Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1103121 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) 55892  13.30%
Silver Clad 32800  7.80%
Coin Silver 24852  5.91%
Slabbed Coins 23774  5.66%
BN 23355  5.56%
Encapsulated Coin 22296  5.31%
RB 21806  5.19%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18777  4.47%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18767  4.47%
Reeded Edge 17608  4.19%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17412  4.14%
Obverse or Face side 16874  4.01%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16721  3.98%
Rarity 16637  3.96%
PQ 16350  3.89%
MS (MS60-MS70) 16046  3.82%
Incuse 15372  3.66%
Coin drop 15195  3.62%
High Relief 15002  3.57%
Reverse Cameo 14739  3.51%