Coin Collecting Terminology Glossary

Coin collecting is an exciting hobby for those interested in history, the economy, or just the majesty of precious metals. But to the uninitiated, it can seem like collectors speak their own language with terms that are unique to this specialized field of numismatics. To help you get started, we’ve compiled this coin collecting terminology glossary to provide a useful guide to some of the more common numismatic terms.

A planchet is the flat piece of metal on which a coin design is struck. Also referred to as a die or strike, it is essentially the opposite of an obverse (heads side) or reverse (tails side). A planchet’s edge may be plain, serrated, or smooth.

The obverse of a coin features the national emblem or portrait of a person, while the reverse depicts the nation’s name or an inscription. Generally, the obverse is face up and the reverse is face down.

A type set is a collection of coins of different designs based on denomination, rather than trying to complete a set of each coin. It’s often viewed as a less difficult goal for the experienced collector than a full set.

Brockage: A Mint error involving an early capped die impression. These coins are very rare, and their luster is usually intact.

A designation used to describe a coin’s overall condition and appearance, usually referring to the degree of wear/tear and circulation. It is measured on a 10 point scale that goes from UR1 readily available to UR10, which is a one-of-a-kind coin.