Glossary of Numismatic Terms

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

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ABL : abbreviation for Ang Bagong Lipunan
Abrasions : a physical scratch of a coin caused by friction to other coins or objects
Alloy : combination of two or more metals
AU : abbreviation About Uncirculated

B

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Banknote : a paper issued historically by banks used as paper money
Binting : Filipino word for 25 Centavos
Bi-metallic : a coin that has two different metal alloys to it. Like the current 10 Piso coin
Brilliant Uncirculated (B.U.) : is produced from a blank which is specially chosen and thoroughly cleaned. Unlike an ordinary coin which is struck only once, a B.U. coin is struck with polished dies three (3) times or more, resulting in deeper and sharper relief of the designs and more brilliant coin field. The coin is minted with great care and under high standards of quality.
BSP : abbreviation for Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

C

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Cara : Heads
Cartwheel Effect : an effect that when you tilt a coin back and forth, it produces a natural glow that resembles a glowing circle
CBP : abbreviation for Central Bank of the Philippines
Certified : a coin or banknote that is graded and authenticated by third party grading services
Coin : a metal that is usually round used as money
Coinage : coins issued by a particular government
Commemorative : a coin or banknote issued to commemorate a special event in history or to honor a special person
Cruz : Tails

D

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D : mintmark of Denver Mint
Date : the year shown on a coin and banknote
Denomination : monetary value assign to a coin or banknote by the issuing government
Device : main design of a coin
Die : a circular metal with the design used for striking a coin

E

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Edge : the third side of a coin, between obverse and reverse side
EF : abbreviation Extremely Fine
Encapsulated : a coin that is graded, certified and put in a sealed plastic holder by third party grading services
Error : unintentional error in minting a coin or printing a banknote

F

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F : abbreviation Fine
Face Value : a monetary equivalent of a coin or banknote during its issue
FF : abbreviation Flora and Fauna
Field : the flat surface of a coin where there is no design
FM : mintmark of Franklin Mint

G

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G : abbreviation Good
Grading : the process of determining the condition of a coin or banknote

H

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I

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J

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K

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Key Date : a coin with date or combinatin of date and mintmark that is harder to obtain in a particular series
Kusing : a Filipino word for Half Centavo

L

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Legend : main word/s or lettering that appears on the coin
Luster : the brightness or shiny effect of a coin when it reflects lights

M

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Mint : a place where a coin is struck and minted
MS : abbreviation Mint State
Mint Set : a collection of coins for each denomination of a particular year
Mint State : uncirculated coin
Mintage : the number of copies of a particular coin, struck in the mint during its minting
Mint mark : a small letter of symbol that identifies where a particular coin is struck.
Mule : a coin having an obverse and reverse not meant to be together

N

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NDS : abbreviation New Design Series
NGC : abbreviation New Generation Currency
Numismatics : the study of coin, medals, banknotes, paper money and related topics
Numismatists : a person studying or collecting numismatic item

O

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Obverse : the front side of a coin or banknote, commonly called "heads" in coin

P

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P : mintmark for Philadelphia Mint
Paper Money : a paper used as currency
Pattern : a prototype of a coin to see how it looks before minting a regular issue coin
PI : abbreviation for Philippine Island
Piedfort : a coin that is twice the thickness of a normal coin
PMD : abbreviation for Post Mint Damage
Proof : a specially minted coin for collectors

Q

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R

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Reverse : the back side of a coin or banknote, commonly called "tails" in coin
Rim : the raised part of the outer side of reverse and obverse side of the coin

S

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S : mintmark for San Francisco Mint
Series : a variety in year of coins having the same design
Sneaker Note : also known as "balikbayan" are notes that belong to prior printing block but are inserted to a new set of notes
Specimen : a banknote that bears a watermark "Specimen" that is issued generally to banks to familiarized them about that particular banknote
Star Note : a replacement note, when misprinting or error occurs on banknotes, it is destroyed and replaced by star note to prevent repeating of serial no.

T

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Type Set : a collection of coin or banknotes of a specific design or series
Token : a metal that is usually round that is issued usually by private company as substitute for coin but has no monetary value outside the issuing private company
Toning : a discoloration of original color of a coin due to interaction to outside elements like air

U

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UNC : abbreviation Uncirculated
Uncirculated : a coin or banknote that is never been circulated
USPI : abbreviation for United States Philippine Island

V

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VF : abbreviation Very Fine
VG : abbreviation Very Good
Variety : a coin or banknote that has the same design and year but has slight variation compared to its counterpart