Glossary of Common Numismatic Terms
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Alloy
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Substance composed of two or more metals
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American Numismatic Association (ANA)
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Nonprofit dedicated to the study of numismatics and hobby of coin collecting
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ANACS
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American Numismatic Association Certification Service
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Annealing
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Heating blanks (planchets) to remove or prevent internal stress
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Assay
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Analyzing to determine the purity of the metal
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Bag Marks
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A mark on a coin from contact with other coins in a mint bag
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Blank
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The blank piece of metal on which a coin design is stamped, also known as planchet
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Bullion
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Ingots, coins, or other issues that trade for their intrinsic metal value
Only precious metals are included as bullion |
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Business Strike
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A coin which was struck for use in general circulation, as opposed to a proof coin produced strictly for collector purposes
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CAC
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Certified Acceptance Corporation
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Cameo (CAM)
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A proof, or prooflike coin with exceptional contrast between the fields and the devices. On a cameo coin, the fields are mirrorlike, while the devices give a frosty appearance
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Circulated
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A term applied to a coin that has wear, ranging from slight rubbing to heavy wear
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Clad
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A term used to describe any of the modern "sandwich" coins that have layers of both copper and nickel
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Commemorative
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A special coin or medal issued to honor an outstanding person, place, or event
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Condition
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The state of preservation of a particular numismatic item
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Counterfeit
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A coin that is not genuine, a fake
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Denomination
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The value assigned to a specific coin
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Designer
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The artist who creates a coin’s design (but doesn’t necessarily engrave the design into a coinage die)
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| Device | Any specific design element |
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Die
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An engraved steel rod that is used to strike a design into a blank piece of metal to make a coin
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Edge
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The third side of a coin. It may be reeded, ornamented, or plain
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Engraver
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The person responsible for the design and/or punches used to craft a coin
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Error
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An improperly produced coin, overlooked in production, and later released into circulation
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Field
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The flat (or slightly curved) portion of a coin where there is no design
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First Strike
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A coin struck early in the life of a die
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Grade
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Rating which indicates how much a coin has worn from circulation
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High Relief
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A coin with deep concave fields, due to its design
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| Hub | Minting term for the steel device that is used to produce a die. |
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Incuse
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Opposite of relief, the part of a coin’s design that is pressed into the surface
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Intrinsic Value (Bullion Value)
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Current market value of the precious metal in a coin
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Legal Tender
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Coins, dollar bills or other currency issued by a government as official money
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| Legend | Any phrase that appears on a coin |
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Mint
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A place where coins of a country are manufactured under government authority
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Mint Mark
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Letter(s) stamped into a coin to denote the mint at which it was struck
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Mint Set
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A complete set of coins of each denomination produced by a particular mint
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| Motto | An inscription on a coin |
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NGC
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Numismatic Guaranty Corporation
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Numismatics
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The study and collecting of things that are used as money
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Obverse
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The front or "heads" side of a coin
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PCGS
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Professional Coin Grading Service
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Planchet
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The blank piece of metal on which a coin design is stamped
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Plated
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A coin with a thin layer of metal applied
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Proof
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A specially produced coin made from highly polished planchets and dies and often struck more than once to accent the design
These coins are specifically struck for collectors and investors, not for general circulation |
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Relief
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The portion of a coin’s design that is raised above the surface, opposite of incuse
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Reverse
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The back or "tails" side of a coin
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Rim
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The raised area around the edges of the obverse and reverse of a coin
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Series
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A particular design or motif used over a period of time
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Set
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A collection of coins in a series
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Slab
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The plastic holder in which a grading service will encapsulate a coin which has been graded
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Strike
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The process of stamping a coin blank with a design
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The coloring which has formed on the surface of a coin as a result of the metal's interaction with outside elements
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Type
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A date or group of dates encompassing all of a particular standard design
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Uncirculated
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A coin or numismatic item that has never been in circulation, a coin without wear
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Variety
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A minor change from the basic design type of a coin
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