Learn the Lingo for Coin Collecting.

About Good

The grade AG-3. The grade of a coin that falls short of Good. Only the main features of the coin are present in this grade. Peripheral lettering, date, stars, etc. sometimes are partially worn away.

 

About Uncirculated

The grades AU50, 53, 55, and 58. A coin that on first glance appears Uncirculated but upon closer inspection has slight friction or rub.

 

Abrasions

Area(s) of a coin where a foreign object or another coin has displaced metal in an abraded fashion. Similar to a bag mark but usually on the high points or open fields and not as deep or acute as the former.

 

Accumulation

A miscellaneous grouping of coins, often as a monetary hoard. Opposite of a coin collection. A second use is as a grouping of a particular date, type, or series. (Example: an accumulation–of Bust Halves.)

 

Adjustment Marks

Pre-striking file marks seen mainly on gold and silver coins prior to 1840. These removed excess metal from overweight planchets. After 1840 these are seldom seen as the filing was on the rim and was usually obliterated by the striking process.

 

AG-3

This is for "About Good" (the grade) and "3" (the corresponding numerical designation). Most of the lettering on the coin is readable, but there is moderately heavy wear into the rims. This grade is frequently found on Barber coins where the obverse is fully Good (or better) but the reverse is heavily worn.

 

AGW (Actual Gold Weight)

This refers to the amount of pure gold in a coin, medal or bar. Any alloys are part of the gross weight of a gold coin, but not part of the AGW.

 

Album Friction

Similar to album slide marks, though the friction may be only slight rubbing on the high points.

 

Album Slide Marks

Lines, usually parallel, imparted to the surface of a coin by the plastic “slide” of an album.

 

Alloy

A combination of two or more metals.

 

Almost Uncirculated

Alternate of About Uncirculated.

 

Alteration

A coin that has a date, mintmark, or other feature that has been changed, added or removed, usually to simulate a rarer issue.

 

American Eagle

In 1986, the U.S. Mint began selling silver bullion coins in the denomination of $1. The next year, they added a series of gold coins to the series, eventually expanding to 1/10, ¼, ½, and 1-ounce gold versions. Each coin features a family of eagles on the reverse, hence the name.

 

American Numismatic Association

A non-profit numismatic organization founded in 1888 for the advancement of numismatics.

 

ANA

Short for “American Numismatic Association.”

 

ANACS – (American Numismatic Association Certification Service)

Originally, the only authentication was offered, grading was added later. The grading service and acronym were sold by the ANA and now operate under this name as a third-party grading service.

 

ANACS Certificate

A uniquely numbered opinion of authenticity and/or grade from the ANA Certification Service. The ANA now only authenticates, having sold the name and grading service.

 

Ancients

The general term for coins of the world struck circa 600 B.C. to circa 450 A.D.

 

Annealing

The heating of a die or planchet to soften the metal before preparation of the die or striking of the coin.

 

ANS

Short for "American Numismatic Society."

 

Anvil Die

The lower die, usually the reverse – although, on some issues with striking problems, the obverse was employed as the lower die. Because of the physics of minting, the fixed lower-die impression is slightly better struck than the upper-die impression.

 

Arrows

Design element usually found on the left (viewer’s right) claw of the eagle seen on many United States coins. After 1807, there usually were three arrows while prior to that time the bundle consisted of numerous ones.

 

Arrows and Rays

A term referring to the quarter and a half dollar of 1853. The rays were removed in 1854 because of striking difficulties presented by the busy design.

 

Arrows at Date

A term referring to the arrows to the left and right of the date, added to the dies to indicate a weight increase or decrease.

 

Artificial Toning

Colouring added to the surface of a coin by chemicals and/or heat. Many different methods have been employed over the years.

 

Ask

The selling quotation of a coin either on a trading network, pricing newsletter, or another medium.

 

Assay

To analyze and determine the purity of a metallic alloy.

 

Attributes

The elements that make up a coin’s grade. The main ones are marks (hairlines for Proofs), lustre, strike, and eye appeal.

 

AU-50

This is for "About Uncirculated" (the grade) and "50" (the numerical designation of that grade). Also called "Almost Uncirculated-50." This is the lowest of the four AU grades, with the others being AU53, AU55, and AU58. Between 50% and 100% of the surfaces will exhibit lustre disturbances, and perhaps the only lustre still in evidence will be in the protected areas. The high points of the coin will have wear that is easily visible to the naked eye.

 

AU-53

This is for "About Uncirculated" (the grade) and "53" (the numerical designation of that grade). Also called "Almost Uncirculated-53." There is obvious wear on the high points with light friction covering 50-75% of the fields. There are noticeable lustre breaks, with most of the lustre still intact in the protected areas.

 

AU-55

This is for "About Uncirculated" (the grade) and "55" (the numerical designation of that grade). Also called "Almost Uncirculated-55." There is slight wear on the high points with minor friction in the fields. Luster can range from almost nonexistent to virtually full, but it will be missing from the high points. The grade of "Choice AU" equates to AU55.

 

AU-58

This is for "About Uncirculated" (the grade) and "58" (the numerical designation of that grade). Also called "Almost Uncirculated-58." There is the slightest wear on the high points, even though it may be necessary to tilt the coin towards the light source to see the friction. In many cases, the reverse of an AU58 coin will be fully Mint State. Less than 10% of the surface area will show lustre breaks. The grade of "Borderline Unc" equates to AU58.

 

Auction

An offering of coins for sale where the buyer must bid against other potential buyers, as opposed to ordering from a catalogue, price list, or advertisement at a set price.

 

Authentication

The process of determining the genuineness of a coin or other numismatic item.

 

The Coin Shown Below is a 1952 Franklin Half Dollar. Knowing The Coin Anatomy Terms are The Basics When Talking With Other Collectors or Dealers. Certain Terms Such as The Motto, Date, Mint Mark, Designer’s Initials, and Denomination are Located Differently on Different Coins. Study and Know The Lingo Well.

 

 

 

Date 

The year in which the coin was minted or produced.

 

Denomination 

Represents the monetary value of the coin.

 

Designer’s Initials 

Almost all coins have the designer’s initials on the coin somewhere. You may have to hunt for them, on this coin they are ‘JRS’ for John R. Sinnock.

 

Edge 

The very outside of the coin which can be plain (smooth), decorated, or reeded.

 

Field 

The flat surface of the coin that serves as a background and is unused.

 

Legend 

This refers to the main lettering of the coin or inscription. It will usually state the country where the coin came from.

 

Mint Mark 

The letter or symbol on the coin that indicates where the coin was minted or struck. In the US, single letters are used to locate the city. The coin above has a ‘D’ which represents Denver, Colorado. The following may be found in US coins: 

 

 

P or Blank – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

W – West Point, New York

D – Denver, Colorado

S – San Francisco, California

C – Charlotte, North Carolina

CC – Carson City, Nevada

D – Dahlonega, Georgia (1838–1861)

O – New Orleans, Louisiana

Motto 

The Motto for most US coins includes ‘E Pluribus Unum’ and ‘In God We Trust’. Older US coins differ.

 

Obverse 

This is the term given to the front of the coin or the ‘head’ side.

 

Portrait 

Probably the defining item of the coin is the portrait on the Obverse side. In most cases, it is a US President or historical figure as well as Lady Liberty. 

 

Relief 

This refers to any part of a coin that is raised and not the field.

 

Reverse 

This is the term given to the backside of the coin or the ‘tails’ side.

 

Rim 

The outer edge that is slightly raised making coins easier to stack and serves as protection for the face of the coin.