Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1083848 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) 55719  13.43%
Silver Clad 32644  7.87%
Coin Silver 24716  5.96%
Slabbed Coins 23624  5.70%
BN 23218  5.60%
Encapsulated Coin 22173  5.35%
RB 21645  5.22%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18632  4.49%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18580  4.48%
Reeded Edge 17457  4.21%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17281  4.17%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16498  3.98%
Rarity 16444  3.96%
PQ 16199  3.91%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15918  3.84%
Incuse 15220  3.67%
Coin drop 15033  3.62%
High Relief 14864  3.58%
Reverse Cameo 14580  3.52%
Obverse or Face side 14270  3.44%