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Glossary of Terms

We have listed here some of the more commonly used terms and their definitions as it relates to the hobby. If you need a definition you did not see, email us at info@coastcoin.com. Your inquiries will help us expand this listing! Alloy – combination of two or more metals Bag mark – a mark acquired from contact with another coin while in the bag the mint used to ship Billon – low grade silver, less than 50% fine Bronze – a copper, zinc, and tin alloy Bullion – a precious metal in bar form or a coin where the value is derived from the metal content Certified Coin – a coin that has been encapsulated by a third party Circulation or Business Strike – a coin struck to be used in commerce Clad – used in dimes, quarters, and halves in the U.S. since 1965. The core is copper and the surface layer is copper-nickel or silver Contact Marks – minor abrasions, usually bag marks Crown – a dollar size coin usually European and struck in silver Designer – the artist who designed the coin Die – an engraving piece of metal used to strike coins Die Crack – raised lines on a coin from where metal flowed into breaks in the die Double Eagle – a U.S. twenty dollar gold coin Double Die – a coin struck from a die that was given two impressions that were misaligned Eagle – a U.S. ten dollar gold coin Engraver – the person who cuts the design in to dies Field – the background portion of the coin – void if design or description Fineness – the expression of the quality of a coin Half Eagle – a U.S. five dollar coin Hub – a positive image punch used to impress a coins design into a die Inscription – the lettering on a coin Intrinsic Value – the ‘melt’ value of a coin Junk Silver – a common silver coin, usually worn, that is worth only its intrinsic value Key Coin – the scarcest coins in a series are the ‘keys’ to the series Legal Tender – money that is authorized by Congress and is good for all debts – public and private Luster – the brilliance or ‘frost’ of an uncirculated coin Mint Mark – a letter or letters on a coin that indicates the mint at which is was made Mint Set – a set issued by the U.S. Mint that contains all of the coins of a certain year that were struck for circulation Mule – a coin struck from two dies that were not intended to be used together Obverse – the front of a coin – ‘heads’ Patina – the heavy toning found on ancient bronze coins, from a long period of oxidation Pattern – an experimental or trial coin Planchet – the blank piece of metal from which a coin is struck Proof – a coin that is double struck from polished dies in polished planchets. Made for collectors Quarter Eagle – a U.S. $2.50 gold coin Raw – a coin graded by the seller, not by a third party Reverse – the back side of a coin – ‘tails’ Spot Price – the market value of a precious metal Token – a private issue Type – a series of coins defined by a design