Glossary

.9999 Fine

Pure precious metal. 

2-Dimensional

Artwork is engraved without contouring.

3-Dimensional

Artwork is sculpted in contoured multi-level relief.

Assay

To test the weight and metal purity of a coin, wafer or bar. 

Blank

The blank metal disk that is eventually struck and turned into a coin.

Bullion

Coins, bars, ingots, plates and wafers made from precious metal .995 purity or finer.  We choose to use .9999 gold

Coining 

Process by which the image is struck onto blanks using a die engraved with a mirror image of the design. 

Commodity

Raw materials that can be bought and sold. 

Die

Engraved steel block used to stamp the image onto a blank, creating a medallion.

Hallmarking

Weight, purity or other information pressed into medallions. 

High Relief

Figures that project out from a solid material.

Field

Flat part of the coin (the back round) on which the relief is struck.

Finish

The appearance or surface texture of the coins relief.

Obverse

The 'heads' or 'face' side of the coin. 

Reeding

Grooved or serrated lines found around the edge of some coins. 

Relief

The relief is the raised or three-dimensional image found on the coin's field.

Reverse

The 'tails' side of a coin.

Rim

The raised portion that runs along the perimeter of a coin.

Spot Price

The going price of Gold in the daily cash market.

Troy Ounce

Unit of measure in which precious metals are sold (31.1 grams).