Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1119698 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) 56033  13.25%
Silver Clad 32937  7.79%
Coin Silver 24991  5.91%
Slabbed Coins 23925  5.66%
BN 23485  5.55%
Encapsulated Coin 22432  5.30%
RB 21932  5.19%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18912  4.47%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18868  4.46%
Reeded Edge 17748  4.20%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17546  4.15%
Obverse or Face side 16988  4.02%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16900  4.00%
Rarity 16788  3.97%
PQ 16470  3.89%
MS (MS60-MS70) 16162  3.82%
Incuse 15500  3.66%
Coin drop 15343  3.63%
High Relief 15126  3.58%
Reverse Cameo 14862  3.51%