Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1017456 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) 55088 13.65%
Silver Clad 32062 7.95%
Coin Silver 24148 5.98%
Slabbed Coins 23069 5.72%
BN 22643 5.61%
Encapsulated Coin 21683 5.37%
RB 21081 5.22%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18136 4.49%
PF (PF60, PF70) 17861 4.43%
Reeded Edge 16898 4.19%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 16808 4.17%
PR (PR60, PR70) 15846 3.93%
Rarity 15754 3.90%
PQ 15673 3.88%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15430 3.82%
Incuse 14735 3.65%
Coin drop 14448 3.58%
High Relief 14361 3.56%
Reverse Cameo 14025 3.48%
Obverse or Face side 13742 3.41%