Learning all the different abbreviations and lingo in the coin community can seem overwhelming at first. This list is meant to be a compilation of common and uncommon terms used to describe or refer to different US coinage.
It may be helpful to use “Ctrl” + “F” on your keyboard if there is a specific term you want to find.
CRH – Coin Roll Hunting
Numismatist – A person who studies coins.
Obverse – The “front” of a coin, usually a face or person.
Reverse – The back of a coin.
Mints Mark – Tells you where a coin was minted.
IHP – Indian Head Penny
Merc – Mercury Dime
SLQ – Standing Liberty Quarter
SBA – Susan B. Anthony
Ike – Eisenhower Dollar
AG – Silver (May also be “About Good” for grading.)
AU – Gold
PVC – Refers to PVC Plastic which is damaging to coins.
NGC – Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, a coin grading company
PCGS – Professional Coin Grading Service, a coin grading company
ICG – Independent Coin Graders, a coin grading company
ANACS – American Numismatic Association Certification Service, a coin grading company
ANA – American Numismatic Association, a non-profit
PO – Poor (Grade: 1)
FR – Fair (Grade: 2)
AG – About Good (Grade: 3)
G – Good (Grade: 4 and 6)
VG – Very Good (Grade: 8 and 10)
F – Fine (Grade: 12 and 15)
VF – Very Fine (Grade: 20, 25, 30, and 35)
EF/XF – Extremely Fine (Grade: 40 and 45)
AU – About Uncirculated (Grade: 50-59)
MS- Mint State (Grade: 60-70)
Unc – Uncirculated (Sometimes “Uncir”)
BU – Brilliant Uncirculated
SP – Specimen
PR – Proof
Ultra Cameo – Refers to a proof coin with an exceptionally high-quality mirrored surface.
PL – Proof Like (A non-proof coin with a mirrored surface.)
DPL – Deep Proof-like (A non-proof coin with an exceptional mirrored surface.)
P – Philadelphia
D – Denver
S – San Fransisco
W – West Point
CC – Carson City
O – New Orleans
RD – Red
RB – Red Brown
BN – Brown
This list is still being added to. If there is anything you seen that was missed, please reach out to my Contact Page or add a comment below. I will include it as soon as I can!
Thank you!
American Coin Stash 