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The coins we offer have certain codes associated with them that indicate grade and finish. The key terms and/or codes used are explained here.
coin:
flat piece of metal issued by the government as money.
Cameo vs Deep Cameo
the constrast of the devices and the fields of a proof coin that determine the cameo appearance. For a proof that shows no difference in the devices and field, you would say that there is no cameo appearance and a proof getting a grade of 69 would be said to grade PR69, or some say PR69 Straight, meaning no cameo. For a slight cameo appearance, one in which the devices have somewhat of a white appearance against black fields, you would grade the coin Cameo, and thus a PR69 would be PR69 CAM. For outstanding frosted white devices on dark fields the proof is said to have a deep or heavy cameo appearance, and thus for PR69 the grade would be PR69 DCAM or Ultra CAM, depending on the grading service.
commemorative:
a special coin or medal issued to honor an outstanding person, place, or event in history.
designer:
the artist who creates a coin's design (but doesn't necessarily engrave the design into a coinage die).
face value:
the sum for which a coin can be spent or exchanged (a dime's face value is 10¢) as opposed to its collector or precious metal value.
field:
the portion of a coin's surface not used for design or inscription.
grade:
rating which indicates how much a coin has worn from circulation. The American Numismatic Association (ANA) scale measures - or grades - coins from "About Good - 3" to "Perfect Uncirculated - 70".
hairlines:
tiny lines or scratches on coins, usually caused by cleaning or polishing.
inscription:
words stamped on a coin or metal.
intrinsic value (bullion value):
current market value of the precious metal in a coin.
legal tender:
coins, dollar bills, or other currency issued by a government as official money.
legend:
principal lettering on a coin.
medal:
a metal object resembling a coin issued to recognize an event, place, person or group, with no stated value and not intended to circulate as money.
mint:
a place where coins of a country are manufactured under government authority.
Today, U.S. Mint facilities in Philadelphia and Denver produce all U.S. circulating coins.
mint luster:
the dull, frosty, or satiny shine found on uncirculated coins.
mint mark:
a small letter on a coin identifying which of the U.S. Mint's facilities struck the coin.
mint set:
a complete set of coins of each denomination produced by a particular mint.
MS or mint state:
same as uncirculated.
mintage:
the quantity of coins produced.
motto:
a word, sentence, or phrase inscribed on a coin to express a guiding national principle.
For example, "E Pluribus Unum" inscribed on all U.S. circulating coins is Latin for "out of many, one."
numismatics:
the study and collecting of things that are used as money, including coins, tokens, paper bills, and medals.
obverse:
the front (or "heads") side of a coin.
It usually has the date, mint mark, and main design.
proof:
a specially produced coin made from highly polished planchets and dies and often struck twice to accent the design.
Proof coins receive the highest quality strike possible and can be distinguished by their sharpness of detail and brilliant, mirror-like surface.
See About Proof Coins for more details.
proof set:
a complete set of proof coins of each denomination made in a year.
relief:
the part of a coin's design that is raised above the surface, opposite of incuse.
reverse:
the back (or "tails") side of a coin.
series:
a collection of coins that contains all date and mint marks of a specific design and denomination.
For example, a Kennedy series would include a Kennedy half dollar from each year from each Mint facility (Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco), beginning with the coins first issued in 1964.
strike:
the process of stamping a coin blank with a design.
The strength of the imprint - full, average, or weak - affects the value of rare coins.
uncirculated:
a coin in new condition that doesn't have any signs of wear; a coin with even the slightest sign of wear cannot qualify for this condition.
year set:
a collection of all coins issued by a country for any one year (does not necessarily include every mint mark).
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