Abbreviations used on Numista

Last update: 17 November 2023

This page lists the abbreviations that may be used in the Numista catalogue.

Currencies

Æ

Aes (Latin), copper or copper alloys. Used to describe bronze ancient coins of an uncertain denomination. When followed by a number between 1 and 4, it indicates the diameter of a Roman coin:

  • Æ1 - 25 mm or greater
  • Æ2 - 21 - 25 mm
  • Æ3 - 17 - 21 mm
  • Æ4 - less than 17 mm

When followed by another number, it indicates the actual diameter of the coin in mm.

 

ECU

European Currency Unit.

Dates

AD

Anno Domini (Latin), in the year of our Lord. Label for dates after year 1 of the Common era. Precedes numerals (e.g. AD 453), but follows numbers written as words (fourth century AD).

  • AD 27
  • A.D.   ||   CE   ||   C.E.   ||   A.C.

 

BC

Before Christ. Label for dates before year 1 of the Common Era. Follows dates:

  • 27 BC
  • BC 27   ||   B.C.   ||   Bc   ||   BCE   ||   B.C.E.

 

AH

Anno Hegirae (Latin), in the year of the Hijra. Label for dates after year 1 of the Islamic lunar calendar.

 

BH

Before the Hijra. Label for dates before year 1 of the Islamic lunar calendar.

 

AM 

Anno mundi (Latin), in the year of the world. Label for dates in the Jewish calendar.

 

ND

No date. Only used in the date lines.

Miscellaneous

etc.

Etcetera (Latin), and so forth.

 

var.

Variant. Only used in the reference code field.

Units of measure

mm, cm, m, km

Millimetre, centimetre, metre, kilometre. Split with a blank from the preceding numeral:

  • 17 mm
  • 17 mil   ||   17 mm.   ||   17mm

 

g, kg

Gram, kilogram. Split with a blank from the preceding numeral:

  • 17 g
  • 17 gr   ||   17 gr.   ||   17 gm   ||   17 g.

 

oz

Ounce. Split with a blank from the preceding numeral:

  • 1 oz

Grades

Do not use grade abbreviations in running text. These abbreviations are only used in date lines. Do not use abbreviations to describe in-between grades:

  • almost very fine   ||   good very fine   ||   better than very fine   ||   choice uncirculated
  • very fine -   ||   very fine +   ||   aVF   ||   uncirculated ++   ||   ch. UNC

 

G

Good

 

VG

Very Good

 

F

Fine

 

VF

Very Fine

 

XF

Extra Fine

  • EF

 

AU

About Uncirculated

  • AUNC   ||   AUnc   ||   aUNC

 

UNC

Uncirculated

  • FDC   ||   Unc

Grading companies

ANACS

American Numismatic Association Certification Service

 

IGS

Independent Coin Graders

 

NGC

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation

 

PCGS

Professional Coin Grading Service

International organisations

FAO

Food and Agriculture Organization

 

NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

 

UEFA

Union of European Football Associations

 

UNESCO

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

 

UNICEF

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund

 

WWF

World Wide Fund for Nature

Abbreviations that should not be used on Numista

Any abbreviation which is not listed above should not be used in the Numista catalogue. Below is a non-exhaustive list of abbreviations that should not be used in the Numista catalogue.

 

&

  • and

 

$, €, £, and other currency symbols

  • dollar, euro, pound, etc.

 

ANS and other numismatic institutions

  • American Numismatic Society, etc.

 

b., d.

  • born, died

 

bi.

  • billon

 

BU, P, other minting terms

  • brilliant uncirculated, proof, etc.

 

c., ca., cca., approx.

  • circa

 

Dr.

  • doctor

 

e.g.

  • for example

 

el.

  • electrum

 

ESA, other space agencies

  • European Space Agency, etc.

 

EU, EC, other European institutions

  • European Union, European Commission, etc.

 

Gen., Maj., Capt., and other military ranks

  • general, major, captain, etc.

 

i.e.

  • that is

 

IMF, other banks and financial institutions

  • International Monetary Fund, etc.

 

IOC, other sports associations

  • International Olympic Committee, etc.

 

Ltd., LLC, Inc., PLC

  • Limited, Limited Liability Company, Incorporated, Public Limited Company, etc.

 

l., r.

  • left, right

 

Mt., Mtn.

  • mount, mountain

 

n/a, NA

  • not applicable

 

N, S, E, W

  • north, south, east, west

 

NGO

  • Non-Governmental Organisations

 

RAF, other military organisations

  • Royal Air Force, etc.

 

St., S.

  • Saint

 

Au, Ar, and other symbols of chemical elements

  • gold, silver, etc.

 

UAE

  • United Arab Emirates

 

UK

  • United Kingdom

 

UN, UNFPA, other United Nations organisations

  • United Nations, United Nations Population Fund

 

US

  • United States

 

USSR

  • Soviet Union

 

WHO

  • World Health Organisation

 

WTO

  • World Trade Organisation