GLOSSARY
A-D
Combination of several metals
Manufacturing defect.
Mint where coins are struck. Sixteen mints are used to strike euro coins for the sixteen countries and three microstates of the euro area. See the «Countries» section.
Side of the coin bearing the representation of the issuing authority that guarantees the value of the currency. This rule is not always followed for the euro.
Orientation of the dies relative to each other, most often expressed in hours. In the 19th and 20th centuries the axis was generally at 6 o'clock, which was known as coin alignment. With the Euro, we switched to a 12 o'clock alignment, known as medal alignment in accordance with the German tradition. To find the axis of a coin, hold it between your thumb and forefinger, with the obverse facing you, right way up. Rotate the coin from left to right so that you can read the reverse: if the reverse is right way up, it is a medal alignment; if the reverse is upside down, it is a coin alignment. (see Off-centre)
Proof quality, recognizable by the matte finish of the relief against a mirror-like background. By extension, a «Proof set» refers to a presentation case containing coins intended to be of proof quality.
Brilliant Uncirculated striking quality, corresponding to a standard new coin. By extension, «a BU» refers to a presentation set containing coins supposed to be of BU quality.
(also known as double striking) A coin resulting from a strike carried out twice. If the double strike is slight, there may be only a very small part of the coin that is doubled; if the double strike is more significant, the coin may then be completely distorted (see illustration).
When a die is broken («cracked»), it leaves a raised mark on the coins it strikes. In theory, the worker in charge of the machine should spot a broken die and destroy the coins struck with it, but very often these coins end up in circulation. Belgium produces many coins struck with a broken die.
Certificate issued by a minting institute, guaranteeing the authenticity of a set or a non-circulating commemorative coin. Generally, Proof sets contain a certificate of authenticity whereas Brilliant Uncirculated sets do not. However, we specify this information for each set in the «Sets» section. As for non-circulating commemorative coins, the majority of them include one, even if it is not systematic.
Part of the coin left flat, on which no design has been engraved. Depending on the preparation at the mint and / or the condition of the die, it can have a «mirror-like» finish, a «proof» finish, be shiny or dull like the reliefs.
(also known as the insert) On a bimetallic coin, the inner part of the coin surrounded by the ring.
Piece of metal, usually made of steel and cylindrical, on which the impression of a coin is engraved in intaglio. Coins are struck using two dies, the lower die and the upper die. As striking proceeds, the dies wear out and go from a «Fleur de Coin» state to increasingly pronounced flattening. Thus, the expression «Fleur de Coin» did not originally refer to the state of preservation of the coin, but that of the die. We keep the term «FDC» for coins because it has been attested at least since Furetière's dictionary (1690), which is old enough to deserve respect. The state of preservation of the dies is nevertheless essential in evaluating a coin - from any period - as soon as one reaches and especially exceeds Extremely Fine (EF). To evaluate the state of preservation of the dies, examine the finest details of the coin with a magnifying glass: these are the ones that blunt the fastest. The mint marks are most often the finest details of a coin.
Coin whose minting is motivated by a specific event. They can be «circulating», struck in base metal for the face value and in a quantity that genuinely allows circulation among the public. These entirely legitimate coins are classified under the heading «Circulating coins». They can also be produced strictly for collectors, usually in precious metals and sold for more than their face value in superb packaging and provided with extensively signed and sealed certificates. Although it is officially possible to pay with them for their face value, they are coin-like medals, known as «collector coins»; in this case, they are classified under the heading «Non-circulating commemorative coins». Note also that certain «commemorative» coins do not actually commemorate anything in particular. For example, the «Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte» series struck in 2006 by the Monnaie de Paris simply bears the effigy of the said person, without any event being commemorated. Following on from the institute's other series, however, we include these coins under the heading «Non-circulating commemorative coins».
On a bimetallic coin, the outer part of the coin surrounding the core (or «insert»).
Coin whose minting is motivated by a specific event. They can be «circulating», struck in base metal for the face value and in a quantity that genuinely allows circulation among the public. These entirely legitimate coins are classified under the heading «Circulating coins». They can also be produced strictly for collectors, usually in precious metals and sold for more than their face value in superb packaging and provided with extensively signed and sealed certificates. Although it is officially possible to pay with them for their face value, they are coin-like medals, known as «collector coins»; in this case, they are classified under the heading «Non-circulating commemorative coins». Note also that certain «commemorative» coins do not actually commemorate anything in particular. For example, the «Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte» series struck in 2006 by the Monnaie de Paris simply bears the effigy of the said person, without any event being commemorated. Following on from the institute's other series, however, we include these coins under the heading «Non-circulating commemorative coins».
Struck with a loose die, resulting in a coin whose axis is not the theoretical one. Conventionally, we represent the obverse on the left «right way up» and the reverse on the right as it appears when the coin is rotated along the «6 o'clock – 12 o'clock» axis. The extent of the misaligned axis is measured in hours or degrees: a coin is said to be «misaligned at 4 o'clock» when the reverse points to 4 o'clock while the obverse points to 12 o'clock. In this case, we can also say that the offset is 120 degrees.
Practice of destroying currency by making it lose its shape. A coin, for example, is deformed in a mint if it has a striking error. The deformed currency is then sent to a melter to recover the metal.
Personal mark stamped onto a coin by the engraver and / or the mint master or by the engraver general. The privy marks are indicated next to each coin under the «Circulating coins» section. Depending on the coins, there may be one, two or no privy marks. You can find more information about privy marks in the «Countries» section.
English (UK) 
Français 
Deutsch 
Português