|
This article is an attempt to combine and condense Numismatic and coin collecting terms into concise, informative explainations for the beginner or professional.
Numismatics (ancient Greek: νομισματική) is the scientific study of money and its history in all its varied forms. ...
Coin collecting is the hobby of collecting coins. ...
Numismatics (ancient Greek: νομισματική) is the scientific study of money and its history in all its varied forms. While numismatists are often characterized as studying coins, the discipline also includes the study of banknotes, stock certificates, medals, medallions, and tokens (also referred to as Exonumia).
Money Money is any marketable good or token trusted by a society to be used as a store of value, a medium of exchange, and a unit of account. ...
word coinage CoÃn (a town in Malaga province in Spain) 25¢ Canadian coin A coin is usually a piece of hard material, generally metal and usually in the shape of a disc, which is issued by a government to be used as a form of money. ...
A £20 Ulster Bank banknote. ...
A Medal can mean three things: a wearable medal awarded by a government for services to a country (such as Armed force service); strictly speaking this only refers to a medal of coin-like appearance, but informally the word also refers to an Order (decoration); a table medal awarded by...
A New York City Subway token. ...
Exonumia is the study of coin-like objects such as tokens, token coins and medals, and other items used in place of legal currency or for commemoration. ...
Coins
Alloy - Homogenous mixture of two or more elements, where the resulting compound has metallic properties.
Altered Date - False date on a coin, usually to make it appear more rare.
Bag Mark - Surface mark, or nick, on a coin usually from contact with other coins in a mint bag.
Billon - Low-grade alloy of gold or silver with a high percentage of another metal, usually copper.
Blank - Prepared form of metal on which the coin design will be stamped.
Bronze - Copper base alloy with zinc and tin.
Bullion - Precious metals (platnium, gold and silver) in the form of bars, ingots or plate, or where quantity is considered as a valuation.
Business Strike - Uncirculated coin inteded for use in commerce
Cast Coins - Coins produced by pouring metal into a mold
Cent - One one-hundreth of the basic monetary unit.
Certified Coin - Coin that has been graded and authenticated by one of numerous independent grading services.
Clad Coinage - Issues of coins that contain a center core and outer layer of differing alloys.
Collar - Outer ring of the die chamber that holds the blank in place while the obverese and reverse are being pressed.
Contact Marks - Minor abrasions on uncirculated coinage from contact with other coins.
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 - Dollar-size silver coin, originally called a Thaler, first struck in the late 1400's by the Holy Roman Empire, and soon adopted by most European countries and their colonies.
Designer - Artist or creator of a coin's design.
Die - Metal piece engraved with the design used for stamping the coin.
Die Crack - Fine raised line on a coin that was caused by a broken die.
Die Defect - Imperfection of various sorts caused by a dameged die.
Die Variety - Minor alterations in the basic design ofa coin throughout it's lifespan.
Dipped, Dipping - Chemical cleaning of a coin with a diluted acid.
Double Eagle - United States gold $20.00 coin.
Double Die - Die that received two misalinged impressions from a hub; more commonly, a coin struck by such a die.
Doubloon - Popular name of a Spanish gold coin originally valued at $16.00.
Eagle- United States $10.00 gold coin as well as all bullion pieces made from 1986 through the present.
Edge - Rim of a coin often containing a series of reeds, lettering or other decoration.
Electrotype - Reproduction made by electrodeposition frequently used in museum displays.
Electrum - Naturally occurring mixture of gold and silver used in some of the world's first coinage.
Encapsulated Coins - Authenticated, graded and preseved 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.
Field - Background area of a coin not used for a design or inscription.
Filler - Coin that is worn but rare enough for inclusion in a collection.
Fineness - Purity of precious metal content expressed in terms of one thousand parts. 90% is expressed as .900 fine.
Flan - Blank metal piece before striking, also called a planchet.
Gem - Coin of exceptionally high condition.
Hub - Positive-image punch that impress' the coins design onto a die.
Incuse - Part of the coins design that has been impressed below the surface.
Inscription - Lettering and wording on a coin.
Intrinsic Value - Value of the raw precious metal content of a coin.
Key Coin - Rarest or highest valued coin within a series.
Laureate - Head crowned with a laurel wreath.
Legal Tender - Officially issued and redeemable from an authorized agency or government.
Legend - Principle inscription on a coin.
Lettered Edge - Narrow edge of a coin containing an inscription.
Luster - Appearance of a coins ability to reflect light; brilliance.
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 coin.
Mintmark - Small letter (or other symbol) indicating which mint the coin was struck at.
Mint Set - Set of uncirculated coins packaged and sold by the mint.
Motto - Inspirational phrase or wording.
Mule - Coin struck from two dies not intended to be used together.
Obverse - Front or face 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.
Patina - Surface film caused by oxidation, usually green or brown, mostly found on ancient copper or bronze coins.
Pattern - Experimential or trial coin of a new design, denomination or metal.
Pedigree - Record of previous owners of a rare coin.
Planchet - Blank prepared piece of metal on which the coin is struck.
Proofs - Coins specially struck for collectors using polished dies and planchets.
Proof Set - Set of proof coins packaged and sold by the mint.
Quarter Eagle - United States $2.50 coin.
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.
Restrike - Coin struck from genuine dies at a date later than the original issue.
Reverse - Back side of the coin.
Rim - Raised portion of the design along the edge, that protects the coin from wear.
Round - Round one ounce silver bullion piece.
Series - Set of years coin was minted with a specific design and denomination.
Slab - Plastic case containing a coin that has been graded and encapsulated.
Spot Price - Quoted market value of precious metals in bullion form.
Token - Privately-issued piece that has redeemable value for goods or services, but not an official government coin.
Trade Dollar - Silver dollar issued specifically for trade with a foreign country.
Truncation - Sharply cut off bottom edge of a portrait or bust.
Type - Coin's basic distinguishing design.
Type Set - One of each coin of a particular design, series or period.
Uncirculated - Coin that has never been used, thus retaining it's original luster.
Unique - Item of which only one is known to exist.
Variety - Coin's design that sets it apart from the normal issue.
Year Set - Set of coins for any specific year containing one of each denomination of that year.
General Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d Appearance metallic yellow Atomic mass 196. ...
General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Atomic mass 107. ...
General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic brown Atomic mass 63. ...
General Name, Symbol, Number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Atomic mass 65. ...
General Name, Symbol, Number tin, Sn, 50 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 5, p Appearance silvery lustrous gray Atomic mass 118. ...
Electroplating is the the coating of an electrically conductive item with a layer of metal using electrical current. ...
Currency Back - Preferred term for the reverse side of a note.
Back Plate Number - Small number found on the lower right side of the back of a bill. Officially known as a Check Number, it provides a cross-reference to the Plate Serial Number on the front.
Bank Note - Paper currency issued by a bank as opposed to a government.
BEP - The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (United States).
Border - Outer edge of the design on the back and front where the design ends and plain currency paper begins.
Brick - Unit of measurement used by the BEP. A strap is 100 notes banded together, forty straps make a brick. Consists of 4000 notes weighing about 81/2 pounds.
Broken Bank Note - Currency issued by a now defunct bank. Also referred to as obsolete banknote.
Check Number - Small number found on the lower right of a note, used to cross reference plate numbers.
Condition - Grade or state of presevation of paper currency.
Continental Currency - Paper money first issued in 1775 by the Continental Congress, originally backed by Spanish milled dollars.
Counterfeit - Currency specifically created to look like genuine currency with the intent to defraud.
Currency - Legal tender referring usually to paper money, but can be applied to coins and notes.
Denomination - Face value or amount a coin or note is worth.
District Number - The Federal Reserve District Number appears four times on the face of a bill for identifaction purposes.
Engraving - Labor intensive process where the design of a bill is engraved onto a steel printing plate.
Error Note - Piece of currency that has a manufacturing mistake or misprint.
Face - Prefered term for the front side of paper currency.
Federal Reseve District Seal - Found to the left of the portrait on United States currency, it identifies the Federal Reserve Bank that issued the note.
Federal Reserve Bank Note - Series of U.S. paper money once authorized by the Federal Reseve, now obsolete. The bank that issued the note was obligated not the Federal Reseve System.
Federal Reserve Note - The only form of money now being printed by the United States.
Gold Certificate - Form of U.S. paper money redeemable for gold coin at one time.
Grade - Condition or state of preservation of a piece of paper money.
Greenback - Issued in 1861 as a Demand Note. Green Ink used as an anti-counterfeiting measure. Today, almost all US currency is termed "Greenback".
Horseblanket - Popular term for large size U.S. notes.
Large Size - Refers to U.S. paper money that measures 7 3/8 x 3 1/8 inches, issued from 1861 to 1928.
Micro-Printing - Anti-counterfeiting measure where printing within certain areas can be as small as six thousandths of an inch.
Obverse - Front side of paper money, preferred term being face.
Press - High speed machinery on which paper money is printed.
Printing Plate - Sheet of steel onto which the note design has been engraved.
Replacement Note - A note printed with a special symbol before the serial number, or with a special serial number prefix, used to replace notes damaged during the manufacturing process. US replacement notes are called Star Notes because a five pointed star is positioned at the beginning or end of the serial number. Older Canadian replacement notes are known as asterisk notes because an asterisk preceded the serial number. Modern Canadian replacement notes use a special serial number prefix. Other countries may use different methods.
Reverse - Back side of paper money.
Security Thread - Anti-counterfeiting measure of a polymer strip embedded into the currency paper. Usually visible when held to bright light and glows red when held to ultraviolet.
Serial Number - Identifying number on a note, used to track production and anti-counterfeiting. Serial numbers on US notes are on the face, but other countries' notes can have them on the back or on both sides.
Series Date - Notes are dated when they were authorized or first issued. Notes carry that same date throughout their lifespan.
Silver Certificate - Once redeemable for silver and still considered legal tender at face value. Issued by the U.S. government in 1878.
Small Size - Refers to modern U.S. paper currency that measures 6 1/8 x 2 5/8 inches, first issued in 1929.
Star Note - See replacement note above.
Syngraphics - Word coined in 1974 to denote the study and collecting of paper money. Based on the latin word syngrapha, meaning a written promise to pay.
Treasury Note - Also known as a coin note, they were first issued in 1890 and redeemable for gold and silver coins.
Vignette - Picture on a note that fades into the background rather than being framed by a border.
Watermark - Embedded anti-counterfeiting design created by varying the density and thickness of the paper. Can be seen when held up to light.
Credit
References |
Feeds |
Contact