Some Industry Jargon-

About Uncirculated (AU) - the adjectival term that equates to a numeric grade of 50, 53, 55, or 58

ANA - American Numismatic Association, the national organization for coin collectors

ANS - American Numismatic Society, a coin collecting organization founded in 1858

Attribution - the designation of a coin's variety according to standard reference books

Authentication - the determination of a coin's genuineness

Base metal - a non-precious metal, such as copper, nickel or zinc

Blank - an unstruck coin disc, the same as "planchet"

BN - abbreviation for Brown, a designation used to describe the color of a copper coin. Related terms: RB (Red Brown) and RD (Red).

Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) - an adjectival grade which NGC defines as being MS 60 or higher

Bullion - refined precious metal in any form, including bars, rounds or coins

Certification - the process of having a coin authenticated, graded and encapsulated

Choice Uncirculated - an adjectival grade which NGC defines as being MS 63 or higher.

Commemorative - a coin honoring an event, place or individual, usually of limited mintage

Contact marks - small nicks imparted by contact with other coins

Double eagle - a United States $20 gold coin, issued from 1850 to 1933

Encapsulated coin - one which has been sealed inside a plastic holder

Grade - the numerical value assigned to a coin's condition on a scale of 1 to 70

Half cent - a US copper coin of that value, issued from 1793 to 1857

Half dime - a US silver five-cent coin, issued from 1794 to 1873

Half eagle - a US $5 gold coin, issued from 1795 to 1929

Key date - a scarce date required to complete a collection, usually more difficult to find and afford

Minor coin - a base-metal coin of small value, such as a cent or nickel

Mint - the structure where coins are produced, or the governmental body overseeing its work

Mint Error - coins with major mint errors as a result of human or mechanical error during manufacturing

Mintmark - a small letter or letters appearing on a coin to denote its city of manufacture

Mint set - a complete set of coins of each denomination produced by a particular mint

MS - the abbreviation for Mint State, it's used with a numerical figure to grade unworn coins

Numismatics - the studying and collecting of coins

Numismatist - one who engages in numismatic activity for whatever end

PF - the abbreviation for Proof, it's used with a numerical figure to grade proof coins

Restrike - a coin made years after the original edition but from the same dies

Roll - coins packaged by banks, dealers or the United States Mint

Series - a continuous run of coins of the same type, such as the Buffalo Nickel series of 1913-38

Slab - a slang term for an encapsulated coin

Strike - the action of producing a coin, or the quality of a coin's detail sharpness

Trade dollar - a special type of US silver dollar made from 1873 to 1885, primarily for export

Trime - a US silver three-cent piece, issued from 1851 to 1873

Type collecting - assembling a collection of one of each coin denomination and design

Uncirculated - describes an unworn coin; this means the same as Mint State

Year set - a collection of all coins issued by a country for any one year (does not necessarily include every mint mark)