Homepage / Bullion Investment Basics: Coin Anatomy

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Last Updated on 03/01/2025

Bullion Coin
Anatomy


A bullion coin's anatomy is no different from other coins.

obverse & reverse of a coin

The Three Sides of a Coin

Everyone's flipped a coin and called "Heads" or "Tails." In terms of a coin's anatomy, "Heads" is the "Obverse" side of the coin, and "Tails" is known as the "Reverse" side.

Unless otherwise specified, the subject used to describe a bullion coin's anatomy is the 1oz. American Eagle Platinum Bullion Coin.

The Free Bullion Investment Guide has over 100 bullion coin pages; all are narrated using the terminology found on this page.  (Ex: American Eagle Silver Bullion Coin)


Obverse Side

Bullion Coin Anatomy - obverse


Reverse Side

Bullion Coin Anatomy - reverse


Edges

The edge of a coin is commonly referred to as its third side. There are various types of edges that can be found on coins.

Reeded / Serrated Coin Edge

2024 1 oz. Silver Britannia bullion coin - Reeded Edge1 oz. Silver Britannia bullion coin - Reeded Edge


Lettered Edge

lettered edge of coin5 oz. America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coin


Plain / Smooth Edge

Plain/Smooth Edge of the 1oz Silver Austrian Vienna Philharmonic Bullion Coin1oz. Austrian Vienna Philharmonic Silver Bullion Coin


Grained Edge

coin edge1oz. Austrian Vienna Philharmonic Gold Bullion Coins



Bullion Coin Anatomy
- Breakdown -



field and rim of coin

Field - The flat area of a coin’s surface that doesn’t have any design or inscription.


Rim - raised outer perimeter that sits on the edge of both sides of a coin.





Bullion Coin Edge


Edge - The edge is the very outer border of a coin. Edges can be lettered, plain, reeded, or grained.





Lady Liberty - Portrait on a Coin



Portrait - Found on the obverse side of the coin. Common portraits include presidents, monarchs, and Lady Liberty.








Liberty - Legend of a Coin


Legend - Usually found at the top of a bullion coin, often referred to as the coin’s inscription.



bullion coin relief designs




Relief - raised art/design on the surface of a coin's field








coin motto



Motto - Coin lettering or inscriptions: ex, "In God We Trust" and " "E Pluribus Unum."






weight and purity

Purity & Weight - States the coins' weight and the purity of the precious metal in the coin.






face value of coin

Face Value -

The legal tender value of a coin inscribed on the face of a coin.





coins year of issue


Year of Issue - Indicates the year a coin was minted or issued.






coin designer initials



Designers Initials - The initials of who designed or engraved the coin.






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Mint Marks

Mint Mark - a Letter or symbol of the mint that produced the coin.

The United States Mint puts the first letter of the Mint that produced the coin on most of their coins. 

The United States Mint has four minting facilities that have their own mint mark:

  • P - Philadelphia, PA
  • D - Denver, CO
  • S - San Francisco, CA 
  • W - West Point, NY

There are two exceptions where the U.S. Mint doesn't inscribe a "Mint Mark":

  • The Philadelphia Mint's mark of "P" isn't always inscribed on circulated coins. (penny, nickel, dime, quarters, half-dollar and dollars)
  • There are no mint marks on any United States precious metal bullion coins; these coins are mass-produced and do not come in special packaging.

Learn more about the 1oz. American Eagle Silver Bullion Coin here.


1 oz. American Eagle Silver Bullion Coin - Reverse side1oz. American Eagle Silver
Bullion Coin - No Mint Mark
(No special packaging)
1oz. American Eagle Silver Proof w/ Mint Mark Circled - Reverse1oz. American Eagle Silver Proof/Uncirculated Bullion Coin with the "S" Mint Mark
(Specially packaged bullion coin)

Mint Marks on other
Bullion Coins

The practice of including is not universal; some nations opt to include a mint mark on government bullion coins, while others do not.

For instance, Israel's Holy Land Mint puts its "Star of David" mint mark on their "Jerusalem of Gold" bullion coins.

Click coin images to enlarge.

1oz Gold Mexican Libertad bullion coin - ReverseThe Mexican Libertad's Mint Mark is a "O over an M"
2010 1oz. Jerusalem of Gold Bullion Coin obv"Star of David" Mint Mark of
The Holy Land Mint

Australia's Perth Mint is known for adding its "P" mint mark on most of their bullion coins, and Mexico's Mint has their mint mark of an "M under an O" on every Gold and Silver Libertad bullion coin.

However, Canada and China, in addition to the United States, do not put mint marks on their bullion coins.




Enhanced Anatomy
American Eagle Platinum
Bullion Coin


Obverse


exploding coin obv


Reverse


exploding coin rev


Royal Mint (UK)




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