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Dictionary of Coin Collector Terms and Definitions:
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Information about
New Presidential Dollar coins:
~Unusual
Edge Letters on Dollars
~US mint press release.
~Production Schedule of Dollars to be released
~Legislation Authorizing Presidential Dollars in 2007 |
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"A Glossary of Coin Collecting Words and Definitions"
Locate the meaning of coin dealer and numismatic words.
COIN COLLECTOR WORDS
that start with the letter
" T "
- tail
- - the reverse or back side of a coin
- third party grading
- - third party grading services will grade and/or certify coins as genuine.
Often the coin will be encapsulated in a plastic holder (or slab) by the grading
service to protect it. Called "third party" grading when the service is
independent of any dealer or collector's influence. They provide a grading
opinion based on established criteria. Examples may include PCGS, NGC, and
ANACS. To see some third party graded coins
click here.
- three cent piece, or three cent coin
- - common term used for the US coin with the
value of three cents. Two different metals were used for these coins back in the 1800's.
Prior to 1865 the US made three cent pieces out of an alloy of mostly silver.
Hence the name "three cent silver".
The public complained because the 3 cent silvers were small and thin.
By 1865 the US government changed the composition and design of the three cent coins.
Three cent nickels were made of 75% copper and 25% nickel from 1865 to 1889. From the looks of
the coin you would think it was made out of pure nickel. They
were larger and thicker than the three cent silvers and had nickel as part of
their composition.
Hence the name "three cent nickel".
- thrip
- - British term for the English three pence coin.
See "trime".
- token
- -
Something that looks like a coin, but is not legal tender issued by an official government.
For example, parking tokens, video game machine tokens, and casino tokens. Some coin collectors shy away
from collecting tokens. However, there are a few small groups of serious token collectors.
- toning
- - Shading of color on coins. Toning can be in many forms
from dark or brown to various shade of other colors. It can cover the whole coin or more often
part of the coin. Toning results when the surface of the coin comes in contact with the air
and environment it is exposed to. Traces of material
in the metals will also play a roll in toning. Some think toning makes a "protective" coating over
the surface of a coin that helps the coin resist corrosion. Toning can be even be
artifically done
by exposing the coin to certain reactive substances. Some "naturally" occurring toned coins
bring a premium in the collector market due to their unique beauty. Others may bring
less than an un-toned coin when the toning is unattractive. Also see "corrosion".
- trends
- - a price guide section in a coin magazine or publication that lists current
prices of coins. Often includes a + or - sign by a coin's value, which
indicates the change from the previous price list.
- trime
- - a nickname for the US three cent coin, made by the US mint in the 1800s.
See "thrip".
- troy ounce
- - a weigh to measure weight. Differs from a regular "grocery store"
ounce. Click here for a
full explanation of what a troy ounce is.
- turkey
- - a sorry coin. One that is worse than it first appears. Also,
used to mean something that won't sell despite it's appearance.
- twenty cent piece
- - a 20-cent coin issued by the United States government. Minted in
the mid-late 1800's this large copper coin circulated and had a face value of 20
cents. Sometimes call the "double-dime"
in coin catalogues. After a number of years the US government decided to stop
making 20 cent pieces due to their unpopularity and lack of use.
- two bits
- - see "bits"
- two by two
- - nickname for a typical holder for one coin. Measures 2 inches by 2 inches.
Often made of cardboard with a clear mylar material in the center. Cardboard 2x2s are
not the best way to store coins for the long term.
- two cent piece
- - a US coin with the value of two cents. Common
term used for the copper Shield design two-cent coin made from 1864 to 1873.
- type
- -
coins containing the same or a similar characteristic. Often in a type collection or set the
dates do not matter. Rather the collector is interested in obtaining one of each representative
design. For example a collector may want one of each "type" of coin in US circulation today.
Such a type set would consist of a cent, nickel, dime, quarter, half, and dollar.
A collector may decide to collect one representative of each type of coin by size. For example,
a cent type set may include a Lincoln Memorial cent, wheat back cent, indian cent, etc.
- type set
- - collection of coins of one denomination. For example,
a Quarter type set would consist of one of each design of quarter that the mint
has made. (Dates and mint marks usually are not of concern.)
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Where the
investor goes to buy precious metals.
Get a
FREE
gram of gold when you sign
up! For a limited time!
Trade online, in amounts as small as $20 at a time
New Presidential Dollar coins:
~Unusual
Edge Letters on President coins
~US mint
$ coin press release.
~Production Schedule
for upcoming Dollars.
~Legislation Authorizing Presidential Dollar
Coins in 2007. |