The Franklin Mint: U.S. Coins, International Coins, Coin Sets, Die-Cast & Models, Collectible Art, Games

Carson City Mint
Located in Nevada, this Mint produced gold and silver coins from 1870-1893. It was closed from 1885-1889, due to a lack of funding. In 1893, the Mint was permanently closed. Coins minted in Carson City are among the most popular branch-Mint issues. Carson City coins bear a â€œCCâ€ mintmark.

Cartwheel
The pleasing effect seen on some coins when they are rotated ina good light source. The luster rotates around like the spokes of a wagon wheel. A term applied mainly to frosty Mint State coins, especially silver dollars, to describe their luster. Also a slang term for a silver dollar.

Cast Coins
Coins that are made by pouring molten metal into a mold, rather than the usual manner of striking blanks with dies.

Certificate of Authenticity
A Certificate of Authenticity provides a guarantee of genuineness. This ensures that what you bought is not counterfeit. Reputable companies offer a Certificate of Authenticity for their products.

Certified Coin
A coin that has been graded, authenticated and encapsulated in plastic by an independent (neither buyer nor seller) grading service.

Chop Marks
Oriental marks or characters stamped into previously made coins. Often found on silver trade dollars and other precious metal coins. When coins were used for trading purposes a oriental assayer would test a piece of the coin for purity. If it met his approval he would stamp his mark into the coin indicating to others it was pure and accurate weight. Today some collectors specialize in "Chop marked" coins. However, for many coins the chop marks may hurt the value.

Oriental marks or characters stamped into previously made coins. Often found on silver trade dollars and other precious metal coins. When coins were used for trading purposes a oriental assayer would test a piece of the coin for purity. If it met his approval he would stamp his mark into the coin indicating to others it was pure and accurate weight. Today some collectors specialize in "Chop marked" coins. However, for many coins the chop marks may hurt the value.

Circulated
A term applied to a coin that has been used in circulation and has wear, ranging from slight rubbing to heavy wear.

Clad
Coins made of layers of metal. Examples include modern U.S. dimes, quarters, half-dollars and dollars that have centers of copper and outer layers of a copper-nickel alloy.

COA
Certificate of authenticity.Â A paper certificate usually from the issuing mint that declares the coin or item is genuine.

Coin
Object usually made of flat metal, small and round. Issued by a government as legal tender. Most commonly bearing a denomination value.

Coin Silver
In the USA coin silver often means the purity of silver used in circulating coins dated before 1965.Â Back then dimes, quarters, half dollars, and silver dollars were 90% solid silver, made ofÂ 90% silver and 10% copper.Â Other countries may use the words "coin silver" to mean the purity used in their silver coins, which may be different from US coins.

Coin World
One of the most popular coin collecting weekly paper/magazine for collectors of US coins.

Collar
When a coin is struck the collar on the printing press surrounds the rim of the coin preventing the metal from flowing outside of the collar.

Colonials
Coins produced by the colony states prior to the time the United States government was formed. Most were made of copper and in small denominations.

Commemorative
A special coin, medal or other items issued to honor an person, place, or event. Often one time or short lived production. Many times commemorative coins are not produced for general circulation and have limited mintage.

Condition
The physical state of a coin. Usually indicating the amount of wear. Graded coins are ranked by a scale of condition from 1 to 70 (perfection).

Contact Mark
A mark or marks on a coin that happened from coming in contact with another coin or object. Usually contact marks are small. Often this term is used to indicate marks on a coin that are not as obvious as bag marks. However, sometimes it is used to mean the same thing.

Copper Nickel
A metal alloy of 88% copper and 12% nickel. This alloy was used for US Flying Eagle and Indian cents from 1856 to the middle of 1864. The alloy caused these small cents to have a pale copper color. Back then people called these cents "white cents" because of their pale color. "Cupro-nickel" is a similar term.

Coppers
Nick name for older copper coins, particularly the large cents, and half cents.

Copy
Refers to a reproduction of a coin or paper note. Some copies may be illegal. U.S. Mint regulations require reproductions of U.S. coins and paper money to be much larger or smaller than the original. U.S.government under the "hobby protection act" requires that the item contains the word "copy" or "reproduction" in a readable visible place.

Corrosion
Chemical reaction on the surface of a coin. Corrosion can result from a coin coming in contact with other things (chemicals) including chemicals in the air. This can come about because of things coming in contact with the coin years earlier. Corrosion damages a coins surface and is usually worse in copper, nickel, zinc, and silver coins. Some experts think that toning on the surface of a coin may help slow down this harmful process.

Chemical reaction on the surface of a coin. Corrosion can result from a coin coming in contact with other things (chemicals) including chemicals in the air. This can come about because of things coming in contact with the coin years earlier. Corrosion damages a coins surface and is usually worse in copper, nickel, zinc, and silver coins. Some experts think that toning on the surface of a coin may help slow down this harmful process.

Counterfeit
A coin or piece of currency that is fake or reproduced in order to make people think it is genuine.

Cupro-Nickel
A mixture of copper, nickel, and possibly other metals. Today this term is most often used to refer to the current coins made by fusing layers of copper and nickel or combination alloy mixtures, resulting in a "sandwich" type of coin. The current US dimes and Quarters are examples. Technically the copper nickel cents, three cent nickels, and regular nickels are cupro-nickel.

Currency
Any kind of coins or paper money that is used as a medium of exchange.

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