Homepage / Bullion Investment Basics: Coin Anatomy
Last Updated on 03/01/2025
Bullion Coin
Anatomy
A bullion coin's anatomy is no different from other coins.
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
Reverse Side
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
Lettered Edge
Plain / Smooth Edge
Grained Edge
Bullion Coin Anatomy
- Breakdown -
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.
Edge - The edge is the very outer border of a coin. Edges can be lettered, plain, reeded, or grained.
Portrait - Found on the obverse side of the coin. Common portraits include presidents, monarchs, and Lady Liberty.
Legend - Usually found at the top of a bullion coin, often referred to as the coin’s inscription.
Relief - raised art/design on the surface of a coin's field
Motto - Coin lettering or inscriptions: ex, "In God We Trust" and " "E Pluribus Unum."
Purity & Weight - States the coins' weight and the purity of the precious metal in the coin.
Face Value -
The legal tender value of a coin inscribed on the face of a coin.
Year of Issue - Indicates the year a coin was minted or issued.
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.
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.
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
Reverse
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