|
 |
| Accolate |
Refers
to a design with two heads overlapping. |
| Adjustment
marks |
Marks
caused by filing a flan before striking to reduce its weight to the standard |
| AE |
Abbreviation
for bronze or brass |
| Aegina
or Aigina |
Greek
city-state on an island near Athens |
| Aegis |
Mythological
shield; a short cloak consisting of a goatskin with a border of snakes and with the head
of Medusa in the center; worn by Athena and Zeus and by Hellenistic and Roman rulers who
identified with them. |
| Aequitas |
Personification
of equity or fairness |
| Aes |
Bronze |
| Aes
grave |
Cast
bronze coins of the Roman republic; literally "heavy bronze." |
| Aeternitas |
Personification
of eternity |
| Alate |
Winged
|
| Alloy |
Mixture
of more than one metal. |
| Amphora |
A
small-mouthed two-handled vase with a pointed bottom; used to carry and store oil and
wine. |
| Amphitheater |
A
structure whose seats form an ellipse or oval around an arena. Used to stage gladiatorial
combats and other spectacles. |
| Ancient |
Pertaining
to the period before the medieval era; usually before 800 ad |
| Anepigraphic |
Without
a legend |
| Aqueduct |
A
structure similar to a bridge; for carrying water |
| AR |
Abbreviation
for silver |
| Arch |
A
structure featuring a round or elliptical aperture. Frequent component of Roman
architecture; often a free-standing commemorative monument. |
| Arena |
The
open space (lt. "sand") in a stadium or amphitheater. Frequently underlain by
subterranean passages and cells for confinement and movement of combatants. |
| Ares |
Greek
god of war |
| Argenteus |
Roman
silver coin introduced by the emperor Diocletian to replace the debased denarius. |
| Armed |
Wearing
armor and bearing weapons |
| As |
Bronze
unit of the Roman republic. Originally a large cast coin; later a smaller struck coin also
issued under the Roman Empire. |
| Aspron
trachy |
Scyphate
Byzantine coin struck in electrum and billon. |
| Augur |
Roman
priest who practiced divination |
| Aureus
|
Aureus
denarius; Roman gold coin (c. 8 g) worth 25 denarii |
| Autonomous |
Bearing
the name of the issuing authority; a symbol of sovereignty |
| AV |
Abbreviation
for gold |
| Barbaric
imitation |
Coin
issued by the tribes outside the area of classical civilization; in imitation of a
classical type |
| Bare
Head |
A portrait showing nothing below the neck; without a wreath or crown . |
| Bare
Headed Bust |
A
portrait including anything below the neck; without a wreath or crown. |
| Base
metal |
Non-precious
metal; e.g. copper. |
| Basilica |
Roman
colonnaded hall; later a type of church |
Becker
(Carl Wilhelm)
[1772-1830] |
Well-known
forger whose imitations are very deceptive |
| Biga |
Two-horse
chariot |
| Billon |
Alloy
of silver and base metals containing less than 50% silver; often silver-washed |
| Bipennis |
A
double-bladed axe |
| Bonus
Eventus |
Personification
of good fortune; success |
| Brass |
Alloy
containing chiefly copper and zinc. |
| Bronze |
Alloy
containing chiefly copper and tin. |
| Buccina |
Long
Roman trumpet |
| Bucranium |
Symbol
shaped as the head of an ox |
| Bust |
Portrait
showing the head and detail below the neck |
| -
Consular Bust |
Bust
depicting the emperor dressed as Consul |
| Byzantine |
Pertaining
to the Eastern Roman Empire after 498 ad |
| Cabinet
friction |
Slight
surface wear caused by friction between a coin and the tray or envelope in which it is
contained. |
| Caduceus |
Staff
around which two snakes are entwined. |
| Cantharus |
Vessel
with a high base and projecting handles; associated with Dionysos |
| Cap
of Vulcan |
A
rounded cap; symbol of the god of blacksmithing |
| -
Phrygian cap |
A
conical cap with top turned forward; Liberty cap |
| Capricorn |
Mythological
creature; half goat and half fish |
| Carpentum |
Roman
four-wheeled cart |
| Censor |
Roman
official charged with the census |
| Centaur |
Mythological
creature; half man and half horse |
| Cerebrus |
Three-headed
dog of Hades |
| Ceres |
(Demeter)
Goddess of fertility and agriculture |
| Chalkos |
Smallest
Greek bronze coin |
| Chariot |
Two-wheeled
cart drawn by horses |
| Chimaera |
Mythological
creature; half eagle and half lion |
| Chlamys |
Greek
mantle |
| Christogram |
Superimposed
Greek letters "P" and "X;" abbreviation for "Christos" |
| Cippus |
Short
pillar often used as a boundary marker |
| Circus |
Roman
stadium designed for chariot racing |
| Cista
mystica |
Sacred
basket containing snakes; used in Dionysiac rites |
| Cleaned
coin |
Any
coin subjected to any cleaning process could be considered cleaned; but this usually
refers to a coin cleaned by a chemical or abrasive process removing its natural patina and
lowering its numismatic value. |
| Clementia |
Personification
of clemency or mercy |
| Clipping |
Removal
of metal from the edge of gold and silver coins |
| Coin |
A
piece of metal marked with a device; issued by a governing authority and intended to be
used as money. |
| Coliseum |
Large
arena in Rome. |
| Commemorative |
Bearing
a design commemorating a person or event |
| Concordia |
Personification
of concord or unity |
| Condition |
State
of preservation of a coin |
| Conjoined |
Refers
to two or more superimposed heads or busts |
| Consul |
Chief
magistrate of the Roman Republic; two consuls were elected each year. The office continued
under the Empire with reduced authority. |
| Contorniate |
A
type of medal or token issued during the late Roman Empire; distinguished by a groove
around the rim. |
| Cornucopia |
Horn
of plenty. |
| Corona
civica |
Roman
civic crown; a wreath made of oak leaves and awarded to citizens who saved the life of
another in battle |
| Counterfeit |
Imitation
of a coin made to circulate as if actually money; also a fraudulent coin made to deceive
collectors |
| Countermark |
A
stamp impressed on a coin and effacing part of the design |
| Cross
potent |
Cross
with a bar at the end of each arm. |
| Cuirass |
Armor
section or breastplate covering the torso |
