Coin Nerds Coin Glossary

Your hub for coin collecting terminology, definitions, and deeper numismatic learning.

A

About Uncirculated (AU) – A coin grade for pieces that show only slight wear on the highest points while retaining most of their original detail. See more →

Adjustment Marks – Marks left on a planchet when metal was removed before striking so the blank would meet the proper weight standard. See more →

Alloy – A mixture of two or more metals used in making coins. See more →

Altered Coin – A coin that has been changed after leaving the mint, such as by cleaning, tooling, engraving, or modifying the date or mint mark. See more →

Annealing – A heating process used to soften metal so it can be properly struck into a coin. See more →

Artificial Toning – Color on a coin that has been created or accelerated unnaturally rather than forming over time. See more →

B

Bag Marks – Small contact marks or nicks caused when coins hit one another in mint bags or bulk storage. See more →

Bank Roll – A wrapped roll of coins prepared by a bank or similar institution. See more →

Blank (Planchet) – A round metal disk prepared for striking into a coin. See more →

Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) – A term for an uncirculated coin that still has bright original luster and no wear from circulation. See more →

Broadstrike – An error coin struck without the restraining collar, causing the coin to spread wider than normal. See more →

Business Strike – A regular coin struck for circulation rather than specially made for collectors. See more →

C

Cameo – A proof coin with visible contrast between frosted design elements and mirror-like fields. See more →

Carbon Spots – Dark spots, often seen on copper coins, caused by impurities, oxidation, or surface contamination. See more →

Circulated – A coin that has been used in commerce and shows wear from handling. See more →

Clad Coin – A coin made from bonded layers of different metals. See more →

Cleaning – Any attempt to remove dirt, toning, or discoloration from a coin’s surface, often reducing collector value. See more →

Coin Grading – The process of evaluating a coin’s condition and assigning it a grade. See more →

Commemorative Coin – A coin issued to honor a person, place, event, or theme. See more →

Condition Census – A list of the finest known examples of a specific coin issue. See more →

Copper (Cu) – A reddish metal used in many coins and coin alloys. See more →

Counterfeit – A fake coin made to imitate a genuine one. See more →

Cull Coin – A heavily worn or damaged coin with little collector value beyond type or metal content. See more →

D

Deep Cameo (DCAM) – A proof coin with especially strong contrast between frosted devices and mirrored fields. See more →

Denomination – The face value of a coin, such as cent, nickel, dime, or quarter. See more →

Denticles – Small tooth-like design elements near the rim of some coins. See more →

Die – A hardened metal tool used to strike the coin’s design onto a planchet. See more →

Die Break – A raised irregular line or blob on a coin caused by a break in the die. See more →

Die Clash – An error that happens when the obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a planchet between them. See more →

Die Crack – A raised line on a coin caused by a crack in the die that struck it. See more →

Die Variety – A coin with a design difference caused by a specific die. See more →

Double Die – A die variety created when the die receives more than one misaligned impression, producing doubled features on struck coins. See more →

D Mint Mark – The mint mark showing a coin was struck at the Denver Mint. See more →

E

Edge – The outer side of a coin between the obverse and reverse. See more →

Error Coin – A coin with a mistake made during the minting process. See more →

Eye Appeal – The overall visual attractiveness of a coin. See more →

F

Face Value – The legal value assigned to a coin for spending. See more →

Field – The flat background area of a coin behind the main design elements. See more →

Fine (F) – A circulated grade in which moderate wear is visible, but major details remain clear. See more →

Full Red (RD) – A designation for copper coins that retain nearly all of their original red color. See more →

Full Steps (Nickel) – A designation for Jefferson nickels with clearly defined steps on Monticello. See more →

Full Bands (Dime) – A designation for certain dimes with fully separated horizontal bands in the design. See more →

G

Gem BU – A high-quality Brilliant Uncirculated coin with strong luster, eye appeal, and minimal marks. See more →

Gold Coin – A coin made primarily of gold. See more →

Grade – A rating used to describe a coin’s condition. See more →

Grading Scale – The system used to assign coin grades, commonly ranging from Poor-1 to Mint State-70. See more →

H

Hairlines – Fine scratches on a coin’s surface, often caused by cleaning or mishandling. See more →

High Relief – A coin design with elements raised more prominently above the field than usual. See more →

Holed Coin – A coin that has been drilled or pierced, often for jewelry or display. See more →

I

Impaired Proof – A proof coin that has been circulated, mishandled, or damaged after leaving the mint. See more →

Incuse Design – A design that is sunken into the surface of the coin rather than raised above it. See more →

J

No glossary terms currently listed under J.

K

Key Date – A scarce or important date in a coin series that collectors especially seek. See more →

L

Lamination Error – A mint error caused by defects or impurities in the metal, leading to peeling or flaking surfaces. See more →

Legal Tender – Money officially recognized by law for paying debts. See more →

Lincoln Cent – The United States one-cent coin featuring Abraham Lincoln, first introduced in 1909. See more →

Lincoln Memorial Cent – The Lincoln cent reverse design used from 1959 to 2008 featuring the Lincoln Memorial. See more →

Luster – The original shine or cartwheel effect created on a coin during the minting process. See more →

M

Mint – A facility where coins are produced. See more →

Mint Error – A mistake that occurs during the manufacturing of a coin at the mint. See more →

Mint Mark – A small letter on a coin showing which mint produced it. See more →

Mint Set – A set of uncirculated coins issued by the mint, usually containing coins from one or more facilities for a specific year. See more →

Mintage – The number of coins struck for a particular date, denomination, and mint. See more →

MS (Mint State) – A grading term used for uncirculated coins that show no wear from circulation. See more →

N

Numismatics – The study and collection of coins, paper money, tokens, and related items. See more →

O

Obverse – The front side of a coin, usually the side with the main portrait or principal design. See more →

Off-Center Strike – An error coin struck when the planchet is not properly centered between the dies. See more →

Overdate – A date variety created when one year is stamped over another on the die. See more →

P

Patina – A natural surface film or color that develops on a coin over time. See more →

Pattern Coin – An experimental or trial coin struck to test a design, denomination, or metal before regular production. See more →

Penny – The common nickname for the United States one-cent coin. See more →

Planchet – A prepared metal blank ready to be struck into a coin. See more →

Proof Coin – A specially made coin struck for collectors, usually with sharper detail and specially prepared surfaces. See more →

Proof Set – A set of proof coins issued by the mint for collectors. See more →

Q

No glossary terms currently listed under Q.

R

Reeded Edge – An edge with evenly spaced grooves, commonly found on dimes, quarters, and other denominations. See more →

Red-Brown (RB) – A copper color designation showing a mix of original red and brown surfaces. See more →

Red (RD) – A copper color designation for coins that retain most of their original red mint color. See more →

Reverse – The back side of a coin. See more →

Rim – The raised border around the outer edge of a coin. See more →

Roll Hunting – The practice of searching coin rolls for collectible dates, mint marks, silver, varieties, or errors. See more →

S

San Francisco Mint (S) – The mint mark showing a coin was struck at the San Francisco Mint. See more →

Scratches – Lines or cuts on a coin’s surface caused by contact, mishandling, or damage. See more →

Seigniorage – The profit earned when the face value of a coin exceeds its production cost. See more →

Silver Coin – A coin made primarily of silver or containing significant silver content. See more →

Slab – A sealed plastic holder used by third-party grading services to protect and certify a coin. See more →

Spotting – Small discolored spots that appear on a coin’s surface. See more →

Strike – The impression made when the dies press a design into the planchet. See more →

Strike Quality – How fully and sharply a coin’s design was brought up during the striking process. See more →

Surface Preservation – The degree to which a coin’s surfaces remain free from marks, damage, or impairment. See more →

T

Toning – Color that develops on a coin’s surface over time through natural chemical reactions. See more →

Type Coin – A coin collected as a representative example of a design type rather than by every date and mint mark. See more →

U

Uncirculated – A coin that shows no wear caused by circulation. See more →

V

Variety – A coin with a distinct difference caused by the die or minting process, while still being part of a regular issue. See more →

Very Fine (VF) – A circulated grade showing moderate wear while most major design details remain clear. See more →

Very Good (VG) – A lower circulated grade in which the major design is still outlined, but with heavy wear. See more →

W

Wear – The loss of detail on a coin caused by handling and circulation. See more →

Wheat Penny – The Lincoln cent issued from 1909 to 1958 with two wheat ears on the reverse. See more →

Whizzing – An improper surface alteration that creates an artificial shine using a tool or brush. See more →

Wire Rim – A thin raised fin of metal at the rim caused by striking pressure or die conditions. See more →

World Coins – Coins issued by countries other than the United States. See more →