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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
A 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