On this page you will find terminology relating to coins and coin collecting.
- Hammered: A coin that has been struck my hand.
- Milled: A coin that has been struck by a coin press.
- Blank / Planchet: A blank or a planchet is the round piece of metal used prior to being struck with a design and turned into a coin.
- Flan: Refers to the complete piece of metal after being struck.
- Obverse: The heads side of a coin.
- Reverse: The tails side of a coin.
- Legend: The writing around on the obverse or reverse of the coin.
- Field: The empty space between the legend and the main design of the coin.
- Edge: The edge of the coin.
- Exergue: The part of a coin that is below the main design of the coin where the date is often found.
- Die: The hardened metal which has the design carved onto it and which is used to srtike the design of a coin onto the blanks.
- Milling: The horizontal lines which are often found around the edge of a coin.