Numismatic Dictionary

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There are currently 20 names in this directory beginning with the letter N.
National Bank Notes
Currency issued only by federally chartered banks that bought bonds to insure the notes’ value.

National Currency

National Currency Bureau
Agency formed to handle currency for the government following passage of the National Bank Act of 1863. Its name was later changed to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

NCLT
Non Circulating Legal Tender refers to a legal tender coin that has a face value but is not intended for circulation. See also commemorative.

near date
A variation in the coin design where the year appears larger than on other coins in the same series. This is commonly used to describe the date varieties on the 1979 Susan B. Anthony dollar coins. See also far date.

net price
A term used for a firm, non-negotiable price the seller is willing to sell an item.

New Orleans
Louisiana’s largest city and main entry port on the Mississippi River, New Orleans was the home of a branch of the United States Mint. It was established in 1838 and operated until 1861 when the Confederate Army captured it during the Civil War. ADM David Farragut recaptured it in 1862. Following the passage of the Bland-Allison Act in 1878 that required the federal government to buy large quantities of silver, it was recommissioned as a mint in 1879 and operated until 1909. Coins struck in New Orleans have an "O" mintmark.

nickel
A non-precious silvery-white metal that has been a used for coin production since the mid-19th century. United States coins have been alloyed with copper for strength and to keep the costs down. Sometimes written using its chemical symbol of Ni.

nickel silver
Sometimes referred to as "German silver," nickel silver is an alloy of 60- percent copper, 20-percent nickel, and 20-percent zinc. It is named because of its silvery appearance even though it does not contain any silver. Nickel silver had been used to strike European coins prior to the adaptation of the Euro.

No Arrows
Term applied to coins without arrows by their dates during years when other coins had arrows by the date. (i.e. 1853 Arrows and No Arrows half dimes.)

No Cents Nickel
Liberty Head nickels struck in 1883 without a denomination. The lack of a denomination was very confusing to the public and led to the "racketeer" nickel scandal.

no mintmark
If a coin is supposed to have a mintmark but was not added to the master die before creating the dies used for striking. In the case of the 1922 no-D Lincoln cent, the D mintmark is very faint as a result from over polishing the dies used to strike coins. See also omitted design.

No Motto
Coins struck without the motto, IN GOD WE TRUST.

No Stars
Term referring to the Gobrecht-designed Liberty Seated coins without stars.

Non-Circulating Legal Tender
Refers to a legal tender coin that has a face value but is not intended for circulation. See also commemorative.

North Africa Notes
A series of currency ($1, $5, and $10 silver certificates) used to pay troops fighting in the North Africa Campaign during World War II. These notes featured a yellow seal to allow them to be easily identified should they fall into enemy hands. See also Hawaii Notes.

notaphilly
The study and collection of banknotes or legally authorized paper money.

numerical grading
A system used to describe the condition of a coin based on the Sheldon Scale where 1 is the worst condition and 70 is a coin in perfect condition. See also Sheldon Scale.

Numismatics
The study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects.

Numismatist
One who studies or collects money.

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