Numismatic glossary
A short glossary of numismatics
Numismatic cards use a fairly stable technical lexicon. This page collects the most useful basic terms to correctly read descriptions, catalogs and evaluations.
Parts of a coin
Front / obverse
Back / reverse
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Border | Outer margin of the coin. |
| Field | Space free from images or legends. |
| Exergue | Bottom part of the coin, often used to indicate mint, date or value. |
| Front / Obverse | Side indicating the issuing authority or main entity. |
| Back / Reverse | Side opposite to obverse. |
| Included | Element engraved below surface level. |
| Legend | Inscription present on one of the two faces of the coin. |
| Denomination | Value of the currency expressed in the currency of the issuing authority. |
| Mintmark | Sign identifying the issuing mint. |
| Year of issue | Year of minting shown on the coin. |
| Form | Diameter of the coin. |
| Title | Percentage of precious metal contained in the monetary alloy. |
Material acronyms
Money leagues are often abbreviated in catalogs. The most recurring acronyms are the following.
| Acronym | Material |
|---|---|
| Ac | Acmonital: Italian monetary steel |
| Ag | Silver |
| Au | Gold |
| Ba | Bronzital / bronze |
| Cu | Copper |
| Cn | Cupronickel: alloy of copper and nickel |
| It | Italma: aluminum, magnesium and manganese alloy |
| Ni | Nickel |
Linked pages
To better understand how these terms affect the market price, also consult the page on coin valuations.
The glossary is designed as an introductory support for reading the data sheets in the site catalogues.