The back of the 1775 Massachusetts "Sword in Hand Note." Image: Heritage Auctions / Adobe Stock / CoinWeek.

Ense Petit Placidam Svb Libertate Qvietem

Ense Petit Placidam Svb Libertate Qvietem is a Latin phrase meaning “Issued in the Defense of Liberty.” It appears on the 1775 Massachusetts “Sword-in-Hand”...
Three coins in PCGS rattler holders. Image: Stack's Bowers / CoinWeek.

Rattler PCGS Coin Holder – A Beloved Early Slab

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes .....   (n.) Slang. A rattler is an early-generation PCGS coin holder or "slab". It is so-called because coins...
Certification Numbers from CACG, NGC, and PCGS.

Certification Number – How to Verify Graded Coins

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes ..... (n.) A certification number is a unique identifier printed on a certified coin's label on pieces encapsulated by a third-party grading company....
The exergue on a Libertas Americana medal. Image: PCGS / CoinWeek.

Exergue – Dedicated Space at the Bottom of a Coin

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes .....   (n.) Pronounced “ECKS-urg”. The exergue, sometimes known as the exergum, is the lowest part of a coin, typically found on the reverse....
2009 Ultra High Relief Saint-Gaudens double eagle shows Liberty wearing a Chiton. Image: Adobe Stock / CoinWeek.

Chiton – Ancient Fashion Adorns Most Beautiful U.S. Coin

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes .....   (n.) Pronounced "KAI-tun," usually replacing the "t" with a glottal stop. As seen on various U.S. and...
1964 Quarter - Date Freeze. Image: CoinWeek / Adobe Stock.

The Date Freeze – With Mintages for 1964 and 1965-Dated Coins

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes .....   A date freeze is a policy where a government or government agency issues a coin over the course of a number...
Auctioneer looks out for shill bidding. Image: Adobe Stock.

Shill Bidding – A Way Some Consignors Inflate the Sale Price of Their Own...

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes ..... (n.) Shill bidding is a practice in which a seller, consignor, or associated party places bids...
Simulated image of acid being applied to a Morgan dollar to make a California Proof. Image: Adobe Stock / CoinWeek.

California Proof – A Dubious Type of Morgan Dollar

(n.) Slang. Also known as a "California Special", a California Proof is a doctored Morgan silver dollar that has had its field polished and its devices...
From a mintage of 17,796 coins, only three 1822 Capped Head half eagles are known. Image: Stack's Bowers / CoinWeek.

Characteristic Ratio – A Formula to Understand Coin Survival Rates

Characteristic Ratio (C.R.) is a numismatic term coined by the late numismatist Walter Breen in the 1950s and used to denote the percentage of...
The Chief is the upper part of the shield on this Liberty Seated Dollar. Image: Stack's Bowers / CoinWeek.

Chief – A Heraldic Term Used on Coins and Medals

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes .....   (n.) In heraldry, a chief is the upper part of a shield, typically one third of the shield's total size, that contrasts...