List of Terms Related to Coinage and Banknotes - Coin Terminology.

Baby coin sets are issued by some countries and are intended as a gift upon the birth of a baby; they consist of the circulation coins from the year of birth and possibly a medal as well.

A "blank" is piece of coin-shaped metal that is then stamped and made into a coin.

Burnishing is a form of surface preparation on proof or uncirculated coin blanks, using steel balls and detergent to remove any unwanted watermarks from the surface of the blank.

A circulating coin is coin that has been issued by a bank into general circulation.

A coin is usually a piece of metal, marked with a device, issued by a Government authority and intended to be used as money.

The alignment of the reverse relative to the obverse side of the coin depends on how the dies are positioned during minting. In the case of "Coin orientation" (like pre-euro French coinage or US issues), the image on one face of the coin is upside-down relative to the other, while in "Medallic orientation" (like British, German etc. coinage), the top of the reverse shares the same position as the top of the obverse.

Commemorative coins are specially designed and struck to mark some special occasion or to commemorate an event.

The denomination of the coin is its stated face value.

The designer is the person who conceives the design of a coin. Sometimes the designer's name or initials appear on the coin. Most often a coin has a different designer for each side.

The diameter of a coin is the largest distance that can be measured from edge to edge across the surface of the coin.

A die is a hardened metal tool, the face of which carries an engraved design that is to be stamped onto a blank to convert it into a coin.

Dies are made of steel, specially hardened and used in pairs of obverse and reverse to strike each coin in one operation. A matrix, or "master die" is prepared, from which the working dies are struck. It is these working dies that actually strike the coins, and usually many are made from the master die as the actual working life of a die may be quite short.

An effigy is the sculpted image of a person, usually a monarch, to appear on the obverse of a coin.

The engraver is the person who cuts the dies and is usually a member of the mint staff. Often the designer and the engraver is the same person.

Frosting is an effect in which parts of a coin are slightly dulled (using sandblasting techniques) to provide a contrast to the shinier parts of metal.

Also know as "legend" - or words found on either side of the coin, or sometimes on the edge.

The legend is the inscription or words found on either side of the coin, or sometimes on the edge.

The actual mass of the coin when struck at the mint and before wear takes place. Specifications are laid down as standard by the issuing institution. Measured in grammes (abbreviated to g).

The alignment of the reverse relative to the obverse side of the coin depends on how the dies are positioned during minting. In the case of "Medallic" or "medal" orientation" (like British, German etc. coinage), the top of the reverse shares the same position as the top of the obverse, whereas in the case of "Coin orientation" (like pre-euro French coinage or US issues), the image on one face of the coin is upside-down relative to the other.

The place where the metal is prepared, the dies engraved, and the coins struck. Many coins carry mint marks to show at which mint they were struck.

A mule is a coin, token or medal whose obverse design is not matched with its reverse.

Numismatics is the science, study or collecting of coins or similar objects.

A numismatist is a collector or knowledgeable person in the field of numismatics.

The "heads" side of the coin, which is usually considered to be the more "important" side. It represents the country which has issued the coin, or - in the case of monarchies - the reigning monarch. The monarch may be represented by an effigy and/or legend.

Pickling is a process in which proof blanks are cleaned in acid to remove oil, directional rolling lines and dirt from their surface.

A plaster is the model made during the design process, approximately four times larger than the actual size of the final coin or medal.

Proof coins are specially prepared coins which are not meant for circulation. The working dies and the coin blanks are polished to a mirror-like surface before the coins are struck.

Regular issue coins are the standard type of coins released for regular circulation, as distinct from proof and commemorative coins.

The "tails", or "other" side of the coin (the Obverse being considered the main side). It usually displays a national motif, the value and the date.

The rim of a coin is the raised area of metal around the edge. It is intended to protect the rest of the coin from wear.

Smartminting is a way of making coins with greater levels of relief, with finer detail for a given weight, or keeping a similar level of relief but expanding the diameter for a greater working area. This allows the production of coins with profiles and shapes which would not be possible with traditional techniques.

The method is used for the creation of "collectors edition" coins which would not be suitable for regular circulation.

Once a coin design has been submitted and approved and the master die engraved, it becomes the standard or "type". Any variation of this type is called a variety.

A coin which has not been distributed or used as currency.

A coin, medal or token which has only been struck on one side.

A variety can occur in a number of ways, the most common being caused by a working die which becomes cracked or worn and requires touching up to restore it. In the recutting process a little of the design, date, or lettering may be altered slightly or eliminated altogether.

The actual weight of the coin when struck at the mint and before wear takes place. Specifications are laid down as standard by the issuing institution. This used to be expressed in "grains" but is now measured in grammes (abbreviated to g).