Ae
AE is an abbreviation for bronze or brass.
Ag
Ag is the symbol for Silver. Sometimes silver coins are referred to with AR.
Alloy
A mixture of 2 or more metals. Examples are bronze (copper+tin), brass (copper+zinc) and cupro-nickel (copper+nickel). Usually used to make the coin less expensive or make the coin harder and more resistant to scratches and dents.
ANA
American Numismatic Association
Anepigraphic coin
A coin without an inscription
Angel
A gold coin minted during the reign of Edward IV in 1465. Originally it was called an angel-noble. It had a value of 6/8 (six shillings and eight pence). This sounds strange but 6/8 is 80 pennies which was one-third of a pound. There are also half-angels.
Anna
An Indian coin, demonetised in 1957, worth about one-sixteenth of a Rupee. There were half-anna and two-anna coins.
AR
Ar or AR preceeding a coin indicates Silver, as in AR Denarius.
As
A Roman coin, equivalent to 10 Denarii. A tenner in Roman money.
Assay
To analyse and assess the purity and quality of precious metals like gold, silver or platinum.
Au
Au is the symbol for Gold.
Augustus
A honorary title given to all Roman Emperors from Octavius onwards. On coins it is often abbreviated to 'Avg'.
Aureus
A gold coin of the Roman Empire, in use about 1st-4th century. Equivalent to 25 silver denarii or 100 sestertii. It varied in weight across Emperors, but was about that of a modern gold sovereign. It was very pure, often 24 carat gold.
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 | 2022 Proof Gold Memorial Half-Sovereign £ 384.12 |
 | Gold Sovereign Best Value Gold Coin £ 666.69 |
 | 1959 Full Sovereign British Coin Queen Elizabeth II 22ct Gold £ 650.00 |
 | 2021 "95 Privy" Proof Double 22ct Gold Sovereign Royal Mint LOW MINTAGE £ 1,281.72 |
 | Queen Victoria 'Jubilee Head' 1892 Full Sovereign 22ct Gold Coin. £ 616.17 |
 | 1912 Full Gold Sovereign Coin - London Mint - George V £ 634.02 |
 | Prototype? MINT ERROR Victoria queen coin /not sovereign gold 22ct £ 250.00 |
 | 2023 King Charles III Coronation Full Sovereign Gold Proof Coin PF70 Graded £ 750.00 |
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Numismatics is the study of coin collecting and it also has its own language with many words and terms. Our Glossary of Numismatic Terms give the explanation to some of these coin collecting words. To contribute terms please email them to glossary@coinparade.co.uk.