Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1085704 search inquires.

Selected title: Breast feathers
Explanation: The central feathers seen on numerous eagle designs. Fully struck coins usually command a premium and the breast feathers are usually the highest point of the reverse. (They are the most deeply recessed area of the die, so metal sometimes does not completely fill the breast feather area, usually because of insufficient striking pressure. Incorrectly spaced or lapped dies will also cause 'striking' weakness)

Most popular coin titles

DefinitionSearchesPercentage
Specimen Proof (SP-70 or PF-70) 55748  13.43%
Silver Clad 32665  7.87%
Coin Silver 24735  5.96%
Slabbed Coins 23639  5.69%
BN 23238  5.60%
Encapsulated Coin 22187  5.34%
RB 21666  5.22%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18651  4.49%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18599  4.48%
Reeded Edge 17476  4.21%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17296  4.17%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16527  3.98%
Rarity 16471  3.97%
PQ 16218  3.91%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15936  3.84%
Incuse 15237  3.67%
Coin drop 15060  3.63%
High Relief 14884  3.59%
Reverse Cameo 14603  3.52%
Obverse or Face side 14292  3.44%