| Numismatists have terms that are used, and it is | | | | and gold coins. |
| important to be aware of these if one is to | | | | Foreign mints are making very desirable coins, and |
| collect coins. It is imperative that a good collector | | | | numismatic interest in them is increasing. Foreign |
| be able to comprehend what a seller is saying | | | | mints use some additional terms with their coins. |
| about a coin. It is even more important that one | | | | The most frequent of these are privy mark, |
| understand, and properly use, the terms of | | | | tribute coin, and dump. |
| numismatics when selling a coin. | | | | A privy mark, sometimes called an honor mark, is |
| Most people use the terms good, very good, fine, | | | | a small, but noticeable, mark made on the |
| very fine, extremely fine, almost or about | | | | reverse of a coin that honors the subject of the |
| uncirculated, and uncirculated to describe grades | | | | mark. The Royal Canadian Mint used these marks |
| of coins, but currently uncirculated coins must be | | | | on some Maple Leaf coins, and the Perth Mint of |
| further refined. While giving the mint state may | | | | Australia uses them on some kookaburra coins. |
| seem the simplest, some auction sites do not | | | | This is an ideal way for a mint to take a coin of |
| allow a coin to have its mint state stated in the | | | | high mintage and make a low mintage version. |
| title, unless the coin has been graded by a | | | | Perth made privy marks of the state quarters of |
| reputable grading service. Using the terms brilliant | | | | the United States, and honored many foreign |
| uncirculated to denote a low grade uncirculated | | | | coins. The Royal Canadian Mint has had lunar privy |
| coin, gem to indicate MS-65, superb to denote MS | | | | marks honoring the Chinese lunar symbols, the |
| -67, and perfect to indicate MS-70 gets around | | | | Titanic, fireworks, and the Olympics. These are |
| the problem. So, if a coin is sold as brilliant | | | | examples of what has been issued over the last |
| uncirculated, it is probably not what many | | | | two decades. |
| collectors are seeking. | | | | A tribute coin is a reproduction of a coin's image. |
| When referring to a coin the side one might | | | | Normally, tributes are rounds, but the Royal |
| normally call heads is the obverse, and the side | | | | Australian Mint makes tributes to obsolete coins, |
| one might call tails is the reverse. The raises ring | | | | coins from the pre-decimal period. These tributes, |
| at the circumference of a coin is called the rim. A | | | | are inserted into the center of a current coins |
| coin with an edge that is rough, like the edges of | | | | that is minted with a hole in the center. Filling the |
| United States dimes and quarters, is said to have | | | | center of a coin is done with what is referred to |
| a reeded edge. The reeded edge makes shaving | | | | as a dump. The holey dollar of Australia should |
| metal from a coin difficult, and can be used to | | | | have its dump with it. |
| preserve the amount of metal contained in silver | | | | |