Glossary
Circulated
A circulated coin has seen use in commerce and shows wear on high points. Many circulated coins remain collectible due to rarity, history, …
Numismatics Coin FAQ
A collecting-focused glossary for coin terms, minting vocabulary, and evaluation basics.
Glossary
Die Clash
A die clash happens when the obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a planchet in between, transferring partial design elements …
Glossary
Off-Center Strike
An off-center strike happens when the planchet is misaligned during striking, leaving part of the design missing and sometimes showing a …
Glossary
Luster
Luster is the light-reflective “glow” created by metal flow lines from the striking process. It’s a key indicator of …
Glossary
Planchet
A planchet is the blank metal disc (or prepared piece) that becomes a coin after striking. Its composition, thickness, and preparation …
Glossary
Edge
The edge is the outer perimeter surface of a coin between the obverse and reverse. It can be plain, reeded, lettered, or decorated. It helps …
Glossary
Mintage
Mintage is the number of coins produced for a particular issue. Low mintage can signal scarcity, but survival rates and demand often matter …
Glossary
Overdate
An overdate is a variety where one date was punched over another (or a previous date remains visible), creating overlapping numerals that …
Glossary
Intrinsic Value
Intrinsic value is the value of the metal content in a coin-especially important for gold and silver issues-based on weight, purity, and …
Glossary
Variety
A variety is a recognized design or die difference within the same coin type and date, such as repunched mint marks, doubled dies, or small …