Glossary of Numismatics - E

E

Eagle

1. United States $10.00 gold coin minted from 1795 - 1933.
2. Series of US Bullion coins minted from 1986 through the present.

Edge

Rim of a coin often containing a series of reeds, lettering or other decoration.

Ecu

Large French silver coin made during the end of the monarchy. Also proposed European currency unit.

Effigy

The image or likeness of a person, usually on the obverse of a coin or medal.

Electrotype

Reproduction made by electrodeposition frequently used in museum displays.

Electrum

Artificial or naturally occurring mixture of gold and silver used in some of the world's first coinage.

Elongated coin

An oval medalet produced by a roller die using a coin, token or medal as a planchet, usually a cent.

Encapsulated Coin

A coin that has been authenticated, graded and enclosed in plastic by an independent service.

Engraver

Person who cuts the image of a design onto a die.

Error

Usually a mis-made coin not intended for circulation, but can also refer to an engraving or die-cutting error not discovered until the coins are released to circulation. The mis-made coin errors are usually unique, but the engraving errors appear on all of the coins produced until the error is corrected. This may result in two or more varieties of the coin in the same year.

Essai, Essay

A trial strike, also in currency a strike intended to test the design.

Exergue

A segment of the coin design separated by a line (usually indicating the ground in the design) in which a legend is placed/inscribed.