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Welcome to our

COIN COLLECTOR's ABBREVIATIONS

and Acronyms Section

Here you can look up those abbreviations that coin dealers and experts are using. Find out the meanings by clicking on the links below.

Ideal for beginning coin collectors and experienced numismatists. We think you will find these lists helpful in learning the lingo of the coin collecting hobby.

Abbreviations: A-D, E-F, G-N, M-Z

Abbreviations starting with letters

A-B-C-D

Ag

- elemental abbreviation for SILVER

AE

-American Eagle silver, gold, and platinum gold coins released by the US government starting in Oct. 1986. Front (obverse) depicts Liberty walking and reverse side bears an American Eagle and nest design. Produced in both Uncirculated and Proof conditions. The silver coins are often called Silver Eagles, gold coins often called Gold Eagles, and Platinum are called Platinum eagles.

AG

- Same as "About good".

AGE

- American Gold Eagle coins.

ANA

- American Numismatic Associationthe most popular nonprofit educational coin collectors organization in America. Encourages the study of numismatics; collecting of money. The American Numismatic Association headquarters and national 'Money Museum' are located in Colorado Springs, CO. Often called the A.N.A.

ANACS

- American Numismatic Association Certification Service. This grading and certification service certifies coins as genuine, grades, and encapsulates them. One of the original grading services. Has now changed ownership and is no longer under the direction of the American Numismatic Association (ANA).

ANS

- American Numismatic Society another nonprofit educational organization of coin collectors and dealers. Established prior to the civil war it promotes the study of coin collecting, numismatics. Often called the A.N.S.

ASE

- American Silver Eagle dollar coin. The American Silver Eagles, sometime called Silver Eagles and feature the Walking Liberty design on the obverse (front) and an Eagle design on the reverse (back). ASE's, sometimes called SE's for short, were first minted by the US government mint in 1986 and have been minted each year since. Each coin contains one ounce of 99.9% solid silver. They normally trade at a premium above the silver market, with some years, mint marks, and proof qualities bringing a price premium.

- About or almost uncirculated - a coin or paper money note that is very close to being uncirculated. Upon first glance it may appear un-circulated. When inspected closely it will have a slight amount of wear or friction. Same as "About Uncirculated". Sometimes abbreviated as "AU", or "A Unc".

BN or BR

- abbreviation for Brown. A natural common color for copper coins.

- Brilliant Uncirculated. A coin grading term that indicates a coin has no wear, has never been exposed to circulation, and shows a surface brilliance as that of a newly minted coin. Such mint state coins will fall between MS60 and MS70 on the coin grading scale.

BEP

- Bureau of Engraving and Printing United States government agency that produces paper money for the U.S. and some other countries.

- Mint mark found on coins minted at the United States Charlotte Mint.

- Mint mark found on coins minted at the United States Carson City Mint.

cam

- cameo - see deep cameo

CDN

- Coin Dealer Newsletter or "grey sheet"

chop

- chop marks - marks or characters stamped into previously made coins. Often found on silver trade dollars and other precious metal coins. When coins were used for trading purposes a oriental assayer would test a piece of the coin for purity. If it met his approval he would stamp his mark into the coin indicating to others it was pure and accurate weight. Today some collectors specialize in "Chop marked" coins. However, for many coins the chop marks may hurt the value.

circ

- circulated or circulating coins used in commerce to purchase items. A circulated coin is one that has been used one time or often more. Coins that have any kind of wear from handling, etc are also considered circulated.

commem

- commemorative. A special issued coin or medal issued to honor an outstanding person, place, or event. Often one time or short lived production. Many times commemorative coins are not produced for general circulation.

- Copper-Nickel or Cupro-Nickel. A metal alloy of 88% copper and 12% nickel. This alloy was used for US Flying Eagle and Indian cents from 1856 to the middle of 1864. The alloy caused these small cents to have a pale copper color. Back then people called these cents "white cents" because of their pale color. A few other countries have used some copper nickel alloys of various percentages in their coin production. "Cupro-nickel" is a similar term. See "cupro nickel".

- mintmark used to designate that the coin was struck at the US mint in "Denver Colorado". Between 1838 and the civil war the "D" mint mark was used by the US mint in Dahlonega Georgia.

DCAM

- see "Deep Cameo".

Abbreviations & acronyms

Additional information on the meanings of some of these coin abbreviations can be found in our COIN TERMS & DICTIONARY Section.

Dictionary of Coin Collector Terms & Definitions:

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

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