Glossary

By Paige Shoemaker

Below are some common terms used in coin collecting.

Coin Grades:

Proof
A specially-made coin distinguished by sharpness of detail and usually with a brilliant mirror-like surface. Proof refers to the method of manufacture and is not a condition, but normally, the term implies perfect mint state unless otherwise noted.

Mint State
The terms Mint State (MS) and Uncirculated (Unc.) are interchangeably used to describe coins showing no trace of wear. Such coins may vary due to some degree because of blemishes, toning, or slight imperfections.

Perfect Uncirculated (MS70)
Perfect new condition, showing no trace of wear. The finest quality possible, with no evidence of scratches, handling or contact with other coins. Very few regular issue coins are ever found in this condition.

Choice Uncirculated (MS65)
An above average uncirculated coin which may be brilliant or lightly toned and has very few contact marks on the surface or rim. MS-67 or MS-63 indicates a slightly higher or lower grade of preservation.

Uncirculated (MS60)
Has no trace of wear but may show a number of contact marks, and surface may be spotted or lack some lustre.

Choice About Uncirculated (AU55)
Barest evidence of light wear on only the highest points of the design. Most of the mint lustre still remains.

About Uncirculated (AU50)
Has traces of light wear on many of the high points. At least half of the mint lustre is still present.

Choice Extremely Fine (EF45)
Light overall wear shows on highest points. All design details are very sharp. Some of the mint lustre is evident.

Extremely Fine (EF40)
Design is lightly worn throughout, but all features are sharp and well defined. Traces of lustre may show.

Choice Very Fine (VF30)
Light even wear on the surface and highest parts of the design. All lettering and major features are sharp.

Very Fine (VF20)
Shows moderate wear on high points of design. All major details are clear.

Fine (F12)
Moderate to considerable even wear. Entire design is bold with overall pleasing appearance.

Very Good (VG8)
Well worn with main features clear and bold, although rather flat.

Good (G4)
Heavily worn with design visible but faint in areas. Many details are flat.

About Good (AG3)
Very heavily worn with portions of lettering, date, and legends worn smooth. The date may be barely readable.
For those who desire more detailed descriptions of all coin grades, the Official A.N.A. Grading Standards for United States Coins by the American Numismatic Association is recommended.

Terms

Adjustment marks
Clipping or filing marks made by the Mint on gold or silver planchets to correct the planchets' weight.

Bag Marks
Marks on coins caused by handling, storage, and shipping in bags. Coins were frequently recounted for bank purposes and thrown around, creating bag marks, but the coin could still be defined as uncirculated.

Blank
Stamped out disk of metal before it is struck as a coin. Also known as a blank planchet.

BU
Brilliant Uncirculated. A grading classification used mostly in the older method of grading before the numerical grading system.

C - Charlotte Mint
In operation from 1838-1861.

CC - Carson City Mint
In operation from 1870-1893.

Cast
An older method that was used in counterfeiting coins.

Circulated
Coins showing wear, taken out of circulation, or used as pocket change.

Cleaned
Coins that have been dipped, or processed with a solution to remove tarnish, dirt, or undesirable toning.

Common Date
A coin with lesser value due to high mintage or large number available. Possibly still in circulation.

Cull
A coin that has been greatly damaged, excessively worn, or has deep corrosion. Not desirable as a collector coin.

D -Dahlonega Mint
In operation from 1838-1861.

D - Denver Mint
In operation 1906 to date.

Die
The metal device used to strike the coin impression on the planchet.

Error
Coin minted not as intended. Abnormal striking process or misstrike resulting in an error in the minting process.

Field
Flat open areas of a coin.

Fineness
The amount of precious metal plus alloy of a coin.

Gem
A term used to further enhance the description of a high-quality coin (For example: A gem MS66 Morgan Dollar).

Grading
A system in judging the condition of a coin based on its quality. Good meaning lower grade to MS (Mint State), and MS70 is the top of the scale.

Hairlines
Light scratches on a coin's fields usually caused by handling, careless cleaning, or contact with an abrasive object (older coin storage holders).

Key
Means key date of a set. Usually the most expensive and the harder to find coin in the series.

lustre
The brilliance or shine found on the coin mostly in the MS (Mint State) grades.

Mint State
The condition of a coin when it left the Mint and its overall survival condition. Modern mint state grades range from MS60, which could have several bag marks and some mint lustre to MS 70 which is considered near perfect.

Mint Mark
The "letter" denoting where the coin was minted. For example, D-Denver or S-San Francisco. No mint mark usually means Philadelphia.

Numismatics
The study and collecting of coins, medals, tokens, or paper money.

Obverse
The front of a coin, heads, usually where the date is found.

Original Roll
Uncirculated coins that were stored in banks. Coins from original rolls should consistently look the same, since they were stored together for a long period of time.

Pitted
Depressions or damage to a coin usually from environment or buried in the ground for many years.

Planchet
Stamped out disk of metal before it is struck as a coin. In paper money, a small coloured disc embedded in the paper used as an anticounterfeiting device.

PR
Abbreviation for the word "proof" coinage.

Precious Metal
Platinum, gold, or silver.

Proof
A special coin produced by the Mint. For example, proofs might use highly polished planchets, striking the die twice for mirroring and deep design details.

Proof Sets
Coin sets containing special Proof coins packaged and sold by the U.S. Mint.

Rare
A coin with a lower mintage, scarcer to find, or denoting very few that survived.

Retoned
A coin that has been artificially toned.

Reverse (REV)
The back of a coin or "tails."

S
Mint Mark - San Francisco Mint

Semi-Key
A term used for a coin with lower mintage or higher value than a common date series.

Set
Collecting coins in date or group order, such as a Lincoln Penny Set or Jefferson Nickel Set.

Slab
Plastic holder used by grading services to package, identify grade, and protect an individual coin.

Slider
A coin appearing to be uncirculated but will have a little rub or slight circulation.

Strike
Impressing an image on a coin planchet.

Tarnish
Various colours from a coin's natural ageing process (best not to clean or dip to remove).

Whizzing
The process used to enhance the condition and thereby the value of a coin by using a brush or a buffing wheel to try to achieve original mint lustre or to remove marks and scratches. Not desirable by true coin collectors.

The preceding grading descriptions are taken from A Guidebook of United States Coins by R. S. Yeoman.

The preceding material was written by Paige Shoemaker. These are the opinions of the author, not the opinions of eBay, and therefore eBay does not validate the accuracy of or endorse these opinions.