a proposed coin design. They are often off-metal strikes, to proof standard or piedforts...
: Coin minted from official dies that is not a regular issue, and intended to evaluate new alloys or designs. 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
Patina
Patina is a tarnish that forms on the surface of bronze and similar metals ; a sheen on wooden furniture produced by age, wear, and polishing; or any such acquired change of a surface through age and exposure...
: 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
Planchet
A planchet is a round metal disk that is ready to be struck as a coin. An older word for planchet is flan. They are also referred to as blanks.-History:The preparation of the flan or planchet has varied over the years...
: 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 coinage
Proof coinage means special early samples of a coin issue, historically made for checking the dies and for archival purposes, but nowadays often struck in greater numbers specially for coin collectors . Many countries now issue them....
: Coins specially struck for collectors using polished dies and planchets. The resulting coins usually have a mirror field and raised areas are frosted in appearance.
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
QuarterQuarter (United States coin)
A quarter dollar, commonly shortened to quarter, is a coin worth ¼ of a United States dollar, or 25 cents. The quarter has been produced since 1796. The choice of 25¢ as a denomination, as opposed to 20¢ which is more common in other parts of the world, originated with the practice of dividing...
(U.S.A./Canada) : United States or Canada $0.25 coin. Short for Quarter Dollar.
Quarter Eagle
Quarter Eagle
The quarter eagle was a coin issued by the United States with a denomination of two hundred and fifty cents, or two dollars and fifty cents. It was given its name in the Coinage Act of 1792, as a derivation from the US ten-dollar eagle coin...
(U.S.A) : United States gold $2.50 coin.
R
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, opposite of "incuse".
Re-strike : Coin struck from genuine dies at a date later than the original issue. Some of the 1804 US Silver Dollars were restrikes.
Reverse
Obverse and reverse
Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse...
: Back or tails side of the coin. Opposite of 'Obverse'.
Rim
Rim (coin)
The rim of a coin is the sharp circular edge which surrounds the coin design.This is the part which exceeds the area of the die which strikes the coin during production, and as a result is pushed upward and sharpened to form a sort of border around the coin's design...
: Raised portion of the design along the edge that protects the coin from wear. It also makes the coins stackable and easy to roll by machine.
Round : Round one ounce bullion piece, generally issued privately.
S
Series : Set of years coin was minted with a specific design and denominationDenomination (currency)
Denomination is a proper description of a currency amount, usually for coins or banknotes. Denominations may also be used with other means of payment like gift cards. See also Redenomination.-Subunit and super unit:...
.
Scruple : One Roman scruple = 1/24 Roman uncia; the modern (nominal) estimate of the weight of the Roman scruple is 1.125 g.
Silver Dollar: A one-dollar coin minted in the U.S. (until 1935), and Canada
Canadian silver dollar
The Royal Canadian Mint issued the first silver dollar in 1935 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V. The coin’s reverse design was sculpted by Emanuel Hahn and portrays a voyageur and an aboriginal paddling a birch-bark canoe. The faint lines in the background represent the Northern...
(until 1967). Dollar coins made after those dates are sometimes called "silver dollars" although they are actually made of nickel or other metal. Dollar coins struck in Canada since 1987 are more commonly referred to as Loonie
Loonie
The Canadian 1 dollar coin is a gold-coloured, bronze-plated, one-dollar coin introduced in 1987. It bears images of a common loon, a bird which is common and well known in Canada, on the reverse, and of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse.The design for the coin was meant to be a voyageur theme,...
s because of the loon design on the reverse.
Slab : Plastic case containing a coin that has been graded and encapsulated.
Spanish dollar
Spanish dollar
The Spanish dollar is a silver coin, of approximately 38 mm diameter, worth eight reales, that was minted in the Spanish Empire after a Spanish currency reform in 1497. Its purpose was to correspond to the German thaler...
: Coin issued in Spain and its colonies from 1497 to 1864. Equal to 8 Reales
Spanish real
The real was a unit of currency in Spain for several centuries after the mid-14th century, but changed in value relative to other units introduced...
. Also known as a 'Piece of Eight'. It was legal tender in the United States until 1857.
Spot Price : Quoted market value of one troy ounce of a precious metal in bullion form.
Stainless Steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
: A combination of iron, carbon and another element, usually chromium, to prevent rusting. Coins struck on stainless steel are very durable and maintain their shiny appearance, but the hardness of the metal requires that the coins have a low relief in order to prolong die life.
T
Token coin
In the study of numismatics, tokens are coin-like objects used instead of coins. The field of tokens is part of exonumia. Tokens are used in place of coins and either have a denomination shown or implied by size, color or shape...
: Privately issued piece that has redeemable value for goods or services, but is not an official government coin. An example would be subway tokens.
Tombac
Tombac
Tombac, as spelled in French, or Tombak is a brass alloy with high copper content and 5-20% zinc content. Tin, lead or arsenic may be added for colouration.It is a cheap malleable alloy mainly used for medals, ornament, decoration and some munitions....
: A type of brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
that was used to make Canadian 5 cent
Nickel (Canadian coin)
The Canadian five-cent coin, commonly called a nickel, is a coin worth five cents or one-twentieth of a Canadian dollar. It was patterned on the corresponding coin in the neighbouring United States...
coins in 1942 and 1943. There was a shortage of the usual nickel due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A shortage of copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
forced a switch to Chromium
Chromium
Chromium is a chemical element which has the symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6. It is a steely-gray, lustrous, hard metal that takes a high polish and has a high melting point. It is also odorless, tasteless, and malleable...
plated steel in 1944.
Trade Dollar
Trade dollar
-United States:The United States trade dollar is a silver dollar coin that was issued by the United States Mint and minted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Carson City, and San Francisco from 1873 to 1885. Trade dollars intended for circulation were last produced in 1878 while proof coin production...
: Silver dollar issued specifically for trade with a foreign country.
Truncation : Sharply cut off bottom edge of a portrait or bust. The coin engraver's initials are often found on the truncation.
Type : Coin's basic distinguishing design.
Type Set : One of each coin of a particular design, series or period.
U
Uncirculated : Coin that has never been used, thus retaining all or most of 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 on which the obverse and reverse are out of alignment.
Y
Year Set : Set of coins for any specific year containing one of each denominationDenomination (currency)
Denomination is a proper description of a currency amount, usually for coins or banknotes. Denominations may also be used with other means of payment like gift cards. See also Redenomination.-Subunit and super unit:...
of that year.
Z
ZincZinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
: A grey inexpensive metal, usually alloyed with copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
to make brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
coins, but is also used in pure form for emergency coinage when the usual coinage metal is not available due to war or other serious crisis. Much of the coinage struck in Nazi-Occupied Europe was tin-plated zinc.