Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1075158 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) 55632  13.47%
Silver Clad 32525  7.87%
Coin Silver 24636  5.96%
Slabbed Coins 23537  5.70%
BN 23103  5.59%
Encapsulated Coin 22092  5.35%
RB 21567  5.22%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18558  4.49%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18484  4.48%
Reeded Edge 17382  4.21%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17208  4.17%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16422  3.98%
Rarity 16342  3.96%
PQ 16127  3.90%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15852  3.84%
Incuse 15147  3.67%
Coin drop 14947  3.62%
High Relief 14796  3.58%
Reverse Cameo 14475  3.50%
Obverse or Face side 14205  3.44%