Finding Strange Words Associated with Coins in the Wild: A Cherry Picker’s Guide

The Secret Language of Coin Collecting

You don’t always need a dealer to find treasures. Sometimes the most valuable discoveries happen when you’re simply sorting through a jar of change or digging through a box at an estate sale. The world of numismatics is filled with specialized terminology that can seem like a secret code to newcomers. Understanding these terms isn’t just about sounding knowledgeable—it’s about recognizing opportunities that others might miss.

What is Scissel and Why Should You Care?

Let’s start with a word that sparked this entire discussion: scissel. This term refers to the scrap metal remaining after planchets are punched out from sheets of metal during coin production. Think of it as the leftover material that falls away when a coin is born. While most collectors won’t encounter actual scissel in circulation, understanding this concept helps you appreciate the manufacturing process and can alert you to potential counterfeits or altered coins.

Webbing vs. Scissel: Same Concept, Different Names

Interestingly, what many American collectors call “webbing” is essentially the same thing as scissel. This terminology difference highlights how regional variations exist even within specialized fields. When you’re roll hunting or examining bulk lots, knowing these terms helps you understand auction descriptions and seller listings more accurately.

The Dark Side of Coin Terminology

Not all coin-related words describe legitimate practices. Some terms reveal the shadier side of numismatics:

Shaking and Sweating: Gold Coin Manipulation

Shaking, also known as sweating, was a fraudulent practice where bags of gold coins were agitated to create gold dust that could be collected. The coins themselves would then be returned to circulation, now slightly underweight. This practice was particularly common during the gold rush era when coins were made of nearly pure gold and worth their weight in the metal.

Shaving: The Colonial Counterfeiter’s Art

Shaving involved removing thin slices of metal from the edge of gold or silver coins. Colonial silver coinage is especially prone to showing signs of shaving, as these coins circulated for decades and were often targets for this practice. When examining colonial coins at estate sales, look for uneven edges or slight depressions along the rim—these could be indicators of historical shaving.

Legitimate Numismatic Terms Every Collector Should Know

Seigniorage: The Government’s Profit Margin

Seigniorage is the difference between the face value of a coin and the cost to produce it. This term is crucial for understanding why certain coins are produced and how governments profit from currency creation. When you’re evaluating modern coins for potential investment, understanding seigniorage helps you assess whether a coin might appreciate based on its production costs versus its market value.

Exergue: More Than Just a Nasty-Sounding Word

The exergue is the area below the main design on a coin, often separated by a line. This space typically contains the date or mint mark. Many collectors initially find this term confusing or even off-putting, but recognizing the exergue is essential when examining coins for varieties or errors. When cherry-picking through bulk lots, the exergue is often where you’ll find the most diagnostic features for identifying rare varieties.

Toning: Beauty or Tarnish?

Toning is perhaps one of the most debated terms in numismatics. While technically it refers to the natural oxidation process that creates colorful patinas on silver coins, many collectors use it as a euphemism for tarnish. Understanding toning is crucial when evaluating circulated coins, as natural toning can significantly increase a coin’s value, while artificial toning or harsh cleaning can decrease it.

Specialized Equipment and Processes

Castaing Machine and Janvier Reduction Lathe

These are specialized minting machines that most collectors will never see in person but should understand. The Castaing machine was used to edge letters and designs on coins, while the Janvier reduction lathe created coin dies from larger models. When examining coins, especially older ones, understanding these processes helps you identify genuine pieces versus counterfeits.

Pied-fort: A Rare Minting Error

Pied-fort refers to a coin that was struck but never ejected from the press, resulting in a multiple-strike error. These errors can be extremely valuable, especially when found in circulation. When roll hunting, keep an eye out for coins that appear to have overlapping designs or doubled images—these could be pied-fort errors.

The Modern Collector’s Vocabulary

CAC: The Third-Party Certification

CAC (Certified Acceptance Corporation) is a relatively new term that many new collectors find confusing. CAC stickers indicate that a coin has been evaluated by a third party as being especially high quality for its grade. When you’re examining certified coins at shows or in online listings, understanding CAC can help you identify potentially undervalued pieces.

Lagniappe: The Collector’s Bonus

While not strictly numismatic, lagniappe—a small gift given to a customer with a purchase—is a concept every collector should understand. Many reputable dealers include lagniappe items with larger purchases, and recognizing these gestures can help you build relationships with sellers who might tip you off to valuable finds.

Finding These Terms in the Wild

Circulation Finds: Where Terminology Meets Reality

When you’re searching through circulation, estate sales, or bulk lots, these terms become more than just vocabulary—they become tools for identification. For example, when examining a group of silver coins, understanding toning helps you identify which pieces have natural patinas versus those that have been cleaned. Similarly, knowing about shaving helps you spot potentially underweight colonial coins that might be worth more as silver than their face value.

Bulk Lots: The Cherry Picker’s Paradise

Bulk lots are where specialized knowledge really pays off. When you can identify a pied-fort error, recognize valuable toning, or spot signs of historical manipulation like shaving, you’re able to cherry-pick the best pieces from unsorted lots. This is where understanding terms like scissel, webbing, and exergue becomes particularly valuable, as they help you understand what you’re looking at and its potential significance.

Building Your Numismatic Vocabulary

The best collectors are those who combine practical searching skills with deep knowledge of numismatic terminology. Start by focusing on a few key terms relevant to your collecting interests, then gradually expand your vocabulary. Join online forums, attend coin shows, and don’t be afraid to ask questions when you encounter unfamiliar terms.

Conclusion: The Power of Knowledge in Coin Collecting

Understanding the specialized language of coin collecting transforms you from a casual observer into an informed collector. Whether you’re examining a potential estate sale find, sorting through a roll of cents, or evaluating a bulk lot purchase, this knowledge gives you a significant advantage. The terms we’ve explored—from scissel to CAC, from toning to seigniorage—represent different aspects of the hobby, from manufacturing to fraud to modern certification.

Remember that every expert collector started as a beginner who was confused by terms like exergue and pareidolia. The key is to keep learning, keep asking questions, and most importantly, keep searching. That next great find might be hiding in plain sight, waiting for someone who understands the language to recognize its true value.

Happy hunting, and may your searches be fruitful!

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