Above: Isle of Man 2010 Fine Silver Kublai Khan Tablet-Shaped Coin

Above: Isle of Man 2009 Fine Silver Tutankhamun Sand Triangle Coin

Coin Dictionary

A Coin, like most collectable items has a number of terms when describing how a coin is made. We have listed below the most frequently asked coin terms and followed by a brief explanation. 

1 Crown
Old English currency value (1 Crown was 25p)

Certificate of Authentication
How to determine whether a precious metal coin or other numismatic item is genuine.

Coat of Arms
If a coin does not feature an effigy or a portrait then it will often feature the Coat of Arms for that country or Government.

Circulation Coins
These are coins that are in circulation - i.e. with the general public being used to purchase items. A circulated coin is one that has been used more than once. 

Coin
Legal tender coin approved by a country with a denominational value.

Commemorative Coins
This is a coin that has been issued to honour an event, person, place or occasion. These coins will often have an issue limit.

Country
The name of the country where the coin is issued features on the obverse of the coin.

Cupro Nickel
Cupro Nickel is an alloy of copper, nickel and possibly other metals.

Commemorative Event
The main design element of the coin celebrating an event or commemorating an anniversary or person.

Couped Effigy
The sharply cut off bottom edge of a bust normally used for currency coins.

Die
Two pieces of metal put in the press to strike the 'heads & tails' of the coin.

Effigy
A portrait of the image of the person found on a coin. This usually refers to the 'heads' side of a coin and is usually the head of state - in the case of British Coins the reigning monarch.

Fineness
This is the purity of the precious metal. Most precious metals require another metal to provide a durable alloy.

Head of State
The Current Head of State features on the obverse of many coins.

Incuse Lettering
This refers to the lettering sunk into a frosted field below the rim.

Issue Limit
This refers to how many coins were produced. Usually determined by the government of the country issuing the coin.

Legal Tender
Official coin accepted in a bank of the country issuing the coin.

Lettering in Relief
This refers to the raised lettering frosted against a mirror background.

Milled Edge
The small markings around the edge of a coin.

Mint Mark
Any letter or symbol placed on the coin to identify the mint where the coin was produced.

Numismatics
This is the term used to describe the collecting coins.

Obverse or 'heads'
The side of the coin that features the effigy or portrait and tells you what country the coin is from and the year it was produced.

Proof Coins
Coins are often struck 2-4 times to produce a brilliant mirror-finish quality with frosted relief. Proof coins are usually made for numismatic collecting purposes.

Relief
Refers to the raised part of the obverse and reverse of a coin.

Reverse or 'tails'
The side of the coin that features a design.

Rim
The top edge of a coin. It also allows you to stack coins.

Strike
The process of striking a design with a date onto a blank.

Uncirculated Coins
Coins made for circulation but have not been distributed for general use but kept in pristine condition.

Uncouped Effigy
A portrait showing a bust - normally used for commemorative coins.

Value
This refers to the legal tender value of the coin.

Year Date
This states what year the coin was made.