Glossary of numismatic terms: Bulgarian and English

From “аверс” to “щемпел” – 60 words every collector should know, with their English equivalents

BulgarianCoins editorial team 19 October 20263 min read

Obverse and reverse of the coins 2 leva 1882 and 5 leva 1884 – basic terms from the numismatic glossary

Numismatics has its own language. Many listings, catalogues and auctions are in English, and Bulgarian sources use their own terms. This glossary will help you understand both and talk like an experienced collector.

The parts of the coin

Bulgarian	English	Explanation
лицева страна, аверс	obverse	the side with the coat of arms, the portrait or the state
обратна страна, реверс	reverse	the other side, often with the face value or the theme
гурт	edge	the side surface of the coin
кант	rim	the raised border around the field
перлен кант	dotted rim, beaded border	a row of dots along the rim
поле	field	the smooth area around the relief
релеф	relief, design	the raised image
легенда	legend	the inscription around the rim
номинал	denomination, face value	the value written on the coin
монетен знак	mint mark	a mark identifying the mint

See The inscriptions on Bulgarian coins.

Minting

Bulgarian	English	Explanation
щемпел	die	the steel stamp used for striking
заготовка	planchet, blank	the metal disc before striking
монетен двор	mint	the place where coins are struck
тираж	mintage	the number of coins struck
проба (на метала)	fineness	the precious-metal content, e.g. 925/1000
емисия	issue	the release of a coin
пренасечка, рестрайк	restrike	a coin struck later with the old dies
пиефорт	piefort	a coin of double thickness

See The mint: how a coin is made.

Quality and condition

Bulgarian	English	Explanation
пруф, мат-гланц	proof	a coin with a mirror field and frosted relief
гланц	brilliant uncirculated, BU	uncirculated, but without proof treatment
необращаема	uncirculated, UNC	with no signs of circulation
степен на запазеност	grade	an assessment of condition
износване	wear	rubbing from use
патина	toning, patina	the natural colouring of the metal
почистена	cleaned	a coin cleaned by someone – loses value
слаб	slab	a sealed holder from a grading company
сертифицирана	certified, graded	graded by PCGS, NGC etc.
блясък	luster	the natural lustre of a new coin

See Coin grades, Proof, proof-like and BU and Wear points.

Errors and varieties

Bulgarian	English	Explanation
грешка при сечене	mint error	an accidental defect at the mint
разновидност	variety	a constant difference between dies
изместено сечене	off-centre strike	the planchet is not centred
двоен удар	double strike	the coin was struck twice
отрязана заготовка	clipped planchet	part of the planchet is missing
пукнат щемпел	die crack	a raised line from a crack
мюле	mule	a coin with mismatched dies
проба	pattern	an unapproved design
образец	specimen	a coin made for presentation

See Error coins and Die varieties.

The market

Bulgarian	English	Explanation
емисионна цена	issue price	the price at release
пазарна цена	market value	the price at which it trades
начална цена	starting bid	the start of the auction
наддаване	bid	an offer in an auction
купувачка премия	buyer's premium	the auction’s commission charged to the buyer
реплика, копие	replica, copy	an imitation
фалшификат	counterfeit, forgery	an imitation intended to deceive
произход	provenance	the history of ownership
стойност на метала	melt value, bullion value	the value of the gold or silver

See How online auctions work and Issue price vs market price.

Storage

Bulgarian	English	Explanation
капсула	capsule	a rigid transparent case
холдер	holder, flip	a cardboard or plastic holder
албум, класьор	album, binder	for arranging many coins
силикагел	silica gel	absorbs moisture

See Coin albums and binders.

Abbreviations in listings

Abbreviation	Meaning
MS 63, MS 65	Mint State – uncirculated, with a numerical grade
PF 69, PR 70	Proof – proof with a numerical grade
UCAM, DCAM	strong contrast between field and relief on a proof
AU, XF, VF, F	grades of condition
Ag, Au, CuNi	silver, gold, copper-nickel