This article is a collection of concise Numismatic and coin collecting terms for the beginner or professional.
Numismatics (ancient Greek: νομισματική) is the scientific study of money and its history in all its varied forms. While numismatists are often characterized as studying coins, the discipline also includes the study of banknotes, stock certificates, medals, medallions, and tokens (also referred to as Exonumia).
originally metal wasted in coin production, now coins struck when the previous coin remained stuck to a die, creating an incuse impression in the next struck coin (primarily found in ancient coins).
Unit measurement of the weight of precious stones. Usually marked 'c' or 'car'. 1 carat = 200 milligrams. Not to be confused with 'Karat' used with gold.
Centum
One one-hundredth of the basic monetary unit from Latin, English cent, Romance languages centavos, centimos, centesimos or centimes usually one hundredth of a base unit like dollar, euro, peso etc.
Certified Coin
Coin that has been graded and authenticated by one of numerous independent grading services.
Circulated
Term used to indicate a coin that has wear.
Clad Coinage
Issues of coins that contain a center core and outer layer of differing alloys.
Collar
Outer ring of the die chamber that holds the blank in place while the obverse and reverse are being stamped.
Contact Marks
Minor abrasions on uncirculated coinage from contact with other coins.
Countermark or Counterstamp
Partial or complete over-stamping of a coin or token in order to change its value or issuing authority, or to display an advertisement, political slogan or symbol, etc. Stamping may consist of a number (value), symbol (authority), letters (advertisement or slogan), or any combination of the above.
Crown
Large coin often struck in precious metal. Modern crowns are usually not highly-circulated. For instance, the U.S. mint strikes a dollar-size silver coin with a diameter of 38.61 mm.
Debase
To lower the silver/gold value of the coin by altering its purity, but with the same market value as the pure coin.
Denticles
A small toothlike projecting point on the edge of coins.
Metal piece with the design used for stamping the coin.
Die Clash
Caused when a blank coin planchet fails to be placed between two dies during the minting process, causing the empty dies to smash together. The design of one or both may impress into the opposite die, causing a "shadow" of the design to appear on subsequent coins minted with the damaged dies.
Die Crack
Fine raised line on a coin that was caused by a crack in the die.
Die Defect
Imperfection of various sorts caused by a damaged die. May refer to a crack or clash or a chip out of the die, etc.
Die Variety
Minor alteration in the basic design of a coin throughout its lifespan.
Dipped, Dipping
Chemical cleaning of a coin with a diluted acid. Common in the 1960s and '70's but it was discovered that dipping destroys the surface of the coin, thus dramatically reducing the coin's value.
Usually a mis-made coin not intended for circulation, but can also refer to an engraving or die-cutting error not discovered until the coins are released to circulation. The mis-made coin errors are usually unique, but the engraving errors appear on all of the coins produced until the error is corrected.
Essai, Essay
A trial strike, also in currency a strike intended to test the design.
Exergue
A segment of the coin design separated by a line (usually indicating the ground in the main design) in which a legend is placed/inscribed.
Fantasy
Generally a representation of a rare or never issued coin.
Field
Background area of a coin not used for a design or inscription.
Filler
Coin that is worn but rare enough for inclusion in a collection.
Blank metal piece before striking, also called a planchet or blank.
Fleur du coin (FDC)
Coin of exceptionally high quality, where quality is determined not just by wear of the coin in circulation but also by the wear and artistic quality of the dies from which it was minted. These factors are crucial for ancient coinage where variability was higher than in modern mints.
Gem
Coin of exceptionally high condition.
Grade
The condition of a coin or amount of wear that a coin has received.
Unit measurement of the purity of gold. Usually marked 'K', or 'k'. 24K = pure gold, 18K = .750 fine. Not to be confused with 'Carat' used with precious stones. Note that both originally referred to the seed of the carob tree ('Ceratonia siliqua' or 'Siliqua Graeca'). A Roman coin called the solidus weighed 24 'carats' or 'siliquae', 1/6th of a scruple; this became the standard in purity in western Europe.
Coins specially struck for collectors using polished dies and planchets.
Proof Set
Set of proof coins packaged and sold by the mint.
Punch Mark
Coin struck from 'punching' the coin with symbols or seal. Ex: Five Punch Marked coins of ancient India. Punch Marks generally represent animals, tree, hills, and human figures.These coins were issued by royal authority and generally marked with banker's punches on the reverse.
Quarter (U.S.A./Canada)
United States or Canada $0.25 coin. Short for Quarter Dollar.
Small number found on the lower right side of the back of a bill. Officially known as a Check Number, it provides a cross-reference to the Plate Serial Number on the front.
Bank Note
Paper currency issued by a bank as opposed to a government.
BEP (U.S.A)
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (United States).
Border
Outer edge of the design on the back and front where the design ends and plain currency paper begins.
Brick (U.S.A)
Unit of measurement used by the BEP. A strap is 100 notes banded together, forty straps make a brick. Consists of 4000 notes weighing about 81/2 pounds.
Broken Bank Note
Currency issued by a now defunct bank. Also referred to as obsolete banknote.>
Check Number
Small number found on the lower right of a note, used to cross reference plate numbers.
Condition
Grade or state of presevation of paper currency.
Continental Currency (U.S.A)
Paper money first issued in 1775 by the Continental Congress, originally backed by Spanish milled dollars.
Counterfeit
Currency specifically created to look like genuine currency with the intent to defraud.
Currency
Legal tender referring usually to paper money, but can be applied to coins and notes.
A process of changing the ratio between the main and the subunit of a currency to an integral power of 10. This is not to be confused with Redenomination.
The Federal Reserve District Number appears four times on the face of a bill for identification purposes.
Engraving
Labor intensive process where the design of a bill is engraved onto a steel printing plate.
Error Note
Piece of currency that has a manufacturing mistake or misprint.
Face
Preferred term for the front side of paper currency.
Federal Reseve District Seal (U.S.A)
Found to the left of the portrait on United States currency, it identifies the Federal Reserve Bank that issued the note.
Federal Reserve Bank Note (U.S.A)
Series of U.S. paper money once authorized by the Federal Reseve, now obsolete. The bank that issued the note was obliged not the Federal Reseve System.
Federal Reserve Note (U.S.A)
The only form of money now being printed by the United States.
Gold Certificate (U.S.A)
Form of U.S. paper money redeemable for gold coin at one time.
Grade
Condition or state of preservation of a piece of paper money.
Greenback (U.S.A)
Issued in 1861 as a Demand Note. Green Ink used as an anti-counterfeiting measure. Today, almost all US currency is termed "Greenback".
Horseblanket (U.S.A)
Popular term for large size U.S. notes.
Imprint
Name of printer on the note.
Large Size (U.S.A)
Refers to U.S. paper money that measures 7 3/8 x 3 1/8 inches, issued from 1861 to 1928.
Micro-Printing
Anti-counterfeiting measure where printing within certain areas can be as small as six thousandths of an inch.
Obverse
Front side of paper money, preferred term being face.
Prefix
Letter/s over number with numbers following in serial number.
Press
High speed machinery on which paper money is printed.
Printing Plate
Sheet of steel onto which the note design has been engraved.
The replacement of old currency for newer currency, this usually involves the taking off of some zero's, example 10,000 becomes 10, or 1000 old soles= 1 new sole.
Replacement Note
A note printed with a special symbol before the serial number, or with a special serial number prefix, used to replace notes damaged during the manufacturing process. US replacement notes are called Star Notes because a five pointed star is positioned at the beginning or end of the serial number. Older Canadian replacement notes are known as asterisk notes because an asterisk preceded the serial number. Modern Canadian replacement notes use a special serial number prefix. Italy reserved the letter X as the first letter of the serial numner in replacement notes before adopting the euro. Other countries may use different methods.
Reverse
Back side of paper money.
Reserve bank
Central bank of some countries.
Security Thread
Anti-counterfeiting measure of a polymer strip embedded into the currency paper. Usually visible when held to bright light and glows red when held to ultraviolet.
Identifying number on a note, used to track production and anti-counterfeiting. Serial numbers on US notes are on the face, but other countries' notes can have them on the back or on both sides.
Series Date
Notes are dated when they were authorized or first issued. Notes carry that same date throughout their lifespan.
Silver Certificate (U.S.A)
Once redeemable for silver and still considered legal tender at face value. Issued by the U.S. government in 1878.
Small Size (U.S.A)
Refers to modern U.S. paper currency that measures 6 1/8 x 2 5/8 inches, first issued in 1929.
Star Note
See replacement note above.
Suffix
Letters that appear after serial numbers (123456ADE).
Syngraphics
Word coined in 1974 to denote the study and collecting of paper money. Based on the Latin word syngrapha, meaning a written promise to pay.
Treasury Note (U.S.A)
Also known as a coin note, they were first issued in 1890 and redeemable for gold and silver coins.
Uniface
Banknote with printing on one side only.
Vignette
Picture on a note that fades into the background rather than being framed by a border.
Watermark
Embedded anti-counterfeiting design created by varying the density and thickness of the paper. Can be seen when held up to light.
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