Coin Collecting Terms Explained

Reference definitions for common euro coin collecting terms and the information shown on Coinection coin pages.

Mintage

Coin mintage is the number of coins produced for a particular issue, often broken down by year, mint mark or finish.

A mint mark is a letter or symbol that identifies the mint where a coin was produced.

An uncirculated coin shows no wear from circulation, although it may have marks from production, handling or storage.

Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) describes an unworn coin with its original mint lustre and is also used for certain collector-quality issues.

A Proof coin is made using specially prepared dies and blanks to create a high-quality finish with fine detail.

A €2 commemorative coin features a special national-side design marking an anniversary, event, person or theme.

A coincard is a presentation card that contains a coin, often issued for collectors or as a commemorative release.