Selected numismatic definitions

Bracteate Thin silver coins struck on only one side, mostly in central Europe (such as 12th- to 13th-century Germany).

Bullion Precious metal that has been refined to a high level of purity and is valued for its intrinsic value rather than as art or money.

Cud Raised, featureless blob or damaged area along the edge of a coin caused when a piece breaks off the metal coin die.

Damnatio Memoriae Latin phrase meaning "condemnation of memory," referring to the ancient Roman practice of officially erasing a disgraced person from history by defacing or melting down coinage bearing an emperors’ portrait.

Electrum Naturally-occurring alloy of gold and silver with trace amounts of copper and other metals.

Horn Silver Tough, dark grey or greenish crust that forms on ancient silver artifacts or coins when buried in salty or marine environments over centuries. It is notoriously difficult to remove without damaging the underlying metal's details.

Immobilized Issue Coin design, name, or portrait that continues to be utilized into currency after the original ruler has died or the design has lost its original meaning.

Non-Circulating Legal Tender (NCLT) Items issued by a government that has legal face value, but is made and sold for purposes other than daily commerce.

Officina Officinae were Roman mint workshops. At the Rome mint during the early 3rd century, Roman numerals I - IV were placed on the reverse of coins to indicate the officina within the mint. Most Roman coins struck after 274 carry officina marks most often combined with mintmarks. At western mints the marks P, S, T, and Q indicated the prima (1st), secunda (2nd), tertia (3rd), and quarta (4th) officina. At eastern mints Greek numerals were used to indicate the officina from A (1st) to IE (15th).

Orichalcum Fabled metal from ancient Greek writings, famously described by Plato as second only to gold in value and used to adorn the lost city of Atlantis. Historically, it corresponds to a golden-yellow copper-zinc brass alloy used by the ancient Romans to mint coins. The Roman Empire used the metal for high-value coins like sestertii and dupondii because it looked like gold.

Potin Base metal alloy of copper, tin, and lead, commonly used for cast Celtic coins.

Schulprämie (School premium) Historical award for outstanding academic achievements, which was previously awarded in the form of valuable medals (such as the Gärtnerpfennig) or on special occasions also as a non-fiction prize during the 17th to 19th Centuries.

Scyphate Cup-shaped coin primarily minted by the Byzantine Empire between the 11th and 14th centuries. Seed Coin Original master coin, trial piece, or prototype hub used by mints to produce working dies for striking regular circulation coins.

SPQR Senatus Populusque Romanus, a Latin phrase meaning "The Senate and the People of Rome" found on Roman Republican and Roman Imperial coinage.

Venus Penny Late medieval to 16th-century copper-alloy jeton (reckoning counter) used in Europe for manual calculation typically featuring an Austro-Burgundian shield and a standing woman ("Venus") with long flowing hair, sometimes holding a flower or wearing a drape.

Voided A voided cross is a cross drawn in outline with an empty or "void" space running down the center of its arms. This made detection of clipping easier. It also facilitated cutting of the coin into smaller denominations.