Numismatics is the study of coin collecting and it also has its own language with many words and terms. Our Glossary of Numismatic Terms give the explanation to some of these coin collecting words. To contribute terms please email them to glossary@coinsnotebook.com.
Ae
AE is an abbreviation for bronze or brass.
Ag
Ag is the symbol for Silver. Sometimes silver coins are referred to with AR.
Alloy
A mixture of 2 or more metals. Examples are bronze (copper+tin), brass (copper+zinc) and cupro-nickel (copper+nickel). Usually used to make the coin less expensive or make the coin harder and more resistant to scratches and dents.
ANA
American Numismatic Association
Anepigraphic coin
A coin without an inscription
Angel
A gold coin minted during the reign of Edward IV in 1465. Originally it was called an angel-noble. It had a value of 6/8 (six shillings and eight pence). This sounds strange but 6/8 is 80 pennies which was one-third of a pound. There are also half-angels.
Anna
An Indian coin, demonetised in 1957, worth about one-sixteenth of a Rupee. There were half-anna and two-anna coins.
AR
Ar or AR preceeding a coin indicates Silver, as in AR Denarius.
As
A Roman coin, equivalent to 10 Denarii. A tenner in Roman money.
Assay
To analyse and assess the purity and quality of precious metals like gold, silver or platinum.
Au
Au is the symbol for Gold.
Augustus
A honorary title given to all Roman Emperors from Octavius onwards. On coins it is often abbreviated to 'Avg'.
Aureus
A gold coin of the Roman Empire, in use about 1st-4th century. Equivalent to 25 silver denarii or 100 sestertii. It varied in weight across Emperors, but was about that of a modern gold sovereign. It was very pure, often 24 carat gold.
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 | 2026 CHARLES III GOLD PROOF SOVEREIGN RARE 3000 STRUCK IN STOCK £ 1,395.00 |
 | Bullion Gold Half Sovereign Best Value £ 435.48 |
 | 2014 Gold Sovereign Coin Elizabeth II Fourth Head £ 792.10 |
 | 1982 Gold Half Sovereigns (Elizabethan) £ 419.80 |
 | Royal Mint NEW 2026 Gold Proof Full Sovereign Ltd Ed of 3000. READ!FREE UK P&P £ 1,388.80 |
 | 1913 George V Gold Full Sovereign, Sidney Mint £ 1,077.70 |
 | (BRAND NEW) 2023 Coronation of King Charles III Gold Proof Quarter Sovereign. £ 491.20 |
 | 1892 Shield Back Half Sovereign Gold Coin -Queen Victoria - £ 450.00 |
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