Walter Breen
debasement: Issue of coins of too low fineness or too light weight.
decimal series: Set of denominations such that the 1/10 and 1/100 parts of an official unit are both represented in coinage, with or without their multiples or fractions. Example: dollar, dime, cent, in USA or Canada.
denticle, dentil: Small tooth-like or radial-line unit of border ornamentation.
denomination: Numerical name for a coin expressing its value as a multiple or fraction of a unit, as three-cents, quarter dollar, half eagle. Most coins were regularly believed to have a denomination but their common names did not reflect the original numerical value; e.g., copper, fish scale (a 3¢ silver), nickel, shilling, crown, guinea.
Device: Principal design element, e.g. portrait, seated figure, wreath, eagle.
die alignment: See alignment.
die variety Variety differing in at least one working die from others of its design, date, and type. When dies were made by complete hubbing except for date, varieties could be distinguished principally by variations in the position of the date; since 1916, only by minute details of finishing. Before 1795 dies were cut by hand, even a device puncheon (q.v.) being the exception, and accordingly working dies had much individuality.
dies: Without other adjective, the word is taken as equivalent to working dies - those used for imparting designs to blanks to make them into coins fit for circulation. But see hubs.
dime, disme The 1/10 part of a dollar; the word was coined by 'Simon Stevinus,' i.e. Steven de Bruges, about 1586, in his pamphlets advocating the decimal system; derived from French dixieme (meaning 1/10 part), it gradually came to mean primarily the monetary subunit. The form spelled disme was first pronounced to rhyme with 'steam,' in 1837 being spelled DIME on the coins; when the pronunciation rhyming with 'time' became standard is uncertain. However, the pronunciation 'dizz-me' is incorrect.
dollar Monetary unit intended as equal to the Spanish 8-reales, later defined in American coinage law as the equivalent of 416 grains of silver of 1485/1664 fineness, later as 412lh grains silver of 9/10 fineness. At present the term is equivalent to the arbitrary unit of paper fiat money, without reference to any weight of silver or gold. Dollars were formerly coined in gold (weight 25.8 grains, 9/10 fine, 1849-89). The Eisenhower dollar, whether in silver-clad or sandwich metal ("nickel clad"), is a frankly token coin; perpetuation of the older name is a historical accident. See also Trade Dollar.
double eagle Gold coin of the value of 20 dollars, 1849-1933.
eagle: Gold monetary unit and coin of the value of 10 dollars, 1795-1933.
edge: Cylindrical (curved) surface boundary; it may be plain, as on cents and nickels, or reeded, as on higher denominations, or lettered, as on 1907-33 double eagles, or ornamented, as on 1907-33 eagles.
electrotype: A copy made by fabricating thin shells by electrodeposition, and affixing both obv. and rev. shells to a lead core.
emission: sequence Chronological order of die varieties, ascertained by arranging the varieties so that coins with the same obv. working die are together, and coins with the same rev. working die are together, and that unbroken states precede broken states of the same die.
exergue, exergual space: Space between bottom of device and lower border, generally consisting of a segment of a circle, bounded by lower arc and something representing an approximately straight line. Dates, mintmarks, and/or designers' signatures often occupy this space.
experimental coin: Test of a new circulating medium -a new metal or alloy, new denomination, new manufacturing method, etc., but not a mere new design.
face value In recent decades, same as denomination; formerly, when coins were valued by weight, the face value was equated to bullion value if the coin was full weight, and presumed to be close to that until weight and fineness were ascertained, the latter by use of a touchstone. Gold coins were always valued by weight, not by tale, i.e, not by face value.
fantasy piece Simulated series coin (q.v.) or similar item. The 1866 no motto coins and 1859-60 5¢ and 10¢ without mention of UNITED STATES are fantasy pieces.
farthing The 1/4 part of a penny; half a halfpenny; 1/48 shilling; 1/960 pound sterling favor coins Fantasy pieces (Simulated series coins), restrikes, novodels, proofs of dates and types of which proofs were not publicly distributed, etc. field Blank background in which devices are placed. first strike Early impression from working dies retaining initial polish, but not given the standard proofing process.
first process planchet One not yet given the upset rim, q.v.
flan Same as planchet or blank.
Flying Eagle cent Design adopted in May 1857 and continued through Dec. 1858 for cents, depicting a small copy of the Peale-Gobrecht eagle.
forge 1) to shape by fire (ironmongery); 2) to counterfeit.
frost especially brilliant mint lustre, on silver coins reminiscent of windowpane frost.