Interchangeable numismatic terms that are used to describe coins

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MFeld
MFeld Posts: 17,131 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

When reading posts on this forum, I see quite a few numismatic terms that are used interchangeably. And most of them actually mean the same thing. ;)

Here’s one that came to mind for me yesterday: business strike/circulation strike

For anyone who cares to do so, please post any that occur to you.

Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

«13

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  • CaptHenway
    CaptHenway Posts: 34,164 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Uncirculated/ Mint State

    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • Typekat
    Typekat Posts: 729 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    uncirculated/mint state

    problem coin/details coin

    B&M/LCS

    30+ years coin shop experience (ret.) Coins, bullion, currency, scrap & interesting folks. Loved every minute!

  • USSID18
    USSID18 Posts: 653 ✭✭✭✭
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    Detailed/Damaged

  • Creg
    Creg Posts: 1,734 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    PF - PR

  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,049 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    money/cash

  • RedRocket
    RedRocket Posts: 1,922 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    :o

    :'(

  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,131 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    toning/patina/oxidation

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • Creg
    Creg Posts: 1,734 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @MFeld said:
    toning/patina/oxidation

    Ricko agrees.

  • oreville
    oreville Posts: 12,399 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 17, 2026 9:53AM
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    @PerryHall said:
    EF&XF

    Dave Biwers refused to call it XF. I finally learned to write XF rather than EF.

    A Collectors Universe poster since 1997!
  • CaptHenway
    CaptHenway Posts: 34,164 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @MFeld said:
    toning/patina/oxidation

    Wait....are you buying or selling?

    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • epc
    epc Posts: 459 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 17, 2026 10:06AM
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    And as my wife would say, rust, though that is metal-specific and not really applicable to most US coins. But the dies can rust and give a different effect on the coins...

    Collector of Liberty Seated Half Dimes, including die pairs and die states

  • lablover
    lablover Posts: 3,731 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Artificial Toning/Questionable Toning

    "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rogers
  • USSID18
    USSID18 Posts: 653 ✭✭✭✭
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    NT/damaged 😂

  • USSID18
    USSID18 Posts: 653 ✭✭✭✭
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    verdigris/green stuff on coins

  • SimonW
    SimonW Posts: 1,581 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @safari_dude said:
    A favorite here….cent/penny…..😉

    There’s always one trying to start a fight! 😂

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  • Crypto
    Crypto Posts: 4,098 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    EF vs XF, Coins value vs Bullion prices

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

  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,049 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @PerryHall said:

    @MFeld said:
    toning/patina/oxidation

    You forgot tarnish. ;)

    Or stain

  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Blast White / Ricko

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  • JBK
    JBK Posts: 17,860 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Creg said:
    @MFeld said:
    toning/patina/oxidation

    Ricko agrees.

    I think Ricko might have added "tarnish". :p

  • MetroD
    MetroD Posts: 2,568 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 18, 2026 7:27AM
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    Uncirculated/Burnished

    Edited to Add:
    These two terms are used interchangeably to describe a present-day Mint offering.
    They do not, however, mean exactly the same thing.

  • JBK
    JBK Posts: 17,860 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @MFeld said:

    Here’s one that came to mind for me yesterday: business strike/circulation strike

    I'm not saying you're wrong, but to me there is maybe a subtle difference.

    I think of "business strike" as sort of a method of manufacture for things like mint sets, blue pack Ikes, etc. which were not intended for circulation.

    But of course it can also be used for circulation coins. But I'm not sure I'd use "circulation strike" for mint sets or uncirculated Ikes.

    Minor point, if at all.

  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,748 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Face value & Denomination.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
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  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,748 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Melt value & Bullion value.

    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

  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,748 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Counterfeit & Fake.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
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  • oldabeintx
    oldabeintx Posts: 3,214 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Fleur de coin/MS (gem?)

  • Walkerfan
    Walkerfan Posts: 10,391 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 17, 2026 11:45AM
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    Brilliant/White

    Crust/Color

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  • Redglobe
    Redglobe Posts: 806 ✭✭✭
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    Moose/Monster

    Rob
  • edwardjulio
    edwardjulio Posts: 1,300 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    DC/UC
    dreck/widget ?

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  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,131 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @JBK said:

    @MFeld said:

    Here’s one that came to mind for me yesterday: business strike/circulation strike

    I'm not saying you're wrong, but to me there is maybe a subtle difference.

    I think of "business strike" as sort of a method of manufacture for things like mint sets, blue pack Ikes, etc. which were not intended for circulation.

    But of course it can also be used for circulation coins. But I'm not sure I'd use "circulation strike" for mint sets or uncirculated Ikes.

    Minor point, if at all.

    I think that’s a good point and I like that distinction.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,131 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Walkerfan said:
    Brilliant/White

    Crust/Color

    Sorry but “crust” isn’t necessarily synonymous with color or toning. It’s a particular type/depth of toning. So many toned coins aren’t crusty.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • jesbroken
    jesbroken Posts: 11,252 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Error/PMD new useage.
    Jim


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  • 2windy2fish
    2windy2fish Posts: 1,143 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 17, 2026 1:51PM
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    Uncirculated/As struck
    Should be noted that “As struck” is fairly widely used in Europe

  • 2windy2fish
    2windy2fish Posts: 1,143 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Details/Faults

  • 2windy2fish
    2windy2fish Posts: 1,143 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Bullseye/ Target

  • The_Dinosaur_Man
    The_Dinosaur_Man Posts: 1,592 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    World/Foreign

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  • Old_Collector
    Old_Collector Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Parking lot/details

  • safari_dude
    safari_dude Posts: 698 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Walkerfan said:
    Brilliant/White

    Crust/Color

    …those terms can be used for underwear too. Just sayin’ 🤪😂

  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,131 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @safari_dude said:

    @Walkerfan said:
    Brilliant/White

    Crust/Color

    …those terms can be used for underwear too. Just sayin’ 🤪😂

    Although I already knew that threads, here, could take unanticipated twists and turns, I must say, I didn’t anticipate that underwear would become part of this discussion.😮

    😉

    I’m guessing that laundry detergent will be next.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,748 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Flan & Planchet

    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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