Numismatic Spanish/English Dictionary

¡Bienvenidos! Welcome to the ANA’s English to Spanish translation guide of numismatic terms. This guide will be particularly useful to the English speaker who has to interact with someone who speaks Spanish and has questions about coins or banknotes. It was primarily designed for English-speaking business owners (coin dealers) who already have some basic understanding of Spanish, and who may have to deal with Spanish-only speakers with numismatic items for sale. The more familiar someone is with Spanish, the more useful this guide will be.

Please understand that there could never be a guide of this nature that translates perfectly to any language. There are several numismatic colloquialisms in English that there are no words for in Spanish. Every attempt has been made to accommodate most Spanish dialects encountered in North America. Therefore, the majority of the terms contained here have been translated into the style of Spanish most commonly heard among people from Mexico. As languages are living entities, this guide will be updated as needed, based on changes in culture, as well as numismatics.

To search for a specific word, use Ctrl+f on a PC or Cmnd+f on a Mac to search the page.

account(s) = cuenta(s)

acquisition(s) = adquisición(es)

adjustment mark(s) = marca(s) de ajuste; limado

album(s) = álbum(es)

alloy(s) = aleación(es)

altar = altar

alter = alterar

alteration(s) = alteración(es)

altered date(s) = fecha(s) alterada(s)

amount(s) (noun) = suma(s); cantidad(es)

ancient = antiguo

antique(s) = antiguo(s)

antiquity(ies) = antigüedad(es)

art(s) = arte(s)

attribute (verb) = atribuir

attribution(s) = atribución(es)

auction(s) = subasta(s)

auctioneer = subastador

auction catalog(s) = catálogo(s) de subasta(s)

auction sale(s) = venta(s) de subasta(s); subastada

authentic = auténtico

back = reverso

background = fondo

bank(s) = banco(s)

banknote(s) = billete(s) de banco

bicentennial = bicententario

bid(s) (noun) = apuesta(s)

bid (verb) = apostar

bid sheet(s) = hoja(s) de apuesta

bidder(s) = postor(es)/postora(s)

billion(s) = miles de millones

black = negro

black market = mercado negro

blank(s)/planchet(s) = cospel(es)

blue = azul

bond(s) = bono(s)

book value(s) = valor(es) de catálogo

bottom(s) = abajo; parte baja

brass = latón; bronce amarillo

brockage = incusa

broken bank(s) = banco(s) obsoleto(s)

broken banknote(s) = billete(s) de banco(s) obsoleto(s)

bronze = bronce

brown = café

buffalo = búfalo

bust (noun) = busto

buy = comprar

buyer(s) = comprador(es)

Capped Bust = Busto con Gorro

cash = dinero

cast (verb, past tense) = fundido

catalog(s) = catálogo(s)

catalog value(s) = valor(es) de catálogo

cent(s)/penny(ies) = centavo(s)

centennial = centenario

certificate(s) = certificado(s)

cheap/inexpensive = barato

check(s) = cheque(s)

chromium = cromo

circle = circular; circulo

circulated = circulado

circulation = circulación

clad coinage = moneda chapeada

classic = clásico

classify = clasificar

coin(s) = moneda(s)

coinage = acuñación

colonial = colonial

collect (verb) = coleccionar

collection = collección

collector(s) = coleccionista(s)

color(s) = color(es)

commemorative(s) = conmemorativo(s)

common = común

complete = completo

contact mark(s) = marca(s) de contacto

copper = cobre

copper coin(s) = moneda(s) de cobre

copy(ies) (noun) = copia(s); reproducción(es)

copy (verb) = copiar

corrosion = corrosión

counterfeit(s) (noun) = moneda(s) falsa(s); falsificación(es); espuria(s)

counterfeit (verb) = falsificar

counterfeiter(s) = falsificador(es)

counterfoil = talón

crease(s) (noun) = doblez (dobleces)

crease (verb) = doblar

credit = crédito

credit card(s) = tarjeta(s) de crédito

crown(s) = corona(s)

currency = papel moneda

damaged = dañado

dark = oscuro

date(s) = fecha(s)

defect(s) = defecto(s)

defective = defectuoso

denomination(s) = denominación(es)/valor facial

deposit (of funds) = depósito

design(s) (noun) = diseño(s)

diameter(s) = diámetro(s)

did not sell = no se vendió

die(s) (noun) = cuño(s); troquel(es)

die (verb; death) = morir

die break(s) = rotura(s) de cuño

dime(s) = moneda(s) de diez centavos

dollar(s) = dólar(es)

double-headed eagle = águila de dos cabezas

Draped Bust = Busto Drapeado; Busto con Toga

drawing(s) = dibujo(s)

duplicate(s) (adj/noun) = duplicado(s)

duplicate (verb) = duplicar

Eagle(s) & Double Eagle(s) = media onza en oro & una onza en oro

Early American Copper(s) = Cobre(s) Temprano(s) Americano(s)

edge(s) = borde(s)

edge lettering = canto letrado

eighth = octavo

electrotype(s) = electrotipo(s)

electrum = electro

England = Inglaterra; Reino Unido

engrave/engraving (verb) = grabar/grabación; grabando

engraved/engraving(s) (noun) = grabado/grabación(es)

error(s) = error(s); yerro(s)

exchange (verb) = intercambiar

exchange rate(s) = cotización; equivalencia

exhibit(s) (noun) = exhibición(es)

exhibit (verb) = presenter; exponer; exhibir

exhibition(s) = exposición(es)/exhibición

expensive = caro

eye(s) = ojo(s)

face value = valor facial; valor nominal; denominación

fake (noun) = falso; falsificación

fancy = ornamentado

fee(s) = cuota(s); honorario(s)

fiat money = moneda fiduciaria/fiat

finance(s) (noun) = finanza(s)

finance (verb) = financiar

fine (coin grade) = bien conservada

fine (metal purity) = ley (Mexico only); puro; fino; fineza

flag(s) = bandera(s)

fold(s) (noun) = pilegue(s); doblez (dobleces)

fold (verb) = plegar; doblar

foreign = extranjero

foreign money = moneda extranjera

forgery(ies) = falsificación(es)

fourth = cuatrillo; cuartilla

fourth (quarter) = cuarto

fraction(s) = fracción(es)

fractional currency = moneda fraccionaria

front = frente; faz

full bell lines = líneas completas de campana

full head = cabeza completa

full split bands = bandas divididas completas

genuine = genuino; legítimo; auténtico

Germany = Alemania

gold = oro

gold certficate(s) = certificado(s) en oro

grade(s) (noun) = graduación(es); estado(s) de conservación

grade (verb) = graduar; clasificar

Great Britain = Gran Bretaña; Reino Unido

Greece/Greek(s) = Grecia/Griego(s)

half (adj) = medio

half (noun) = mitad

half dollar(s) = medio dolar(es)

hammered coin(s) = moneda(s) amartillada(s)

hammer price(s) = precio(s) realizado(s); precio(s) final(es)

heraldry/heraldic = heráldico

high/higher = alto/más alto; superior

hole(s) = hoyo(s)

holed = agujereado

hundred(s) = cien; ciento(s)

imitation(s) = imitación(es)

incomplete = incompleto

incuse = incuso; hueco

Indian (Indian Head) = Indio (Cabeza de Indio)

ingot(s) = lingote(s)

ink(s) = tinta(s)

intaglio = hueco grabado en realce/relieve

international = internacional

intrinsic = intrínseco

iron = hierro

irregular = irregular

issue(s) (noun) = emisión(es)

issue (verb) = emitir

king(s) = rey(es)

large = grande

laureate = laureado

left = izquierda/izqueirdo

legend = leyenda; inscripción

liberty = libertad

little = poco/poquito

look (verb) = mirar; observar

lot(s) (auction lot) = lote(s)

low/lower = bajo/más bajo; inferior

magnifying glass(es) = lupa(s); lente(s) de aumento

medal(s) = medalla(s)

melt (verb) = fundir/fundirse; derretir

melt value(s) = valor(es) del metal

memorial = conmemorativo

metal(s) = metal(es)

milled = acordonado

million(s) = millón (millones)

minimum bid(s) = apuesta(s) minima(s)

mint(s) (noun) = casa(s) de moneda; lugar(es) de acuñación

mint (verb) = acuñar

mintage(s) = acuñación(es)

mintmark(s) = ceca(s)

mirror image = en espejo mis-strike(s) = acuñación(es) defectuosa(s)

mis-struck/badly struck = mal acuñado

modern = moderno

modify = modificar

monetary = monetario

monetary system(s) = sistema(s) monetario

monetary unit(s) = unidad(es) monetaria

money = dinero

motto(es) = leyenda(s)

museum(s) = museo(s)

national = nacional

nickel = níquel

note(s) (banknote) = billete(s)

numismatic/numismatist = numismático

numismatics = numismática

number(s) = número(s)

obsolete = anticuado; obsoleto; en desuso

obverse = anverso

offer(s) (noun) = oferta(s)

offer (verb) = ofrecer

official = oficial

old = antigua/antiguo

on the back = en el reverso; sobre el reverso

on the front = en el frente; sobre el frente

on the side = por el lado

ounce(s) = onza(s)

overprint(s) = resello(s)

palindrome(s) (for “RADAR” notes) = capicúa(s)

pattern(s) = prueba(s)

peace = paz

pedigree(s) = pedigrí(s)

planchet(s)/blank(s) = cospel(es)

plated = chapeado

platinum = platino

portrait(s) = imagin(imágenes); perfil(es)

postal currency = moneda postal

pound(s) (weight) = libra(s)

pound (£ - British monetary unit) = libra esterlina

press (manual/screw press) = acuñadora de volante

press (steam press) = acuñadora de vapor

price(s) = precio(s)

price guide(s) = gúia(s) de precios

price list(s) = lista(s) de precios

proof(s) (noun) = prueba(s)

quarter(s) (quarter dollar) = cuarto(s) (mondea de veintecinco centavos)

queen(s) = reína(s)

radiate (adj) = radiado; radiante

rare = raro

rarity(ies) = rareza(s)

ray(s) = rayo(s)

rectangle(s) = rectangulo(s)

red-brown = café rojizo

restrike(s) = reacuñación(es); reacuñado(s)

right = derecha/derecho

roll(s) (of coins) = rollo(s); tubo(s) de moneda(s)

Rome/Roman(s) = Roma/Romano(s)

rim(s) = borde(s)

round = redondo

scarce = escaso

scratch(es) (noun) = rayon(es)

scratch (verb) = rayón

search (verb) = buscar

seated (Liberty Seated) = sentado (Libertad Sentado)

sell = vender

serial number(s) = número(s) de serie

shield(s) = escudo(s)

signature(s) = firma(s)

silver = plata

silver certificate(s) = certificado(s) en plata

slow/slowly = lenta/despacio; lentamente

small = pequeño

specimen(s) = muestra(s); ejemplar(es); especímenes

square(s) = cuadrado (cuadrículano)

stain(s) = mancha(s)

standing (Liberty Standing) = de pie (Libertad de Pie)

star(s) = estrella(s)

statue(s) = estatua(s)

steel = acero

strike(s) (noun) = golpe(s)

strike (as in a discovery) = descubrimiento

strike (verb) = golpear

style(s) = diseño(s)

symbol(s) = símbolo(s)

tarnish = patina

tax(es) = impuesto(s)

tear(s) (noun) = rotura(s)

thousand(s) = mil(es)

tin = estaño

token(s) = ficha(s)

tone(s) (color) = tono(s); matiz; patina

toning/toned = matizado; patinado

top(s) = parte(s) de arriba; parte(s) superior

torch(es) = antorcha(s)

torn/ripped = roto

treasure(s) (treasure hunt) = tesoro(s) (búsqueda del tesoro)

type(s) = tipo(s)

unattributed = sin atribución; no atribuido

uncirculated = sin circular; no circulado

unknown = desconocido

uniface =unifaz

unique = único

unissued = no emitido

unofficial = no official

unpublished = no publicado

unused (new) = nuevo

used = circulado

valuable = valioso; de valor

value(s) = valor(es)

variety(ies) = variedad(es); variente(s)

walking (Liberty Walking) = caminando (Libertad Andante)

watermark(s) = marca(s) de agua

wear (noun) = desgaste por el uso

‘What’s bid?’ = ¿Cuál es la oferta?

wing(s) = ala(s)

world coin(s)/money = moneda(s) del mundo

year(s) = año(s)

young = joven

weight(s) = peso(s)

zero = cero

zinc = cinc

1776 = mil setecientos setenta y seis

1804 = mil ochocientos cuatro

1913 = mil novecientos trece

1943 = mil novecientos cuarenta y tres

1976 = mil novecientos setenta y seis

Alt+ Codes (for Windows/PC – using the numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard):

For Mac/Apple:

To add accents on Apple compatibles, hold down the Option key, then type the letter e. Then, release both keys. Next, type the letter you want the accent to appear over: