BEP: United States Bureau of Engraving and
Printing, part of the U.S. Treasury Department that oversees production of all U.S. paper currency.
BU: Brilliant uncirculated. Refers
to a coin that has never seen circulation. A coin as bright as the time it was minted or with very light natural toning
can be described as "brilliant uncirculated."
Mint Set: A set of uncirculated coins from
the U.S. Mint that generally contains an example of each coin struck in a particular year.
Note: Paper money. Notes ranging from $1.00
to $100.00 are issued by the U.S. government as legal tender.
Numismatics: The science, study, or collecting
of coins, metals, paper money, tokens, orders and decorations, and similar objects.
Proof: A coin struck especially for collectors,
using special techniques that impart special surfaces to a coin.
Obverse: The side of a coin that bears the
principal design; in informal English, the "heads."
Reverse: Usually the side of a coin that
notes the denomination; in informal English, the "tails."
Silver Proof: A coin composed of at
least 90 percent silver, double-struck on highly polished planchets. Proof coins are extraordinarily brilliant, with
sharp relief and a mirror-like background.
Uncirculated: A coin produced by the
U.S. Mint for general circulation that has not been handled, circulated, or used as legal tender.
U.S. Mint: Part of the U.S. Treasury Department
that produces all U.S. coins. Current facilities are located in Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia, PA; West Point,
NY; Fort Knox, KY; Denver, CO; and San Francisco, CA.
D/D Double die Error A coin that has been
overstruck with slight movment of the die creating a doubling effect on the coin.
