Laureate
When the bust on a coin is shown wearing a wreath of laurel, as in Roman times.
Laurel
The Unite of the third coinage issue of James I (1619-25).
Legal Tender
Coins that can be accepted in payment of debt. It's not as clear cut definition as people think. Read The Great One Hundred Pound Coin Controversy.
Legend
The words and inscription on a coin. On many coins these may be in Latin.
Leopard
The gold half-florin of Edward III struck in 1344. So called because it had an image of a leopard on the obverse.
Lima
British coins minted from Spanish treasure that was found near Lima, Peru. Many George II coins have the word LIMA below the head.
Lira
The currency of Italy before it moved to the Euro.
London Mint
There has been a mint in London since Roman days, and there was a mint at the Pyx Chapel in Westminster until the Tower Mint (in the Tower of London) was build around 1300. The Royal Mint was established at a new mint on Tower Hill in 1810. See articles: Early History of London Mints to 1300 and The Tower Mint, London 1279-1812.
Loupe
A small but powerful magnifying class used by collectors or Jewellers
Low Ball coins
Coins that are so worn that you can only just about tell what they are. These may be in a collection as a hole filler for an expensive coin, but there are low-ball collectors who find it fun to put together a set of the worst specimens they can find.
Lsd
The symbols for the pre-decimal currency of Britain. Librae-Solidi-Denarii, representing pounds, shilling and pence. Often written with the pound symbol as '£sd'.
Lustre/Luster
The brightness of a coin from the way in which it reflects light. Such as on brand new copper coins.
List items on:
 | 1872 victoria 22ct Gold Shield Back Sovereign machine doubling £ 679.92 |
 | Gold Sovereign King Charles III 2024 Royal Mint £ 598.32 |
 | 1989 Gold Proof Half Sovereign with box and COA £ 542.22 |
 | 1989 RM 500th Anniversary Half Sovereign Gold Proof Coin AGW 3.66 g BOX COA £ 567.72 |
 | 1887 Queen Victoria Double Sovereign £2 Gold Coin £ 1,434.72 |
 | 2022 22ct Gold Quarter Sovereign King George VI Tribute Proof Hatton Issue 2g £ 187.87 |
 | 1905 Gold Half Sovereign Edward VII George & Dragon back - London (no mint mark) £ 333.12 |
 | 2023 King Charles III Coronation Full Sovereign Gold Proof Coin PF70 Graded £ 750.00 |
List items on:
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.