Coin Collecting A to Z

Coin Collecting Terms - Letter E

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E Pluribus Unum - The Latin motto found on many U.S. coins - translates to "Out of many, one".

EAC - Abbreviation for Early American Coppers.

Eagle - A U.S. $10 gold coin minted from 1795 through 1933. Also, the current U.S. bullion program pieces.

Early American Coppers (Club) - A club dedicated to advancing the study of pre-1857 United States copper coins including Colonials.

ED - Acronym for environmental damage.

Edge - The "third side" of a coin, encompassing the perimeter. It may be reeded, lettered, ornamented, or plain.

Edge device - Letters or emblems on the edge of a coin. An Example would be the vines and bars on Large Cents of 1793 to 1796.

Educational notes - The Series 1896 $1, $2 and $5 silver certificates are called Educational notes because of the allegorical and educational themes of the vignettes. Replaced in 1899 with a new series.

EF - Acronym for Extremely Fine. Also sometimes referred to as XF. A grade given to coins which show light traces of wear throughout but features are still sharp and well-defined.

Electrotype - A duplicate coin created by the electrolytic method, where metal is deposited into a mold made from the original. The obverse and reverse metal shells are then filled with metal and fused together. The edges are then sometimes filed smooth to obscure the seam.

Electrum - A naturally occurring alloy of silver and gold. The earliest coins of ancient Asia Minor and many Byzantine issues were struck in this alloy.

Elements - The various devices and designs seen on coins.

Eliasberg - Short for Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., who was the only collector ever to assemble a complete collection of United States coins.

Elongated coin - An oval medalet produced by a roller die using a coin, token or medal as a planchet usually a cent.

Emission sequence - The order in which die states are struck. Also, the die use sequence for a particular issue.

Encapsulated coin - One which has been sealed in a plastic holder, especially by a third-party grading service such as PCGS or NGC.

Encapsulation - Refers to the grading service's practice of placing coins in a sealed plastic holder. Once encapsulated, the coin is protected and bears the certified grade, guarantees, etc.

Encased postage stamp - A postage stamp unofficially encased in a metal, plastic or cardboard frame and intended to be used as small change.

Engraver - The person responsible for the design and/or punches used in the creation a coin.

Envelope toning - Coloration that results from storage in small manila “coin envelopes”. Most paper envelopes contain sulfur that causes chemical reactions on the surfaces of coins.

Environmental damage - A Corrosion-effect seen on a coin that has been exposed to the elements. The damage may range from minor dulling to severe pitting.

Eroded die - Synonym for a worn die.

Error - Any unintentional deviation in the minting process resulting in one or more coins with a different appearance than intended.

Essai - Term for trial or pattern strikings. The anglicized version is essay and literally means a test or trial.

Exergue - The lower section of a coin or medal, usually divided from the field by a line and often containing the date, mintmark or engraver's initials.

Exonumia - Tokens, medals and other non-monetary coin-like objects.

Experimental pieces - Struck from any convenient dies to test a new metal, new alloy or new denomination; those testing a new shape; those testing a standard metal for a new denomination; and those representing changes in planchets for the purposes of combating counterfeiting.

Expert - A specialist in a particular numismatic area. (i.e. A Morgan Dollar expert, a Large Cent expert, etc.)

Extra Fine - Alternate term for Extremely Fine.

Extremely Fine - Term for the grades EF40 and EF45.

Extremely high relief - The 1907 double eagle issue designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The coin had so much depth that multiple punches from a powerful press were required to fully bring up the detail. Because of this difficulty, the design was lowered, resulting in the High Relief. This too was lowered to create the Standing Liberty double eagle.

Eye appeal - The quality of a coin's attractiveness, distinct from any quantifiable measure of condition. Eye appeal is a very subjective area in the grading process.




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