Reference
Glossary of Numismatic Terms 📖
A beginner-friendly guide to the most common terms used in coin collecting, grading, minting, and variety attribution.
Introduction
Numismatics is the study and collecting of coins, medals, tokens, and related objects. If you are new to the hobby, many of the terms used by collectors, dealers, and auction houses can seem technical at first. This glossary explains key numismatic terms in simple language, with a focus on practical coin collecting use.
The page is designed as a quick reference for beginners, but it is also useful for experienced collectors looking up grading, design, die, and variety terminology.
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A
About Uncirculated (AU)
A grade used mainly in the American system for a coin that has only slight wear on the highest points. It is close to uncirculated but not fully mint state.
Alloy
A metal made by combining two or more elements. Many coins are struck in alloy rather than pure metal.
For example, British silver coins changed alloy composition in 1920, when silver content was reduced.
Attribute / Attribution
To identify a coin correctly by type, date, variety, die pairing, mintmark, or other distinguishing feature.
B
Beading
A border made up of small raised beads around the edge of a coin design. This is often seen on obverse and reverse borders of British milled coins.
Bust
The portrait of the ruler or person shown on the coin, usually including the head, neck, and upper chest.
Changes in bust style can help identify different coinages or varieties within the same reign.
C
Circulated
A coin that has been used in everyday commerce and shows wear from handling.
Clipped
A coin with part of its edge missing. Historically, clipping could result from deliberate removal of precious metal or from damage.
Currency Strike
A coin struck for normal circulation rather than specially produced as a proof or presentation issue.
D
Date
The year shown on a coin. In numismatics, the exact position, style, or spacing of the date may also be important for identifying varieties.
Denticles
Small tooth-like projections forming a border near the rim of a coin. They are common on many British coins and can help in variety study.
Denomination
The face value of a coin, such as farthing, penny, shilling, florin, halfcrown, or crown.
Die
A metal tool engraved with the design used to strike a coin. One die is used for the obverse and another for the reverse.
Die Pair / Die Pairing
The specific combination of obverse die and reverse die used to strike a coin. This is especially important in detailed variety attribution.
Double Strike
A striking error where the coin is struck more than once, causing doubled or shifted design details.
E
Edge
The outer side of a coin between the obverse and reverse. It may be plain, milled, grained, lettered, or decorated.
EF / Extremely Fine
A grading term for a coin with only light wear and much of the original detail still sharp.
Exergue
The space on a coin, usually on the reverse below the main design, often separated by a line. Dates, mintmarks, or inscriptions may appear in the exergue.
F
Field
The flat background area of a coin behind the main design and inscriptions.
Fine (F)
A grade indicating a clearly worn coin, but with the main design and lettering still visible.
Flan
Another word for the blank piece of metal prepared for striking into a coin. The word planchet is often used in a similar way.
G
Grade / Grading
The process of assessing a coin’s condition based on wear, sharpness, damage, lustre, eye appeal, and other factors.
H
High Points
The highest parts of the coin design, which are usually the first areas to show wear.
L
Legend
The inscription or wording that appears around a coin, often naming the ruler or giving titles.
Lustre
The original surface shine created when a coin is struck. Lustre is an important part of assessing higher-grade coins.
M
Medal Alignment
When a coin is turned vertically and both sides remain upright. This differs from coin alignment.
Milled Coinage
Coins produced by machine rather than by hammer. In British numismatics, milled coinage begins in 1662 and is a major collecting field.
Mint State
A coin showing no circulation wear. It may still have marks from handling, storage, or manufacture, but it has not entered normal circulation.
Mintmark
A small mark or symbol indicating the mint where a coin was produced, or sometimes a special issue context.
On some British coins, mintmarks are important for identifying where or under what circumstances the coin was struck.
Mintage
The number of coins struck for a particular issue, date, or variety.
Mule
A coin struck using an obverse and reverse that were not intended to be paired together. Mules can be rare and highly collectable.
N
Numismatics
The study and collecting of coins, medals, tokens, paper money, and related monetary objects.
O
Obverse
The front side of a coin, usually the side showing the portrait of the monarch or issuing authority.
Overdate
A variety where one date digit has been punched or struck over another. This can often be seen with magnification.
P
Pattern
An experimental or trial coin produced to test a design, denomination, or technical feature. Pattern pieces are not normal circulation issues.
Planchet
A prepared blank piece of metal ready to be struck into a coin.
Portrait
The image of the ruler or person shown on the coin. Portrait changes are often used to separate one coinage from another.
Privy Mark
A small additional symbol placed on a coin, usually to mark a special issue, anniversary, or specific release rather than the regular circulation design.
Proof
A specially struck coin made with greater care than a normal circulation strike, usually with sharper detail and more polished surfaces.
R
Restrike
A coin struck later using original or copied designs from an earlier issue. Restrikes can sometimes be confused with originals if not carefully identified.
Reverse
The back side of a coin, usually showing the denomination, arms, emblem, or decorative design.
Rim
The raised outer border at the edge of a coin, designed to protect the main design from wear.
T
Toning
Natural or artificial colour change on a coin’s surface over time, often seen on silver and copper coins.
Attractive natural toning can be valued by collectors, while uneven or suspicious toning may be viewed negatively.
Token
A privately issued piece resembling a coin, often used for trade, local commerce, or a specific purpose.
U
Uncirculated
A coin with no wear from circulation. It may still have contact marks or minor imperfections, but it has not been used as everyday money.
V
Variety
A coin differing from the standard type in some identifiable way, such as date style, legend spacing, portrait detail, mintmark, privy mark, or die combination.
VF / Very Fine
A grade indicating moderate wear, but with clear major details still visible.