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Interchangeable numismatic terms that are used to describe coins

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  • WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 10,105 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 17, 2026 2:45PM

    @MFeld said:

    @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.

    Okay 👌 Fair enough 😉

    How about skin?

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,111 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 17, 2026 2:59PM

    @Walkerfan said:

    @MFeld said:

    @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.

    Okay 👌 Fair enough 😉

    How about skin?

    Closer, but while others might disagree, I still don’t think so. “Skin” can be smooth, but “crust” can’t. 😉

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

  • oldabeintxoldabeintx Posts: 2,730 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @PerryHall said:
    Flan & Planchet

    And Blank

  • oldabeintxoldabeintx Posts: 2,730 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:

    @Walkerfan said:

    @MFeld said:

    @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.

    Okay 👌 Fair enough 😉

    How about skin?

    Closer, but while others might disagree, I still don’t think so. “Skin” can be smooth, but “crust” can’t. 😉

    How about Surface/Skin

  • USSID18USSID18 Posts: 60 ✭✭✭

    Blank/Planchet Two completely different things but people interchange them.

  • oldabeintxoldabeintx Posts: 2,730 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Buffalo/Indian Head
    Winged Liberty/Mercury

  • oldabeintxoldabeintx Posts: 2,730 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Corrosion/ED

  • GreenstangGreenstang Posts: 1,556 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Machine Doubling/ Mechanical Doubling

  • breakdownbreakdown Posts: 2,363 ✭✭✭✭✭

    "minor abrasion visible only with strong magnification"/gash

    "Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,111 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @oldabeintx said:

    @MFeld said:

    @Walkerfan said:

    @MFeld said:

    @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.

    Okay 👌 Fair enough 😉

    How about skin?

    Closer, but while others might disagree, I still don’t think so. “Skin” can be smooth, but “crust” can’t. 😉

    How about Surface/Skin

    There’s always a surface but the same can’t be said for a skin.

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

  • oldabeintxoldabeintx Posts: 2,730 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Rub/Cabinet Friction. Maybe?

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 39,671 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 18, 2026 7:40AM

    @MetroD said:
    Uncirculated/Burnished

    These aren't actually identical

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 39,671 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @The_Dinosaur_Man said:
    World/Foreign

    Dark side/ foreign

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 39,671 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 17, 2026 6:47PM

    @2windy2fish said:
    Uncirculated/As struck
    Should be noted that “As struck” is fairly widely used in Europe

    As is FDC (Fleur de coin)

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 39,671 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 17, 2026 6:54PM

    @MFeld said:

    @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.

    I use circulation strike for "mint sets". It's modifying the type of strike not the purpose of the coin. Otherwise, medals, NCLT, bullion etc aren't circulation strikes and, in the case of medals they aren't business strikes either. It ends up being very restrictive and also makes it seem like there are two different methods for producing mint set coins and bags and rolls of the same coin.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • kruegerkrueger Posts: 928 ✭✭✭✭

    "A favorite here….cent/penny…"

    A "cent is a base 10" (American)
    "A penny is a base 12" (British)

    yes/No?

  • CregCreg Posts: 1,418 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 17, 2026 7:46PM

    Countermark / counterpunch / counterstamp (nouns, verbs, adjectives) are interchanged inaccurately in some descriptions.

  • ConnecticoinConnecticoin Posts: 13,214 ✭✭✭✭✭

    From the 1970s:

    “Average Circulated” / AG

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 39,671 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @krueger said:
    "A favorite here….cent/penny…"

    A "cent is a base 10" (American)
    "A penny is a base 12" (British)

    yes/No?

    yes and no

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 30,923 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @2windy2fish said:
    Bullseye/ Target

    And sometimes pup (pick up point)

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,111 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @oldabeintx said:
    Rub/Cabinet Friction. Maybe?

    I think so.

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

  • CregCreg Posts: 1,418 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 18, 2026 7:04AM

    Raw / uncertified/ unslabbed / ungraded

    Certified / slabbed / graded

  • MetroDMetroD Posts: 2,519 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @MetroD said:
    Uncirculated/Burnished

    This aren't actually identical

    You, sir, are absolutely correct.

    When I read the OP, I saw the 'interchangeable' part. But, I missed the 'mean (exactly) the same thing' part.

    Thanks for the 'clarification/correction'.

  • RedRocketRedRocket Posts: 889 ✭✭✭✭

    @PerryHall said:
    Counterfeit & Fake.

    Also "contemporary" and "bogus"

  • The_Dinosaur_ManThe_Dinosaur_Man Posts: 1,382 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Box/Opium Dollar

    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/.

  • Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 9,445 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 18, 2026 2:22PM

    PQ / all the money.

    Cull / junk box.

    Gem BU / 65

    Junk silver / melting pot recruits

    Brilliant white / super PQ

    Rainbow toner / auc high

    Spotted cull / low end

    Wash / Washington qtr

    Display of Gem Franks / BU Franklin Half Roll

    Keeper Coin / sell only if get all the money

    Tarnished / toner

    Investor
  • Rule556Rule556 Posts: 154 ✭✭✭✭

    @RedRocket said:

    @PerryHall said:
    Counterfeit & Fake.

    Also "contemporary" and "bogus"

    Spurious...

    Newbie collector of type and circulated Peace dollars, photographer of places and animals, player of instruments and builder of amplifiers, espresso industry professional, and a person distracted by shiny objects.

  • leothelyonleothelyon Posts: 8,514 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Full steps, head, bell lines, torch, bands and others/FULL STRIKE! When will they learn?

    Leo

    The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!

    My Jefferson Nickel Collection

  • ProofCollectionProofCollection Posts: 7,573 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1. Rub/weaar
    2. Original/Toned (although I will argue that the original mint surfaces did not have toning so it is a bit of a misnomer).
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 47,336 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ProofCollection said:
    1. Rub/weaar
    2. Original/Toned (although I will argue that the original mint surfaces did not have toning so it is a bit of a misnomer).

    Ever hear of secondary toning? That's not original.

    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

  • mr1931Smr1931S Posts: 6,821 ✭✭✭✭✭

    MS62/AU58.

    "I believe in intuitions and inspirations. I sometimes feel that I am right. I do not know that I am."
    Albert Einstein (14 March 1879--18 April 1955)

  • SapyxSapyx Posts: 2,489 ✭✭✭✭✭

    To describe words appearing on a coin: Legend / Inscription. Though there is a technical distinction here: "legends" go around the edge of a coin, while "inscriptions" go across it. Thus, on the obverse of a Lincoln cent, "In God we trust" is a legend, while "Liberty" is an inscription.

    Milling / Reeding: the vertical stripes placed evenly on a coin's edge, historically to prevent clipping.

    Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.
    Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"

    Apparently I have been awarded the DPOTD twice. B)

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