Just for fun, what are some of your favorite words or phrases used to describe coins?
MFeld
Posts: 13,878 ✭✭✭✭✭
Here are a couple that come to mind for me, each of which pertains to toning and is very rarely used:
jewel tones
melted crayons
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
9
Comments
black beauty
boner toner
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I like very few but "hammered" resonates with me.
Iridescent
Cartwheel
Crusty
Chocolate Brown
Iridescent is a word I love to use to describe a certain kind of toning. "For the discerning collector" is a phrase that I see certain dealers use , and it catches my attention and makes me look again usually.
One phrase that entertains me is when a certain e-bay seller uses "razor sharp" to describe their well worn, almost slick Barber quarters.
Perhaps they meant that they are so thin you can shave with them.
RIP Mom- 1932-2012
The invented terminology tickles me. “Reverse horse sneeze” is my latest fav. That would be a horse fart, maybe?
I like "luster bomb", "warmly patinated", and "wispy handling marks that are easily overlooked"
Or a phrase that resonates but isn't so Laura-esque, "The coin is all there"
Fun thread, Mark 😅
Founder- Peak Rarities
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Among friends privately “ugly”.
dog
"coruscating"
Battleship Gray for perfect original circulated silver coins.
"Opalescent"
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Had to look that up in a dictionary. Lol.
Leave it to MFeld to start a thread where we all have to get our dictionaries out
Founder- Peak Rarities
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Pearlescent.
I always take that to mean - "Most people think this is ugly"
@DeplorableDan, your perspicuousness is on display.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
David Bowers once described a scarce classic coin that had a pit or a dig in it. He was able to add a positive spin by stating the mark made it possible to identify this example from all others. I forget the exact wording yet do recall it was precise and purposeful. I admired him for many reasons and that was certainly one of them.
Specific to this topic's question:
"Problem-free"
"Pocket-piece"
"Hard Dove Gray Surfaces"
peacockcoins
Hammered.
Choice
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
"Blast White" and "Hammered".
Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
I've seen a negative attribute such as a copper spot on a gold coin or a carbon spot on a copper coin described as giving the coin "character".
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I'm guessing it was something to the effect of "This mark/flaw serves to identify this example."
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
A bit off topic, but all the same, I enjoy it when they show me the size of the quarter that I want to buy:
fugly
post mint damage
Recently used another thread, the word “pedestrian” is a softer, more delicate term in lieu of “widget”
Founder- Peak Rarities
Website
Instagram
Facebook
My coin Monster your coin crap, if you’re trying to sell it to me.🤪
"This is a fun piece." Generates interest almost every time I use it.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you.
https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.
Gem, that is my favorite when applied correctly.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Top pop
"pedigree marker"
As long as frosty devices look like they were freshly carved from a block of ice and contrast BOLDY against the incredibly DEEP MIRRORS, I am a buyer. It doesn't hurt if no ticks are visible, even with the aid of a STRONG GLASS.
“Scrumptious” usually seen with chocolate brown copper. 😳😂
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
I like “slider” since I collect slabbed AU coins that give the impression of being MS at first glance
Mr_Spud
I also appreciate "gem AU"
PCGS Certified CAC Approved Problem Free usually catches my eye when looking on EBAY
Ohhh I forgot about one of my favorites for eac, which was imparted upon me by @Walkerguy21D
"Scudzy"
Founder- Peak Rarities
Website
Instagram
Facebook
My favorite I’ve seen to date is:
“Very foolishly cleaned.”
The combination of honesty and the seller’s almost palpable exasperation with one of the coin’s former owners made me chuckle.
Describing Color:
Fluorescent
Cornucopia
Kaleidoscope
Jewel
Basal state
Burnt
Plate coin
Contrasted
Deeply mirrored
Coin Photographer.
"Watery Mirrors"
"Temperamental Surfaces"
"Ballistic Fields"
"Military Grade"
Okay. . . a couple of these I might of just made up...
peacockcoins
What a great thread idea - love it.
A few of my favorites:
"dripping with luster"
"crusty"
"frosty"
"circ cam"
And a few that I could do without hearing for a bit but know it's 100% coin-related:
"absolute monster"
"needs a sticker"
"lightly cleaned"
A coin for the "connie sewer" collector.
Since I'm not a fan of "toning," I like "blast white" when it's correctly applied.
"Cool" comes to mind for coins with actual historic significance (not necessarily rare; e.g., Athens owls, not rare at all but amazingly cool).
Things I like to see:
"delicate"
"patina" (as opposed to toning)
"sharp"/"crisp"
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
Finest Known
Needle-sharp
Uncompromised
Natural
Unblemished
One of the funniest descriptions that I ever read YEARS ago was:
"The Lone Ranger's silver bullet could not have been shinier!"
Don't remember what company used it but it always makes me laugh!! LOL
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/