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Bullion Coin Anatomy

A Bullion Coin's Anatomy is very easy to remember when compared to their numismatic coin counterparts.

Most Numismatic coins change their designs a lot more often than bullion coins, which can make some of the features of these coins harder to recognize.

Bullion coins are often looked upon as what they were created for; Investing, not collecting.

It is good practice for any bullion coin investor to know the separate features that make up a bullion coin.

The bullion coin that is used on this page to help you learn a Bullion Coin's Anatomy is the 1oz. American Eagle Platinum Bullion Coin.

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The Obverse Side of a
Bullion Coin

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The Reverse Side of a
Bullion Coin

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Coin Edges

The edge of a coin is often referred to as the third side of a coin.

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The Three Sides of a Coin

At least once in your life you've flipped a coin and called "Heads" or "Tails." 

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

But, there is also a third side that will almost never come up when you flip a coin and that is the coin's "Edge."

The Free Bullion Investment Guide has over 100 coin pages, all of which are narrated using obverse, reverse and edge coin terminology.

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Reeded Coin Edge

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Lettered Edge

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Plain Edge

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Grained Edge

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Bullion Coin Anatomy
- Breakdown -

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

Rim - The raised edge that runs completely around both sides of a coin.

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Edge - The edge is the very outer border of a coin. Edges can be lettered, plain or reeded. See below for more information on coin edges.

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Portrait - Found on the Obverse side of the coin. Common portraits include presidents, monarchy, and Liberty.

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

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Relief - The part of a coin’s design that is raised above the surface.

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

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

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Face Value - The value of the coin, the face value of every bullion coin is guaranteed and backed by the country in which it represents.

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

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Designers Initials - The initials of the person who designed the coin.

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Mint Marks

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Mint Mark - A mint mark is a Mark or an Inscription on a coin indicating the mint that produced the coin.

United States bullion coins are not minted with a Mint Mark.

It is the one way to recognize a Numismatic (Proof or Un-Circulated) American Eagle from the Bullion version of the coin.

Proof and uncirculated numismatic versions of the American Eagle bullion coins have a "W" on their reverse side, representing the West Point Mint.

The practice of including a Mint Mark is shared with some bullion coins and not with others.

For instance, Mexico includes their ("O" over an "M") mint mark on all of their minted Libertads.

Australia includes their "P" mint mark, representing the Perth Mint, on some of their bullion coins and not others.

Whereas, China and Canada, both do not indicate any Mint Marks on their bullion coins.

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Enhanced Anatomy
of the
American Eagle Platinum
Bullion Coin

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Obverse

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Reverse

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