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O
Obverse
The front, or heads side, of a coin. Usually the date side.
P
Panama-Pacific Exhibition
A 1915 exhibition held in San Francisco, California to celebrate the completion of the
Panama Canal.
Paper Money
Term used among collectors for notes of the entire field of currency, no matter what
medium on which they may be printed.
Pattern
A test striking of a coin produced to demonstrate a proposed design, size, or
composition (whether adopted or not). Patterns often are made in metals other than
the one proposed; examples of this include aluminum and copper patterns of the
silver Trade dollar. Off-metal strikes such as this also are referred to as die trials of
a pattern.
PCGS
Short for “Professional Coin Grading Service”.
PCGS Population Report
Quarterly publication by PCGS listing the number of coins graded and their grade.
Totals are for coins graded by PCGS since its inception in 1986.
Peace Dollar
Common name for the silver dollar struck from 1921 to 1935. Designed by Anthony
Francisci to commemorate the peace following World War I, the first year featured
another coin designated High Relief. In 1922, the relief was lowered resulting in the
Regular Relief type that continued until 1935.
Philadelphia Mint
The “mother” Mint, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. First established in 1792,
the Philadelphia Mint has occupied four different locations. Currently, it is located in
Independence Square, within sight of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. The
Philadelphia mint engraves all U.S. coins and medals, manufactures coin and medal
dies, manufactures coins of all denominations for general circulation, manufactures
commemorative coins, and produces medals. This mint currently uses the
“P” mintmark but coins produced prior to 1980 have no mintmark.
Platinum
Precious metal sometimes used for coinage. The only United States issues struck in
platinum are the pattern half dollars of 1814 and the modern platinum Eagles.
Poor
The grade PO-1. A coin with readable date and mint mark (if present), but little more,
barely identifiable as to type. (One-year type coins do not require a readable date to
qualify for this grade.)
Proof
A coin usually struck from a specially prepared coin die on a specially prepared
planchet. Proofs are usually given more than one blow from the dies and are usually
struck with presses operating at slower speeds and higher striking pressure.
Because of this extra care, Proofs usually exhibit much sharper detail than regular,
or business, strikes. PCGS recognizes Proofs (PR) as those struck in 1817
and later. Those coins struck prior to 1817 are recognized as Specimen strikes (SP).
Proof Set
A coin set containing Proof issues from particular year. A few sets contain anomalies
such as the 1804 dollar and eagle in 1834 presentation Proof sets.
Obverse
The front, or heads side, of a coin. Usually the date side.
P
Panama-Pacific Exhibition
A 1915 exhibition held in San Francisco, California to celebrate the completion of the
Panama Canal.
Paper Money
Term used among collectors for notes of the entire field of currency, no matter what
medium on which they may be printed.
Pattern
A test striking of a coin produced to demonstrate a proposed design, size, or
composition (whether adopted or not). Patterns often are made in metals other than
the one proposed; examples of this include aluminum and copper patterns of the
silver Trade dollar. Off-metal strikes such as this also are referred to as die trials of
a pattern.
PCGS
Short for “Professional Coin Grading Service”.
PCGS Population Report
Quarterly publication by PCGS listing the number of coins graded and their grade.
Totals are for coins graded by PCGS since its inception in 1986.
Peace Dollar
Common name for the silver dollar struck from 1921 to 1935. Designed by Anthony
Francisci to commemorate the peace following World War I, the first year featured
another coin designated High Relief. In 1922, the relief was lowered resulting in the
Regular Relief type that continued until 1935.
Philadelphia Mint
The “mother” Mint, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. First established in 1792,
the Philadelphia Mint has occupied four different locations. Currently, it is located in
Independence Square, within sight of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. The
Philadelphia mint engraves all U.S. coins and medals, manufactures coin and medal
dies, manufactures coins of all denominations for general circulation, manufactures
commemorative coins, and produces medals. This mint currently uses the
“P” mintmark but coins produced prior to 1980 have no mintmark.
Platinum
Precious metal sometimes used for coinage. The only United States issues struck in
platinum are the pattern half dollars of 1814 and the modern platinum Eagles.
Poor
The grade PO-1. A coin with readable date and mint mark (if present), but little more,
barely identifiable as to type. (One-year type coins do not require a readable date to
qualify for this grade.)
Proof
A coin usually struck from a specially prepared coin die on a specially prepared
planchet. Proofs are usually given more than one blow from the dies and are usually
struck with presses operating at slower speeds and higher striking pressure.
Because of this extra care, Proofs usually exhibit much sharper detail than regular,
or business, strikes. PCGS recognizes Proofs (PR) as those struck in 1817
and later. Those coins struck prior to 1817 are recognized as Specimen strikes (SP).
Proof Set
A coin set containing Proof issues from particular year. A few sets contain anomalies
such as the 1804 dollar and eagle in 1834 presentation Proof sets.
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