Glossary of Numismatic Terms

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Date Back: A Date Back note is a Second Charter, Second Issue national bank note. Refers to the dates 1902-1908 found on the back.

debase: To become less valuable.

Demand note: Demand notes, authorized in 1861, were the first paper money issued by the United States federal government for circulation. Nicknamed the "greenback" because of the green ink used on the back (reverse) of the note.

denarius: (Plural: denarii) Roman silver coin, later debased, roughly equal to a Greek drachm. Initiated in 268 B.C, it equaled 16 asses; 25 denarii equals 1 gold aureus.

denomination: The face value of a coin or paper note; the amount of purchasing power it has.

dentils, denticles: Ornamental device used on rims of coins, often resembling teeth, hence the name; also "beading."

device: The principal element, such as a portrait, shield or heraldic emblem, of the design on the obverse and reverse of a coin, token or medal.

Devil's Face note: On some of Bank of Canada notes, First Issue of 1954, Queen Elizabeth II's hair has a coincidental combination of shading and light that looks like a "devil's" face. Shading was quickly changed under public pressure to remove the "face."

die: A hardened metal punch, the face of which carries an intaglio or incuse mirror-image to be impressed on one side of a planchet.

die gouge, scratch: Raised line on the surface of a coin, caused by a gouge or scratch in the coinage die. Gouges are heavier than scratches.

die variety, die marriage: A die variety or die marriage represents the pairing of an obverse die and reverse die that can be identified by distinctive differences unique to each die that were present when the dies were produced. Dies used for early U.S. coins featured a combination of hubbed and hand-punched elements. Some of the elements, such as numerals, letters, berries and so on, were added to the dies individually or with gang punches. The variations in placement of these devices help identify a specific die. Researchers study coins minutely to identify these differences and assign each pairing of unique dies a variety number. See variety.

dipping: (1) The act of placing a coin in a chemical solution, a mild acid wash or base that removes toning (see: toning) from the coin. Dipping removes the toning (a corrosion layer), exposing the metal surface below. After removal of the corrosion layer, the exposed surface will not have the same luster as the original surface. (2) The act of placing a coin in a degreasing solvent to remove grease or other surface contaminants.

disme: Spelling of the word "dime" on U.S. 1792 pattern pieces and name given the 10-cent coin authorized in the Mint Act of April 2, 1792. Probably pronounced like "dime" with the "s" being silent.

Doctoring: A method of fraudulently altering a coin by physical, chemical or other means to enhance its appearance and grade, and thus its value, without disclosure of the alteration to the purchaser of the coin. Individuals who "doctor" a coin are sometimes called "coin doctors."

double eagle: A gold $20 coin of the United States. See also eagle.

doubled die: A die which has a multiple image created during the die-making process. Coins struck from a doubled die show a doubled image. There are many different causes of doubled dies, and many doubled die coins. Sometimes mistakenly called double die.

doubloon: Popular slang name given to Spanish gold 8-escudo coins of the Conquistador era, often associated with pirate treasure; also, a medal in special circumstances Mardi Gras doubloon.

drachm: (Pronounced "dram") An ancient Greek silver coin, plural drachms. Drachma (pronounced "DRAHKmuh") is the modern Greek denomination, plural drachmas.

ducat: (Pronounced "DUCKet") Medieval gold coin; also any of a number of modern issues of the Dutch Mint. Modern slang has spread its use to mean "ticket."