Numismatic Glossary: Your Gateway to Coin Collecting Terminology

Another week, another numismatic term "Godless". The first florins issued during the reign of Victoria, in 1849. The legend omitted the phrase DEI GRATIA (- by the grace of God) and the issue became known as the Godless Florin. The coins were recalled and a new version was issued in 1851. next...

Our numismatic term of the week is "Admiral Anson". Admiral Anson (1697-1762) circumnavigated the globe and brought back silver and gold which he had captured from the Spanish. But not off Lima Peru. The coins that were struck by George II with Lima below his bust might just indicate that the coins captured carried the Lima mintmark. next...

It's time for another numismatic term, "Scarborough". A town which, when it was besieged during the Civil War, issued many different denominations, all cut from silver dinner plates. There are many known denominations and all are rare. Rather than try to have uniform denominations they cut the silver, weighed it and then stamped it with its value. next...

The numismatics term for the week is "Florin". Originally a gold and a silver coin issued in Florence, Italy in 1252. First struck here in 1344 and then abandoned until 500 years later. Issued by Victoria as the first attempt at decimalization in 1849. Equivalent to two shillings or the tenth part of a pound, today it is ten pence. next...

This week's glossary term is the "Decimalization". In 1971 the British monetary system was finally changed to one based on tens or decimals. next...

Today's glossary term is the "Pattern". A proposed design for a new coin. When a new coin is going to be issued a number of engravers will be asked to submit their designs, before the final design is chosen. next...

It's time for another numismatic term, "Bull head". The portrait depicting George III on the new halfcrown after the Currency Reform Act of 1816. It was only used in 1816 and 1817. While some collectors also use this term to describe the shilling and sixpence of this issue, we have our doubts. After all it was only the design of the halfcrown which was changed in 1817. next...

This week's numismatic term is "Relief". The part of a coin’s design that is raised above the surface. next...

We turn our attention to another term in the field of numismatics this week, known as the "Tower Mint". The principal mint of England from Norman days, it was situated in and around the Tower of London. It was actually inside the Tower of London until the early 19th Century. next...

The numismatic term for the week is "Maundy Money". Associated with the royal ceremony celebrating Maundy Thursday which is believed to go back to the reign of Edward II. The first `sets' can be made up from the hammered coins of Charles II but no real Maundy sets were made until the end of the reign of George III. next...