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Features on Coins

Most people are familiar with the "heads" and "tails" features of coins, but may not realize that there are actually many parts of a coin. Knowing the features on coins has useful applications in areas such as coin collecting and fraud detection. Knowing the proper features of a coin helps to detect counterfeits. This knowledge is useful when buying or determining the value of a coin. Since the condition of a coin goes a long way in determining its value, it is also helpful to reference specific features of a coin to check for signs of wear.

Field
- This feature is the background area of a coin, where there are no pictures or writing. Fields are present on both the obverse (heads) and reverse (tails) sides of coins. These areas serve as a contrast to the raised areas of the coin.
Portrait
- Portraits are the main focus of the coin. On U.S. coins, presidents, Founding Fathers and notable political figures are the most frequent portraits used. Portraits are raised slightly above the field and have features such as hair, eyes and clothes etched into them, creating a detailed representation.
Legend
- Legend refers to the primary writing on the coin. Legends include wording such as "Liberty" or "United States of America," depending on the coin.
Motto
- Mottos are inscriptions of phrases on coins. Mottos on U.S. coins include "In God We Trust" and "E Pluribus Unim." Coins can have only one motto, or may have one on each side.
Rim
- This is a raised border that goes completely around coins on both sides. Its purpose is to protect the images in the center from wear. Rims also provide a flatter surface for coins, making stacking them simpler.
Edge
- This is the extreme outer edge of a coin. If you held a coin flat between you finger and thumb, the feature you would see is the edge. Edges come in four designs: plain, reeded, lettered and decorated. Plain edges are smooth, while reeded edges consist of a series of etched lines encircling the coin. Decorated edges feature a small pattern repeated around the coin, and lettered edges feature a word such as "Hundred" on them.
Mint Mark
- This feature consists of a small, single raised letter, indicating where the coin was minted. Examples include a "D" for Denver and "P" for Philadelphia.

Coin Collecting