Homepage / Bullion Investment Basics: Coin Anatomy

Bullion Coin Anatomy

Like any other coin, a Bullion Coin's Anatomy is very easy to recognize, as you will see below, bullion coins are no different from any other coin.

All coins have a Legend, a Date of Issue, a Field, and a Relief, however, besides the 'Date of Issue' few people know how to identify the other attributes of a coin.

The biggest difference between Bullion coins other coins is that they are made for Investing in precious metals, not so much for collecting, and certainly not for circulating.

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.

Free Bullion Investment Guide
Thanks You for Visiting!

My name is Steven Warrenfeltz, I created this guide to give you an honest place, on the web, that provides reliable bullion market information.

This guide is a little unusual to other guides because it not only offers bullion market information, it also advocates for Gold Nanoparticle Cancer Research, and supports individuals who are Battling cancer

A few decades ago, I made a graveside promise to a childhood friend who died of cancer that I would help those who are battling cancer.

I created this guide to help people understand how precious metals help them preserve the value of their savings and or investments while trying to fulfill a promise.

See this guide's Mission page for more information.

Affiliate Ad

The Obverse Side of a
Bullion Coin

The Reverse Side of a
Bullion Coin

Coin Edges

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

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.

The "Edge"
is the Third Side of a Coin

Reeded Coin Edge

Ex: The Reeded Edge of the American Silver Eagle

Lettered Edge

Ex: The Lettered Edge of the America the Beautiful 5oz. Bullion Coin

Plain Edge

Ex: The Plain Edge of the 1oz. Austrian Vienna Philharmonic Bullion Coin

Grained Edge

Ex: The Grained Edge of the Austrian Gold Vienna Philharmonic Bullion Coins

Affiliate Ad

Bullion Coin Anatomy
- Breakdown -

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Affiliate Ad

Mint Marks

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 (collectors) 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.

Mexican Mint Mark

Mexican Silver Libertad

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.

Affiliate Ad

Enhanced Anatomy
of the
American Eagle Platinum
Bullion Coin

Obverse

Reverse

Free Bullion Investment Guide
Thanks You for Visiting!

My name is Steven Warrenfeltz, I created this guide to give you an honest place, on the web, that provides reliable bullion market information.

I created this guide to help people understand how precious metals help them preserve the value of their savings and or investments while trying to fulfill a promise.

Go to this guide's Mission page for more information.