Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1104684 search inquires.

Random title: Burnishing
Explanation: A process by which the surfaces of a planchet or a coin are made to shine through rubbing or polishing. This term is used in two contexts – one positive, one negative. In a positive sense, Proof planchets are burnished before they are struck – a procedure done originally by rubbing wet sand across the surfaces to impart a mirror like finish. In a negative sense, the surfaces on repaired and altered coins sometimes are burnished by various methods. In some instances, a high-speed drill with some type of wire brush attachment is used to achieve this effect

Most popular coin titles

DefinitionSearchesPercentage
Specimen Proof (SP-70 or PF-70) 55900  13.29%
Silver Clad 32813  7.80%
Coin Silver 24867  5.91%
Slabbed Coins 23792  5.66%
BN 23366  5.56%
Encapsulated Coin 22310  5.31%
RB 21818  5.19%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18798  4.47%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18775  4.46%
Reeded Edge 17621  4.19%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17422  4.14%
Obverse or Face side 16880  4.01%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16743  3.98%
Rarity 16650  3.96%
PQ 16361  3.89%
MS (MS60-MS70) 16058  3.82%
Incuse 15385  3.66%
Coin drop 15206  3.62%
High Relief 15012  3.57%
Reverse Cameo 14748  3.51%