AG (about good):
the grade of a coin that is very heavily worn
American Numismatic
Association (ANA): nonprofit educational organization
that encourages the study of money throughout the world
ANACS: an
independent coin grading service
AU (about uncirculated):
the grade of a coin that may appear uncirculated, but
has traces of light wear
annealing: the
heating of a die or planchet to soften the metal before preparation
of the die or striking of the coin
assay: to
analyze and determine the characteristics and composition of a metal
attributes: the
elements of a coin that help determine grade, such as marks, luster,
strike and eye appeal
bag mark: a
mark on a coin from contact with other coins in a US Mint bag
blank:
the blank, flat piece of metal on which a coin design is struck (identical
to planchet)
BN (brown): a
term applied to a copper coin without the original red color of copper
BU (brilliant uncirculated):
the grade of a coin without any signs of wear that
has never been in circulation (identical to mint state or uncirculated)
bullion: gold
or silver in the form of coins, bars or ingots
burnishing: a
process in which the surfaces of a planchet or coin are made to shine
through rubbing or polishing
business strike:
a coin produced for general circulation, unlike a proof
coin, which is specifically produced for collectors
CAM (cameo): a
term applied to a proof coin that has frosted devices and lettering
that contrast with the fields
carbon spot: a
brown to black spot of oxidation on the surface of a coin
cartwheel: an
effect seen on some coins under a bright light source, where the luster
rotates like the spokes of a wagon wheel
circulated: a
coin with any type of wear
clad coin: a
coin that has an outer layer of one metal that is bonded to a core
of a different metal
cleaned: a
term applied to a coin whose original surface has been altered or
removed
CN (copper nickel):
an alloy of copper and nickel used in early cents and
nickels
coin: a
flat piece of metal issued by a governmental authority as money
commemorative: a
special coin or medal issued to honor an outstanding person, place,
or event in history
condition: the
physical state of a coin
corrosion: damage resulting from reactive
chemicals upon metals
counterfeit: a fake piece of currency made to
appear genuine
cud: an
area of a coin struck by a die that has a complete break across part
of its surface
currency: any
kind of money used as a medium of exchange
DCAM (deep cameo):
a term applied to a proof coin that has deeply frosted
devices and lettering that contrast with the fields
denomination:
the value assigned by a governmental authority to a specific coin,
such as cent, nickel, dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar
dentils: the
toothlike devices around the rim of many coins
device: a specific
design element on a coin
die: an
engraved stamp used for impressing a design on a blank piece of metal
to produce a coin
die break: a
defect in a die that has cracked during use and impacts the strike
of a coin
designer: an artist who creates a coin design ding: a small
to medium size mark on a coin
dipped: a
term for a coin that has been placed in a mild acid wash solution
to remove toning
DMPL (deep mirror prooflike):
a term applied to a coin with deeply reflective mirrorlike
fields
doubled die: a
die that has been struck more than once by a hub in misaligned positions,
resulting in the doubling of design elements
double struck: a
coin that has not been ejected from the dies and is struck a second
time
edge: the
"third side" of a coin that may be plain, reeded or ornamented
EF
(extremely fine): the grade of a coin that is slightly worn with sharp
and well defined features
engraver: an
artist who sculpts a model of a coin design
environmental damage:
damage to a coin that results from exposure to the
elements
error coin: an
improperly produced coin that was overlooked in production and released
into circulation
F (fine):
the grade of a coin that has moderate to considerable even wear throughout
fasces:
a Roman symbol of authority used on the reverse side of a
Mercury dime, with a bundle of rods wrapped around an ax with a protruding
blade
FB (full bands):
a term used for a Mercury dime where the central bands
of the fasces on the reverse side are fully separated
FBL (full bell lines):
a term used for a Franklin half dollar where the lower
set of lines on the Liberty Bell are fully visible
FH (full head):
a term used for a Standing Liberty quarter where the
helmet on Miss Liberty's head has full detail
field:
the area of a
coin's surface with no design or inscription
first strike: a
coin struck early in the life of a die
flip: a clear plastic coin
holder
frost: a crystallized-metal effect visible in the recessed
areas of a die
frosted devices:
raised elements on coins struck with treated dies that
have frost in their recessed areas
FS (full steps):
a term used for a Jefferson nickel where 5 1/2 or 6
steps are fully defined on the portrait of Monticello
G (good): the
grade of a coin that is heavily worn with the design visible but faint
in areas
gem: a generic term used for a superb coin
grade: a
rating that indicates the amount of wear and preservation of a coin
hairline: a
thin line or scratch on a coin that may result from cleaning or polishing
haze:
a cloudy film visible on the surface of a coin
holder:
any device for housing a coin
hub:
the steel device from which a die
is produced
ICG (Independent Coin
Graders): an independent coin grading service
incuse: the
part of a coin's design that is pressed into the surface
inscription:
the words stamped on a coin or medal
key date: a
scarce date usually required to complete a coin collection
legal tender:
all currency issued by a governmental authority as official money
legend:
a principal phrase on a coin
loupe:
a magnifying glass used to examine coins
luster: the
amount and strength of light reflected from the surface of a coin
lustrous: a term used to describe the original mint luster on a coin
Matte Proof: an
experimental proof strike with sandblasted or acid-pickled surfaces
medal: a
metal coinlike item issued by a governmental authority to recognize
an event, place, person or group
mint: a facility where coins are
produced under governmental authority
mintage:
the total number of coins produced at a specific mint in a specific
year
mint mark: a
small letter on a coin that identifies the US Mint facility where
the coin was struck
mint set: a complete set of coins of each denomination
produced by a mint
mint state (MS): a
coin without any signs of wear that has never been in circulation
(identical to brilliant uncirculated or uncirculated)
mottled: uneven
toning characterized by splotchy areas of drab colors
motto: a
word or phrase on a coin that expresses a guiding principle
MS (mint state):
a coin without any signs of wear that has never been
in circulation (identical to brilliant uncirculated or uncirculated)
NGC (Numismatic Guaranty
Corporation): an independent coin grading service
numismatics: the study or collection of coins, tokens, paper money
and medals
obverse: the
front or "heads" side of a coin
off-center: a
coin that is struck off-center by a coin press and is missing portions
of its design
original roll:
coins in fixed quantities, wrapped in paper and stored at the time
of issuance
overstrike: a
coin produced over a previously struck coin
pattern: an experimental
coin usually used to test a new design or composition
PCGS (Professional Coin
Grading Service): an independent coin grading service
PL (prooflike):
a term used for a business strike Morgan dollar with
a mirror-like surface
planchet:
the blank, flat piece of metal on
which a coin design is struck (identical to blank)
PQ (premium quality):
a term applied to coins that are the finest examples
within a particular grade
PR (proof): a
coin produced for collectors from highly polished planchets and dies,
often struck twice to accent the design
pristine: a
term applied to coins in original, unimpaired condition
prooflike:
a term used to describe the mirror-like surfaces on business strike
coins that resemble proof coins
proof set:
a complete set of proof coins of each denomination produced by a mint
PVC: a
chemical used in coin flips (polyvinyl chloride)
raw: a
coin that has not been encapsulated by a grading service
RB (red brown):
a term applied to a copper coin that has between 5%
- 95% of its original color remaining
RD (red): a
term applied to a copper coin that has maintained 95% or more of its
original color
relief: the part of a coin's design that is raised
above the surface
replica: a
copy or reproduction of a coin
restrike: a coin that is minted using
the original dies, but at a later date
reverse: the back or "tails"
side of a coin
riddler:
a machine that screens out blanks or planchets that are the wrong
size or shape
rim: the
raised area around the edges on both sides of a coin
roll: a package
of a specific number of coins by denomination
series:
a collection of coins that contains all dates and mint marks of a
specific design and denomination
Sheldon
Scale:
the numeric grading system from 1 through 70 that was devised by Dr.
William Sheldon in 1948 for Large Cents and later adopted by the coin
industry for all coins
slab:
a permanent protective coin encapsulation provided by independent
grading services that indicates the date, mint mark and grade of a
coin
slider: a
term used for an AU (about uncirculated) coin that looks like or is
sold as an uncirculated coin
SMS (special mint set):
a set of coins, neither business strike nor proof,
that was struck by the US Mint between 1965-1967 to replace proof
sets
strike: the
process of stamping a coin blank or planchet with a design
surface(s):
the entire area of a coin, although often used to indicate the field
areas only
toning:
the coloration changes of a coin caused by the reactive metal composition
type: a
variation in design, size or composition of a specific coin design
type set: a collection of all coins of a specific denomination
uncirculated:
a coin without any signs of wear that has never been in circulation
(identical to mint state or brilliant uncirculated)
upsetting mill: a
machine that raises the rim on both sides of a blank or planchet
variety: a
change from the basic design type of a coin
VF (very fine):
the grade of a coin with light to moderate wear on
the highest points of the design and clear major details
VG (very good):
the grade of a coin that is well worn with clear main
features
whizzing:
the process of mechanically moving the surface
metal of a coin to simulate luster
XF (extremely fine):
the grade of a coin that is lightly worn with sharp
and well defined features (identical to EF)
