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Glossary of Terms

 

 

A

 

 

ABNC

American Bank Note Company

 

NUMISMATIC ASSET

The value of the collectibles plus the prestige that the collector enjoys.

 

MINT

Print and seal a piece of metal with a stamp or die to convert it into a coin. Throughout history, different techniques have been applied to perform this operation. The first coins were made by introducing molten metal into a mold. Then the first hammered pieces appear.

 

LOOSE MINT

It is said when a coin or part of it is poorly engraved.

 

INCUSED MINT

It is the product of error of having inadvertently left the previously minted coin in one half of the stamp and which acts as a positive stamp or punch, printing a negative drawing on the new piece.

 

POST MINT

They are those that are made after the death of a king, sovereign or character, with the same stamps that had been used before his death.

 

EAGLE

Bird used in various currencies and bills around the world, some names also receive this name

 

NUMISMATIC SAVING

What the collector has of his disposable income and the gestures of consumption to enlarge his collection

 

ALLOY

It is said to the union of two or more metals by fusion used for the manufacture of the metal with which the coins will be beaten later.

 

COINAGE

Art of transforming metals into currency.

 

ANEPIGRAPHIC

It is that currency that does not carry any type of legend or inscription.

 

ANTONIANO

Silver coin and after fleece that ended up replacing the denarius during the decline of the Roman Empire.

 

OBVERSE

The main face or side of the coins or medals intended as a general rule for the presentation of the most important iconographic types. It is the main side of the ticket. It usually has a date, signatures and numbering.

 

AU

Almost without moving.

 

AUREO

Roman coin minted in gold during the last years of the republic and the empire. Printed or engraved ID representing amounts of a certain currency.

 

B

 

 

BANKNOTE

Printed or engraved paper representing amounts of a certain currency.

 

ACCORDION BANKNOTE

Banknote with folds.

 

OFF-CENTER BN

That the print shifts from the required margins.

 

STAIRWAY BN

Serial numbers follow in ascending or ascending order.

 

PERALONSO BN

Revolutionary banknotes made on ordinary paper or notebook.

 

BIMETALLIC

Contemporary two-metal coin.

 

BOND

Title value issued officially or personally and that promises to pay interest.

 

BRONZE

Besides being the name of the metal, some Greek and Roman coins of antiquity were also called that way.

 

BUST

Painted, sculpted, or minted representation from head to neck.

 

C

 

 

EDGE

It is the thickness of the coin on its edge, in some cases it can be smooth but it is generally carved or with a legend.

 

STRIATED EDGE

Singing where the rim of the coin or medal is carved intermittently.

 

SMOOTH EDGE

They are those coins that do not have any work on their edge.

 

SIDE

Each of the flat surfaces of a coin called the Obverse and Reverse. Usually

 

MINT. (BOGOTA MINT)

Place where coins and medals are minted.

 

CASTLE

Type of heraldry, common in the coins of Spain

 

MINT (CECA)

House, workshop or office where the coin is worked. The mint or locality where a certain coin was minted is indicated in some way along its surface.

 

COPPER

A reddish-brown metal that has been minted together with gold and silver since the earliest times, a type of Roman coin is also known by this name.

 

COLUMNAR

Columnaries are a type of silver coin of the Spanish royal denomination, which were minted by the Hispanic Monarchy and its American territories between the years 1732 to 1773

 

CORD

Motif engraved on the edge of a coin to avoid counterfeiting and trimming, it can be embossed or hollow. It can be ribbed.

 

BLANK

Metal disk arranged to receive the minting in the manufacture of coins. Word from the Latin verb "sculpere" that refers to the engraved metal disk also known by the term flan. They are not always circular.

 

CROSS

Ancient emblem formed by two figures that are crossed and cut perpendicularly. The forms of the cross are very numerous, although they can be divided into pre - Christian and Christian.

 

POTENTIADED CROSS

The potentized cross is one, usually in the shape of a Greek cross, with the ends of the arms adorned with potencies, which are small pieces in the shape of the capital letter "T".

 

CUARTILLO

In theory it refers to the silver quarter of real, that is, 8 1/2 maravedíes. With Enrique IV de Castilla, in the case of Spanish coins.

 

STAMP

Also known as a die. It is a piece of hardened steel in whose faces the symbols symbols are in hollow engravings.

 

CUPRONICKEL

Nickel copper alloy currently widely used for minting low value coins and current use.

 

D

 

 

DECADRACHM

Greek silver coin equal to 10 drachmas.

 

DECREE

Order or resolution by which an issue is authorized.

 

DENARIUS

It is the Roman currency par excellence. Its minting begins in the year 211 B.C. and its value was ten aces according to the Roman scale. The Roman silver denarius soon became the base currency of Mediterranean trade.

 

OFF-CENTER

Sometimes one of the stamps was placed without exactly matching the flan. The resulting mintage will present an unengraved area and on the opposite side of it, part of the imprints will be missing. Frequent in coinage produced by mill.

 

DINERAL

Set of weights that was used to check the weight of the minted coins on the scale. D.

 

DISPERSION

Name that has been given lately to the numismatic and trade meetings of bills and coins.

 

DOUBLE COINAGE

If a minted coin is minted and this second stamping does not exactly coincide with the first one except on the edge.

 

DOUBLOON

Generic name of the pieces of two gold shields that circulated throughout Spain and America between the 16th and 19th centuries.

 

DUCAT

The duchy is an ancient gold coin, minted in various countries in Europe and at various times.

 

E

 

 

EFFIGY

Representation of the head to the neck (bust).

 

EMISSION

Put coins or bills into circulation, according to the different manufacturing techniques of their time.

 

EMERGENCY EMISSION

Minting effected in exceptional circumstances of war.

 

FILLING (EMPASTE)

Type of error in the coins, when there is excess of the minting metal in one of its parts.

 

TESTER

Person whose job is to check the law of metals used in the manufacture of coins.

 

INKER

It is an error in a ticket that was left with another's ink.

 

MISPRINT

Any anomaly in the minting of coins.

 

MINTING ERROR

Any anomaly in the printing of tickets.

 

NUMBERING ERROR.

An error in a ticket with a different numbering from the other.

 

STAIRWAY

It is a number with all its digits in ascending or descending order.

 

SHIELD (ESCUDO)

Generic name given in the Middle and Modern ages to various gold and silver coins with a shield on one side.

 

SPECIMEN

They are printed when approving the colors and the final design to publicize the ticket and its original characteristics.

 

EXERGUE

Part of a coin or medal intended for legends and mint name or abbreviations.

 

F

 

 

VINTAGE FAKE

Numismatic type article, which was falsified at the same time of its issue.

 

LACK OF IMPRESSION

An error in a ticket that a piece of it was missing, for being printed.

 

TOKEN

A small piece of cardboard or metal that is used as a currency in some business houses and industrial establishments. Also called a guitón.

 

STAMP FLOWER

They are the first pieces carved with new and not worn stamps and in this way the manufactured coins have their maximum beauty, clarity and quality. Few pieces are carved with them.

 

FRACTIONAL

It is said of the currency that is equivalent to an exact fraction of the legal monetary unit. The one with the lowest value in relation to another or others in the same system.

 

BELLOWS

An error in a banknote that has a fold in the paper.

 

MOLTEN

Also called "emptied". This coin is the product of the casting of the metal in molds of refractory earth or baked clay. The primitive coins the "aes grave" or the "aes signatum", type of counterfeit coins.

 

G

 

 

G

Piece in state 5 of conservation.

 

GALAN

Name to designate the 1979 thousand-peso bill, printed in Colombia.

 

ROTATED COIN

Type of currency classified by the position of the stamps. If once you hold the coin between your thumb and forefinger, its reverse appears tilted to the left or right.

 

MACUQUINA (GOLPEADA)

Way of referring to the coins struck minted (macuquinas).

 

ENGRAVER

The sculptor draws or incises the matrix mold for minting coins.

 

GRAFILA

Small cartouche, usually dotted or line, that have the coins on their front or back.

 

POMEGRANATE

Characteristic symbol in some Colombian and South American coins, referring to the fruit.

 

GUILLOTINE

Tool used to cut the banknotes when they are in the sheets.

 

H

 

 

HYBRID

These coins are produced when a normal die is wrongly used to stamp a coin whose type does not correspond to it, resulting in the stamping of two different stamps.

 

I

 

 

IBBR

Banknote Printing - Banco de la Republica

 

IBB

Banknote Printing - Bogotá

 

IBSFB

Banknote Printing - Santa Fe de Bogotá

 

IMITATION

Currency made by individuals imitating the legal or current

 

IMPRINT

It is understood by the reproduction of a coin, in plaster, wax or even metal.

 

INCUSED

They are the coins that have been mistakenly minted in depth instead of in relief because a coin already wedged between the die and the flange had been interposed at the very moment of the stamping. It is also the result of the minting of the first coins.

 

INFLATION

Excessive circulation of paper money that is not convertible into minted currency.

 

J

 

 

JURA

Moneda o medalla, acuñada como recuerdo de proclamación de un soberano o soberana.

 

L

 

 

LAMINATION

It is the process in which metals are rolled, which will later be converted into blanks.

 

METAL GRADE (LEY)

Proportion of noble metal that contains the coin, linked with another of greater hardness.

 

CAPTION (LEYENDA)

Inscription engraved on the front, back or side of a coin.

 

INGOT

Raw metal bar, which is generally cast and with high purity.

 

LYDIA

Ancient kingdom located in present-day Asia Minor, where the first coin is presumably minted.

 

LLERITAS

Name to designate the Colombian medium weight banknote, from the years 1948 and 1953.

 

M

 

 

M

Letter to designate the mint of Medellín.

 

MACUQUINA

Irregular looking silver or gold coin with cut edges, also called hammer coins.

 

FIXED (MANIPULADO)

Banknote or coin that has been adulterated, in order to "improve" its state of preservation.

 

MARAVEDÍ

Spanish currency used between the 12th and 19th centuries AD. C., which was also used as a unit of account.

 

MINT MARK

Sign engraved in the indicative currency of the issuing workshop. This use appears already in ancient currency and then in medieval currency, from the reign of the Catholic Monarchs

 

BUTTERFLY BANKNOTE

It is an error in the ticket with a leftover in the paper, generally due to a bad cut, it can be left blank, or with part of another ticket.

 

STAMP MOLD

It is the mold or steel stamp that has the engraving of the coin in relief, in order to reproduce as many punches or dies as necessary.

 

MEDAL

Generic name given in antiquity to the currency. Piece minted without indication of value intended for commemoration.

 

MEDAL STUDY (MEDALLÍSTICA)

Branch of numismatics that deals with the study of medals.

 

MEMA

Name to designate the ten thousand peso bill from the years 1992, 1993 and 1994 printed in Colombia, with the image of a woman from the Emberá culture (its use is debated).

 

MODULE

The diameter of a numismatic piece (measured in millimeters).

 

COIN

Piece of resistant material, weight and uniform composition, although the etymological origin of the word is still controversial, it is known to be a derivation of "moneta".

 

COMMEMORATIVE COIN

Coin minted to celebrate the start or anniversary of a specific event.

 

MONETARY

Term used to refer to any use of the currency, as a means of payment or exchange.

 

MONOGRAM

Synonym of anagram. Set of main letters of a single name forming a drawing or figure. Its use in coins dates back to antiquity.

 

MORROCOTA

Name to designate the gold coins of eight escudos, sixteen, and twenty Colombian pesos.

 

SPECIMEN (MUESTRA)

It should not be confused with the "test" or "stamp test" since the sample coin is the one that is taken at random to check and contrast the weight, it is also used in banknotes, as an identical banknote to the circulation one but generally with numbering "0" is given to prominent people in the banking field, synonymous with specimen

 

N

 

 

NF

Letters designated to refer to the new format of Colombian banknotes from 2012, is known as the new family.

 

NICKEL

Metal used for coining very hard and not very oxidizable. Its chemical symbol is Ni. In Cuba, Puerto Rico and the United States, five cents.

 

NOTAFILIA

Science derived from numismatics where paper coins are studied. (tickets, vouchers, bonds, promissory notes, checks, securities, etc.).

 

NUMBERING

Number that identifies a ticket, a condition that makes it unique, unless an error occurs.

 

LOW NUMBER

It is a number with three digits or less, different from the zeros that precede it.

 

NUMISMATIC

Part of Archeology that deals with the study of coins and medals. This science can give invaluable testimony to the exchanges and the peoples' economy, as well as their political history.

 

NUMISMATIST

Person who professes this science or has special knowledge in it. Belonger or relating to numismatics.

 

O

 

 

MITE

Greek silver coin. In medieval times it was the currency that half of a fleece money.

 

OFFICE

Name given to the workshop or mint in ancient Greece and the public and Roman Empire.

 

OUNCE

Ancient gold coin of 8 shields, also familiarly called "bull's eye" in ancient times. Weight weight equivalent to 1 of the 16 parts in which the pound is divided.

 

TROY OUNCE

English weight measure used for precious metals and rhinestones equals 31.1 grams.

 

ORICHALCUM

Copper and zinc alloy. In the high-empire era it was used to coin sesterces and dupondiums.

 

GOLD

Monetizable precious metal par excellence for meeting all the requirements of a coin.

 

P

 

 

P

Letter to designate the mint of Popayán.

 

PACHANGA

Name to designate the 1938 1 peso bill, printed in Colombia.

 

PÁTINA

Species of varnish that metals acquire over time and that alter their surface appearance. The most characteristic is that of copper and bronze with brown and green colors. There are manufactured (false) patinas.

 

PELUCONA

Denomination with which the coins of eight shields of Felipe V and Fernando VI are known.

 

PERFORATED COIN

Coin with a generally circular perforation.

 

PIASTRE

This name is known to the European silver big pesos and is equivalent to the hard weight of eight silver reales. The value changed according to the country.

 

PRINTER’S MARK

Legend indicating where the ticket was printed.

 

SILVER

Ductile and malleable white precious metal heavier than copper and less than lead. Its chemical symbol is Ag.

 

PLATINUM

Precious metal one of the heaviest and most appropriate for the manufacture of coins, but not very profitable due to its high value.

 

PLENO

Precious metal one of the heaviest and most appropriate for the manufacture of coins, but not very profitable due to its high value.

 

FLYWHEEL PRESS

Machine used to coin money, consisting of an iron or bronze box with a central screw.

 

PROOF

English word indicating "Test". In numismatics it is used to indicate that coin that has had a particularly careful minting. These pieces are minted with careful selection of the blanks using specially polished dies.

 

PROVISIONAL

Coin minted in special circumstances of metal shortage and whose characteristics reflect the precariousness of the situation. Of rough appearance, although some specimens are of great beauty. In banknotes it is applicable to those issued by necessity.

 

PROOF

They are the initial sketches for the final design of a banknote. They can be in black and white or with different colors from those finally approved for the ticket.

 

AWL

Old used steel instrument for minting coins by hammer blow.

 

R

 

 

RARE

Very rare currency; it is normally associated with a high economic value.

 

RADAR

The ticket series read from right to left is the same as when read from left to right.

 

CUTTING

To reseal a coin for a country other than the one that minted it to validate it in its territory.

 

REAL

Denomination applied to coins minted by the king. Refers to coins of various values and types according to date and time.

 

CROPPED

In order to reduce the weight and recover part of the metal, part of the flan was fraudulently cut following its same geometric shape. It is relatively common in medieval silver or gold coins. Term used to refer to a variety of a 5 peso banknote from Colombia, dated 1978.

 

SHARPENED

Banknote cut semi-professionally with the intention of hiding previous damage.

 

RELIEF

Imprint that stands out on the plane of the coin or medal.

 

REPLACEMENT

They are banknotes that are used to replace those that are damaged in the initial printing since the issue must be strict. Obviously there is no specific number of reruns for each issue

 

RESEAL

Second seal that is added to a coin in order to change its face value and / or expand its scope of circulation.

 

RESTORED

Term used to refer to a professionally renovated piece, altering its original characteristics as little as possible.

 

REVERSE

In coins and medals opposite face to the obverse. Secondary side of the coin where the shield and value may be engraved. It is the secondary side of the bill.

 

T

 

 

TALENTO

Moneda imaginaria de los griegos y romanos. También funciona como medida de peso.

 

TALLER

Lugar donde se acuñaban monedas.

 

TDR

Thomas de la Rue and Company Limited.

 

TEJO

Pedazo circular de oro en pasta.

 

TIPO

Se denominan como tal la figura que se reproduce en el anverso y reverso de la moneda o medalla.

 

TIRAJE

Número de piezas que se acuña de un tipo de monedas o serie durante un espacio de tiempo.

 

TOCHE

Nombre para designar el billete de 1 peso del Banco Nacional, emitido entre 1888 y 1895.

 

TROQUEL

Sinónimo de cuño. Molde empleado en la acuñación de monedas. Es una pieza de acero que tiene grabado en hueco la figura de la moneda que se ha de acuñar.

 

U

 

 

UNC

Piece in new condition, uncirculated.

 

V

 

 

EMPTIED

Technique used for the manufacture of coins, also called by casting.

 

FACE VALUE

It is the value that appears engraved or printed on the piece.

 

INTRINSIC VALUE

It is the one that results from the price in the market of the metal with which a coin is manufactured and will depend on its weight and grade.

 

NOMINAL VALUE

Legal value of the currency or banknote.

 

VELLÓN

Silver and copper garter that was formerly wrought in currency. This name is also given to the copper-brass alloy.

 

VF

Piece in state 7 of conservation.

 

VG

Piece in state 6 of conservation

 

X

 

 

XF

Piece in state 8 of conservation.