Numismatic (Coin Collection) Glossary D

damage: A problem such as scratches, nicks, holes, harsh cleaning, pitting, etc. which lowers the value of a numismatic item.

date: The year(s) stamped on a coin, representative of the year it was minted.

DDO or D.D.O. - Doubled Die Obverse, an obverse die which exhibits doubled images in one or more places.

DDR or D.D.R. - Doubled Die Reverse, a reverse die which exhibits doubled images in one or more places.

dealer: An individual or organization that regularly buys, sells and trades coins.

deep mirror prooflike: An attribute given to coins with highly reflective mirrorlike fields, giving it a similar look to that of a proof strike.

delamination: Metal missing (or nearly so) from the surface due to incomplete bonding in the planchet.

denomination: The face value of a coin.

denticles (dentils):Tooth-like raised features near the rim of a coin.

Denticles or dentils - The tooth like raised design around the rims of some coins. They are part of the die design.

design: The arrangement of devices, lettering, etc. on a coin.

Designer - The artist who creates a coin's principal devices. The artist(s) responsible for a coin's design.

Details - Small features and fine lines in a coin design. Particularly those seen in hair, leaves, wreaths and feathers.

device: A major design element, e.g. the bust of a person or a ship on the high seas.

Die - A metal object used to impress a design into a planchet. Dies are usually engraved incuse, so that the devices and inscriptions they produce will be in relief.

die chip: A small fragment broken off from a die similar to a cud, but much less dramatic.

die clash: Upper and lower dies coming together in a coin press without a planchet between them.

die crack: A narrow fissure in the surface of a die which produces a raised line on the coins it strikes.

die erosion: Nornal wear on a die from its use in the minting process.

die polish: Small raised lines in the field of a coin resulting from polishing of a die to remove chips, clash marks, etc.

die state: The condition of a die at a specific time in its life.

Die Variety - Any minor alteration in the basic design of a coin.

die: A piece of steel (usually cylindrical) bearing at one end the design of one side of a coin.

Dipping - The act of removing tarnish, surface dirt, or changing the coloration of a coin by applying chemicals, or otherwise artificially treating it with liquids. A form of cleaning by immersion in a liquid which is capable of causing molecular changes in the surface (with the intent of providing a more appealing look).

Disme - One tenth of a dollar. An early spelling of the word "dime." The early spelling of the word "dime," one tenth of a dollar.

double denomination: An error in which a coin is restruck by the die pair of another denomination.

Double Die - A die that received one of its several blows from a hub or device punch in accidentally imperfect alignment. A term sometimes intended to mean a doubled die coin and sometimes indicating a machine doubled coin (note that there are vast differences in the values).

Double eagle - A United States twenty dollar gold coin. A U.S. $20 gold coin, minted from 1849 through 1933.

Double Struck - Said of any coin which has received two impressions from the working dies in accidentally imperfect alignment.

doubled die: A die with doubled device details, letters and/or numerals resulting from an error in manufacture. Also, a coin struck from such a die.

Doubloon - A Spanish-American gold coin originally valued at $16.00.

Drachma - The standard Greek monetary unit. A small silver coin approximately equal to the Roman denarius. An ancient Greek silver coin weighing about 3 grams. The predecessor to the Roman denarius.

Ducat - A popular gold coin used by several European countries. Originally an Italian coin of the twelfth century.

Numismatic (Coin Collection) Glossary C

The Numismatic Glossary will help you understand terms and acronyms commonly used in the field of coin collecting, or numismatics. The coming post will introduce more Numismatic Glossary Terms. This is a continuation of Blog post at Numismatic (Coin Collection) Glossary A and Numismatic (Coin Collection) Glossary B.

Choice - An adjective used to describe an especially select specimen of a given grade. For example, Choice AU-55 represents an especially select About Uncirculated coin (typical About Uncirculated being AU-50).

Cleaning - Refers to removing dirt or otherwise altering the appearance of a coin through the use of abrasive materials that mar or scratch the surface in a detectable fashion.

Commemorative - A coin issued to mark a special event or to honour an outstanding person.

Counter stamp - A design, group of letters, or other mark stamped on a coin for special identification or advertising purposes. Counter stamped coins are graded the way regular (un-counter stamped) coins are, but the nature and condition of the counter stamp must also be described.

Cabinet Friction - Sometimes called "cabinet wear" or "cabinet rub" is wear to the higher portions of a coin's design, caused by being kept in an unlined wooden cabinet drawer over a long period of time. Wooden cabinets for coin storage were extensively used by collectors from about 1600 to the late 1800's.

cabinet friction: Same as abrasions.

Cameo - Devices in relief or embossed. Cartwheel - large coin, generally of silver dollar size or larger. A coin, usually a Proof strike, with a frosted or satiny central device surrounded by a mirror like field.

Canadian: Post confederation Canadian numismatics

Cartwheel - A two-penny coin issued in England in 1797 by George lll, and bearing his likeness. The coin was made of copper and weighed two ounces, it was extremely thick had raised rims on both sides like a wagon wheel, and well deserved the "cartwheel" designation it received. The pattern of light reflected by flow lines of mint state coins, resembling spokes of a wheel; Name given to the British pennies and two pence of 1797 due to their unusually broad rims.

Cash - A copper coin of China with a square hole for stringing.

Cast Coins - Coins which are made not in the usual manner of striking with dies, but by pouring molten metal into a mould.

Cent - One one-hundredth of the standard monetary unit. Also called Centesimo in Italy, Centime in France and Switzerland, Centavo in Mexico and some Central and South American countries, and Centime in Spain and Venezuela, etc.

certified coin: A coin authenticated and graded by an unbiased, 3rd-party professional service.

Cherry-pick - To recognize and buy a rarer variety which had been offered as common. To secure the purchase a rare variety of a coin worth a premium over the seller's asking price for a common variety.

Chop Mark - Merchant's test mark (usually Chinese) punched into a coin to verify its weight. A symbol added to money by someone other than the government which issued it to indicate authenticity. Commonly found on U.S. Trade Dollars which circulated in the Orient.

Circulated - Released to the general public. Showing signs of wear from being passed from hand to hand. Denotes money that has served a purpose in the channels of commerce, i.e. it is no longer mint state (uncirculated).

Civil War Token - Unofficial pieces made to approximate size of current U.S. cents and pressed into circulation during the Civil War because of a scarcity of small change.

Clad Coinage - Issues of United States dimes, quarters, halves, and dollars made since 1965. Each coin has a centre core, and a layer of copper-nickel or silver on both sides of the coin.

clad: Composed of more than one metallic layer, e.g. dimes, quarters, and halves currently minted by the U.S.

clash mark(s): Elements of designs from the opposite side of a coin which is the result of coin dies clashing into one another when no planchet is present during the striking process. Impressions of part of a device or legend of one die onto the field of the die facing it in the press. Caused by the dies striking each other at normal coining force without a planchet between them.

cleaned coin: A coin that is cleaned from dirt

cleaning: Any procedure that removes corrosion, unattractive toning, etc. such as dipping or rubbing with abrasive materials.

clip: A coin which has been dipped, polished, whizzed, wiped, etc. Generally speaking, a certain amount of very light cleaning (such as dipping) done by a professional may be acceptable.

clipping: Deliberate shearing or shaving from the edge of gold and silver coins. Was quite common from the Byzantine to the Colonial eras, so much so that many authorities employed edge devices in order to discourage this practice.

Cob Money - Crude irregular silver coins of Spain, Central and South America.

coin show: An event where numismatic items are bought, sold, traded and often exhibited.

coin: A piece of metal (usually round) with a distinctive stamp and of a fixed value and weight issued by an authority and intended to be used as a medium of exchange.

Coiner - The mint official in charge of stamping planchets into money.

collar: A device in a coining press used to restrict the outward flow of metal during striking. Allows the rounding of coins to be much more precise. Also, can be used to put an edge design on the coin.

collection: An organized unit of various numismatic holdings.

colonial: A coin issued by a colony, such as those produced in the eastern American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Colonials - Generic term for coins made in or for America before the federal Mint began regular operations.

Commemorative - A coin issued to mark a special event or to honour an outstanding person. A coin with a design honouring a person, place or event in history.

condition census: The finest known specimens of a particular coin type or variety.

contact marks: Small surface scratches or nicks which is caused by contact of coins in the same bag.

Coppers - Generic late 18th century term for copper coins.

Counterfeit - Unauthorized imitation of a coin.

counterfeit: A fake coin deceptively made with the intent of passing it off as if it were the genuine article.

Countermark - Or sometimes called counter stamp is a stamp or mark impressed on a coin to verify its use by another government, or to indicate revaluation.

Crown - A dollar-size silver coin, specifically one of Great Britain.

Cud - Lump on a coin struck from a die which a piece has broken off. A raised lump of metal on a coin caused by a piece of the die breaking off.

Cull - A coin in defective condition. Used not only of coins in circulation but those withheld from release by the Mint, because of manufacturing flaws. These are sent back for remitting. A coin that is worn to the point of being barely identifiable, and/or damaged.

cuprous-nickel (or copper-nickel): Composed of an alloy of copper and nickel, such as the U.S. Flying Eagle cents struck from 1856 thru 1858.

currency: Same as paper money.

Numismatic (Coin Collection) Glossary A

The Numismatic Glossary will help you understand terms and acronyms commonly used in the field of coin collecting, or numismatics. The coming post will introduce more Numismatic Glossary Terms.

Abrasions - Light rubbing or scuffing from friction, not to be confused with hairlines or bag marks. Light friction rubbing or scuffing which is different from hairlines and bag marks. Sometimes referred to as "cabinet friction" because many times it is caused by a sliding action in a coin cabinet. Light friction rubbing or scuffing which is different from hairlines and bag marks. Sometimes referred to as "cabinet friction" because many times it is caused by a sliding action in a coin cabinet.

Adjustment marks - Small striations or file marks found on early United States coins. Made during planchet preparation (before striking) by drawing a file across the planchet to remove excess metal, resulting in a series of parallel grooves. This was done to reduce the planchet to its proper weight.

Alloy - A combination of two or more metals. Coin metal that is made from two or more different metals, blended together in the molten state. Other than United States Large Cents and Half Cents, which are pure

Annealing - The heating and cooling process by which planchets are softened to allow the metal to flow more smoothly during the strike. The process of heating up coin planchets, just prior to striking in order to make them soft and thus receive a better impression of the design. This process today is now accomplished by advanced machinery. In ancient times the mint would anneal the planchets by holding them in a pair tongs over a charcoal fire.

accumulation: Quantities of coins, tokens and other numismatic material which has not been sorted, classified, attributed nor organized in any meaningful way, unlike a true coin collection.

adjustment marks: Marks or grooves caused by filing a planchet prior to striking in order to reduce it to a standard weight. This was a fairly common practice on many early U.S. coins, in particular bust dollars.

album: A holder with slots for storing and displaying coins in a book type manner. Common brand names include Whitman, Dansco and Harco.

alterations:Illegal practice of tampering with the date, mint mark, or other feature of a coin in an attempt to be deceptive. For example, adding an "S" mintmark to a 1909-VDB Lincoln Cent struck at the Philadelphia Mint.

Altered Date - An altered coin is a coin that has been tampered with in some way after leaving the Mint, generally for the purpose of increasing its value to collectors. Typical altering can be the removal of a mintmark or installation of a spurious one. Altered is sometimes used in reference to cleaned coins.

ancient: A coin produced prior to the generally accepted date of 500 A.D.

Anglo American Coins & Tokens - The term Anglo American is applied to issues, mostly private, that were struck in Britain in the 17th and 18th centuries for use in the American colonies. Some of these coins and tokens were intended primarily or exclusively for British circulation but found their way to this country.

artificial toning: Adding color(s) to a coin by various treatments with chemicals, heat and other methods in an attempt to increase its value. While a coin with natural toning may at times

attribute: A specific characteristic of a coin., Identifying a coin via the origin, denomination, type, date, mintmark, variety, etc.

Attribution - The process of assigning a coin to a certain country, era, or ruler; or even to a particular year of issue. Most coins can be attributed without difficulty, either on sight or with the help of one of the standard reference guides. When a coin is described as being "attributed to" a given country, ruler, etc., this is an expression of opinion rather than an established fact. The opinion may be from an old reference book, which has never been sustained; on the other hand, neither has it been successfully refuted.

authentication: Determination by a numismatic expert as to the status of a coin being original and genuine - not counterfeit.

Average Circulated - A grade used to describe a coin based on its age. For example: A 1900 Barber quarter in "Average Circulated" most likely will grade About Good, whereas a 1955 Washington quarter in "Average Circulated" most likely will be in Fine or Very Fine condition.