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Dictionary of Coin Collector Terms and Definitions:
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~Legislation Authorizing Presidential Dollars in 2007 |
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"A Glossary of Coin Collecting Words and Definitions"
Locate the meaning of coin dealer and numismatic words.
COIN COLLECTOR WORDS
that start with the letter
" A "
- about good
- - one of the lowest grades in most grading standard books. Typically
an about good coin is a very worn coin with some outline of the design and a readable date. Falls below
below the grade of good. Sometimes abbreviated as AG.
- About Uncirculated
- - Same as "Almost Uncirculated". Sometimes
abbreviated as "AU".
- abrasion
- - marks or small scratches on the surface of a coin where another
coin or object has slid across or bumped the coin. Can also be caused by the coin sliding in a holder or coin drawer.
Not as deep or noticeable as bag marks. Usually found on the high parts of a coin or in the open fields (background).
Sometimes the terms scuffing, light rubbing, or hairlines are also used to
indicate light abrasive wear.
- accumulation
- - A group of coins, sometimes not of any certain type or date.
Also can be a "hoard".
- Click here to see
our list of coin collecting abbreviations and what they mean.
- Ag
- - elemental abbreviation for SILVER
- AG
- - Same as "About good".
- AirTite Holder
- - A popular brand of plastic found shaped
holders for coins. They snap together and are often used to display,
protect, and store individual coins.
- See
http://lynncoins.com/supplies.htm
- Album, or coin album
- - Coin albums resemble a book,
with holes or openings for displaying coins on each page. Some are push in
types where the coin is pushed in a hole in the cardboard page. Other
albums offer plastic sleeves or protective clear places for coin storage and
display.
- album friction or slide markings
- - see friction.
- alloy
- - a mixture of two or more metals melted into one compound.
For example old Liberty Head gold coins minted prior to 1933 were made of an
alloy. Although they were mostly gold a small amount of other metal was
added to the gold to give the resulting coins a hardness that pure gold didn't
offer. Harder gold coins withstood wear better during circulation.
Most coins are made of some type of alloy. Even the US nickel is made of
an alloy of nickel and other metals.
- Almost Uncirculated
- - A coin or paper money note that is very close
to being uncirculated. Upon first glance it may appear un-circulated. When inspected closely
it will have a slight amount of wear or friction. Same as "About Uncirculated". Sometimes
abbreviated as "AU", or "A Unc".
- alteration
- - intentional tampering of a coin usually
to make it appear more valuable. Often deals with the coin's date or
mintmark. However, it can involve changing the appearance (after a coin
was minted) such as when hobo nickels were made. If the intent of altering
can be viewed as an attempt to deceive or fraud, prosecution can result.
Also, see altered date.
- altered date
- - a coin with the date manipulated or altered after the coin
was produced. Often done to try to deceive someone. For example, an
unscrupulous person might alter the date
of a 1944-D cent to look like a 1914-D cent, by filing off part of the first 4
to make it look like the number 1.
- American Eagle
- Silver, gold, and platinum gold coins released
by the US government starting in Oct. 1986. Front (obverse) depicts Liberty walking and reverse side bears an American
Eagle and nest design. Produced in both Uncirculated and Proof conditions.
The silver coins are often called
Silver Eagles, gold coins
often called
Gold Eagles, and Platinum are called Platinum eagles.
- American Eagle Bullion Coins
- These are the uncirculated -
mint condition versions of the United States "American Eagles" gold, silver, or
platinum coins. See "American Eagles".
- American Eagle Proof Coins
- Silver, gold, and platinum US
gold coins that are of special "Proof" quality. Sold by the United States
Mint. Proofs are made with special polished coin dies that give the coins
a polished mirror-like appearance. See "proof".
- American Numismatic Association (ANA)
- - the most popular nonprofit educational
coin collectors organization in America. Encourages the study of
numismatics; collecting of money.
The American Numismatic Association headquarters and national 'Money Museum' are
located in Colorado Springs, CO. Often called the A.N.A.
- American Numismatic Society (ANS)
- - another nonprofit educational
organization of coin collectors and dealers. Established prior to the civil war
it promotes the study of coin collecting,
numismatics.
Often called the A.N.S.
- American Silver Eagle
- - sometimes called the silver eagle dollar coin or ASE. American
Silver Eagle coins were first minted by the United States government in 1986.
These 1 ounce solid silver coins are sold to collectors and dealers by the US
Mint, and no versions are made for circulating through the banking system.
- A.N.A.
- - abbreviation for the "American Numismatic Association".
- ANACS
- - American Numismatic Association Certification Service. This grading
and certification service certifies coins as genuine, grades, and encapsulates
them. One of the original grading services. Has now changed
ownership and is no longer under the direction of the American Numismatic
Association (ANA).
- ANS
- - abbreviation for the "American Numismatic
Society".
- anvil die
- - bottom die. A coin is struck using two dies. One for the
obverse (front)
of the coin and another for the reverse (back). The anvil die is the one on the bottom, which is usually
the reverse. The term comes from when the die was placed on an anvil with the coin
blank (planchet)
on top. The hammer die (top die) was placed on top of the coin and struck with a hammer. See
"hammer die" and "die".
- annealing
- - the process of heating coin blanks (planchlets) in a furnace
to soften the metal prior to striking coins out of them.
- artificial toning
- - changing the color or surface tone
of a coin by applying chemicals, heat, or treating a coin with something.
Done to make the coin appear natural or unusual, or to cover up signs that the
coin has been cleaned or polished. See
toning and natural toning.
- ask price
- - The price a dealer or trader is asking for a coin. Often
used to indicate the "wholesale" asking price between dealers or on a coin trading network.
- assay
- - to determine the purity of the metal by scientific means.
An assay of precious metal coins (gold and silver) is often done to establish
that the coins do indeed contain the proper purity and amounts of precious
metal.
- authentic (authenticate)
- - A coin issued by an official
government or a token issued by the original entity. Authentic indicates it is
not a replica or counterfeit coin. Grading services such as PCGS, NGC, and
ANACS will first authenticate (determine that it is genuine) before grading the
coin. See
genuine,
official, and
Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
- Avoirdupois
- - official description of the weight
system we use in the USA for weighing most items. This unit of weight
consists of 16 ounces in a pound and 2,000 pounds in a ton. Same weight
system used in US grocery stores to weigh produce. This unit of weight
differs from the "troy ounce" weight system used to weigh precious metals.
One avoirdupois ounce does not weigh the same as a troy ounce. Many a coin
collector has lost money by weighing silver coins on a "common" (avoirdupois)
scale instead of a troy ounce scale. See
troy ounce.
- Au
- - elemental (scientific) abbreviation for the
metal
GOLD.
- AU
- - See "About Uncirculated" or "Almost Uncirculated".
-
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Where the
investor goes to buy precious metals.
Get a
FREE
gram of gold when you sign
up! For a limited time!
Trade online, in amounts as small as $20 at a time
New Presidential Dollar coins:
~Unusual
Edge Letters on President coins
~US mint
$ coin press release.
~Production Schedule
for upcoming Dollars.
~Legislation Authorizing Presidential Dollar
Coins in 2007. |