Coin Collecting Jargon

Like most hobbies, coin collecting has its own specialized language. For someone who is new to the hobby, the jargon can be intimidating. This article will help explain some of the more common coin collecting terms and definitions.

Bullion: A coin made from a precious metal that has value only for its bullion value, not its numismatic value. The coin may be plated with a different metal to improve its appearance or durability.

Date: The year the coin was produced, usually found on the obverse or head side of the coin. The term “date” is often used to refer to the year a coin was minted, but it may also be used to describe the denomination or design type of the coin.

Edge: The rim of a coin that might have grooves, raised dots or other decorations. The rim may be plain, or it might be stamped with the name or location of the mint.

Filler: A worn coin that will serve as a temporary replacement until the collector finds a better one. A filler is often worth less than its face value.

Series: A group of coins or other numismatic items with a common theme or design. Examples include a set of Washington quarters or a Kennedy half dollar series.

Bag Marks: Nicks, marks and scratches resulting from coins rubbing against each other in mint bags or rolls.

A grading service is a third party that evaluates and assigns a grade to coins. A higher grade means a coin is in better condition. The grading scale typically includes Poor, Fair (Fr), Good (G), Very Good (VG), Fine (F), Very Fine (VF), Extra Fine or Extremely Fine (EF or XF).