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Just for fun, what are some of your favorite words or phrases used to describe coins?

MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,653 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

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.

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    shishshish Posts: 1,215 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 29, 2023 7:25AM

    Iridescent
    Cartwheel
    Crusty
    Chocolate Brown

    Liberty Seated and Trade Dollar Specialist
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    FrazFraz Posts: 2,118 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 29, 2023 7:40AM

    The invented terminology tickles me. “Reverse horse sneeze” is my latest fav. That would be a horse fart, maybe?

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    PeakRaritiesPeakRarities Posts: 4,855 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 29, 2023 7:36AM

    I like "luster bomb", "warmly patinated", and "wispy handling marks that are easily overlooked" :D

    Or a phrase that resonates but isn't so Laura-esque, "The coin is all there"

    Fun thread, Mark 😅

    Founder- Peak Rarities
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    skier07skier07 Posts: 4,748 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Among friends privately “ugly”.

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    stevebensteveben Posts: 4,666 ✭✭✭✭✭

    dog

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    BarberianBarberian Posts: 4,643 ✭✭✭✭✭

    "coruscating"

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    skier07skier07 Posts: 4,748 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Barberian said:
    "coruscating"

    Had to look that up in a dictionary. Lol.

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    SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,985 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Pearlescent.

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    World67World67 Posts: 13,088 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jedm said:
    "For the discerning collector" is a phrase that I see certain dealers use , and it catches my attention and makes me look again usually.

    I always take that to mean - "Most people think this is ugly"

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    braddickbraddick Posts: 25,118 ✭✭✭✭✭

    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"

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    SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,969 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Hammered.

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    CryptoCrypto Posts: 4,098 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Choice

    11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set

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    divecchiadivecchia Posts: 6,714 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 29, 2023 8:15AM

    "Blast White" and "Hammered".

    Donato

    Hobbyist & Collector (not an investor).
    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)
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    PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 47,534 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 29, 2023 8:44AM

    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". :D

    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

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    MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,653 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 29, 2023 8:16AM

    @braddick said:
    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.

    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.

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    FrazFraz Posts: 2,118 ✭✭✭✭✭

    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:

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    johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 32,419 ✭✭✭✭✭

    fugly

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    isamucoinandcurrencyisamucoinandcurrency Posts: 114 ✭✭✭

    post mint damage

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    JimTylerJimTyler Posts: 4,060 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 29, 2023 8:33AM

    My coin Monster your coin crap, if you’re trying to sell it to me.🤪

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    The_Dinosaur_ManThe_Dinosaur_Man Posts: 1,519 ✭✭✭✭✭

    "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/.

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    coinbufcoinbuf Posts: 12,465 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Gem, that is my favorite when applied correctly.

    My Lincoln Registry
    My Collection of Old Holders

    Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
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    Some_of_itSome_of_it Posts: 166 ✭✭✭

    Top pop

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    TheMayorTheMayor Posts: 258 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:

    @braddick said:
    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.

    I'm guessing it was something to the effect of "This mark/flaw serves to identify this example."

    "pedigree marker"

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    TheMayorTheMayor Posts: 258 ✭✭✭✭✭

    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.

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    CatbertCatbert Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭✭✭

    “Scrumptious” usually seen with chocolate brown copper. 😳😂

    Seated Half Society member #38

    "She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
    running like a water color in the rain...."
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    Mr_SpudMr_Spud Posts: 7,170 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I like “slider” since I collect slabbed AU coins that give the impression of being MS at first glance

    Mr_Spud

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    TheMayorTheMayor Posts: 258 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Mr_Spud said:
    I like “slider” since I collect slabbed AU coins that give the impression of being MS at first glance

    I also appreciate "gem AU"

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    coastaljerseyguycoastaljerseyguy Posts: 2,066 ✭✭✭✭✭

    PCGS Certified CAC Approved Problem Free usually catches my eye when looking on EBAY

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    PeakRaritiesPeakRarities Posts: 4,855 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Ohhh I forgot about one of my favorites for eac, which was imparted upon me by @Walkerguy21D

    "Scudzy"

    Founder- Peak Rarities
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    ShurkeShurke Posts: 782 ✭✭✭✭✭

    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.

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    labloverlablover Posts: 3,731 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Describing Color:

    Fluorescent
    Cornucopia
    Kaleidoscope
    Jewel

    "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rogers
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    jkrkjkrk Posts: 1,025 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Basal state

    Burnt

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    FlyingAlFlyingAl Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Plate coin
    Contrasted
    Deeply mirrored

    Coin Photography

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    marcmoishmarcmoish Posts: 6,906 ✭✭✭✭✭

    What a great thread idea - love it.

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    mattnissmattniss Posts: 836 ✭✭✭✭✭

    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"

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    SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,985 ✭✭✭✭✭

    A coin for the "connie sewer" collector. :)

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    124Spider124Spider Posts: 1,214 ✭✭✭✭✭

    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).

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    neildrobertsonneildrobertson Posts: 1,266 ✭✭✭✭✭

    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

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    WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 10,284 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 29, 2023 10:03AM

    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/

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