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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 | 2024 King Charles III Gold Sovereign Coin 22ct 7.98g Royal Mint Bullion Sealed. £ 860.00 |
 | 1900 Queen Victoria Veiled Head Half Gold Sovereign Coin 4g £ 449.90 |
 | 1914 Half Sovereign Gold Bullion Coin - George V - 22ct - 3.99g £ 499.99 |
 | 22ct half gold sovereign coins £ 1,299.00 |
 | 1820 George III Full Gold Sovereign Coin £ 1,791.70 |
 | 22ct half gold sovereign coins £ 1,100.00 |
 | 2018 GOLD PROOF Half Sovereign Royal Mint BOXED & COA No. 0696 £ 549.00 |
 | 1894 Queen Victoria Old ‘Veiled’ Head Australian 22ct Gold Full Sovereign £ 862.48 |
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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.