RADIAL MARKINGS

- A border pattern using a series of parallel markings on the rim edge of the coin.

RAINBOW TONING

- Toning that has many of the colours of the rainbow - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Also Iridescent.

RARE

- A comparative term denoting a high degree of scarcity, often categorized into degrees of rarity as Extremely Rare, Very Rare, etc. There is no universally accepted scale or nomenclature for rarity. It is therefore important to properly understand the context in which the term is used. The Absolute Rarity of an item will refer to a statement of the actual physical number of such items thought to exist. The Relative Rarity will simply indicate the degree (relatively ranking) of rarity of one item compared to others without stating the actual numbers thought to exist.

RCM

- Royal Canadian Mint.

RECUT DATE

- A die that has had its date changed (recut) for use in later years in an effort to get greater use of the dies. See Overdate.

RED AND BROWN

- A copper coin that has approximately 40-60% of its original lustre remaining is described as Red and Brown, that is, about half way between Mint Red (100%) and Brown (0%)

REDUCING MACHINE

- Used for making master dies or punches in actual size from enlarged original models. Example; Janvier lathe, three dimensional pantograph.

REEDED EDGE

- The result of a minting process which creates vertical serrations (grooved lines) on the edge of a coin. The process is performed by a collar die simultaneously with the striking of the faces of the coin. See Serrated Coins.

REEDING

- A fine graining on the edge of most coins struck in gold, silver, and nickel. It was originally a safeguard against Clipping. It is incorrect to call it milling.

REFLECTIVE SURFACES

- See Mirror Proof and Mirror Depth.

RECAL ISSUE

- See Semi Regal Issue.

REISSUE

- A numismatic item issued again after an extended lapse of time.

RELATIVE RARITY

- See Rare.

RELIEF

- Any part of a coin's design that is raised above the coin's surface is said to be in relief. The opposite of relief is incuse.

REMEDY

- The tolerance allowed in the purity and weight of a coin.

REPAIRED

- Any coin, token, or medal that has been repaired by plugging holes, filing of rim gouges, etc. and is usually made available for sale as if the coin had never had any damage.

REPLICA

- A copy of the original, a facsimile.

REPRODUCTION

- See Replica.

RESERVE

- A protective bid in an auction placed by the consignor of a lot which must be exceeded if that lot is to be awarded to another bidder.

RESTRIKE

- A numismatic item produced from original dies at a later date. In the case of a coin, usually not with a view to meeting a monetary need.

RETAIL

-The price at which a collector can usually buy a coin. See Market Value.

REVERSE

- The side opposite to that on which the head or principal figure is impressed. The side opposite from the obverse. Also known as "tails."

REVOLUTIONARY COIN

- A coin issued by an insurgent government.

RIBS, RIBBING

- The fine vein lines on the surface of a leaf.

RIDDLE

- The shaking process used to remove foreign particles from freshly cut coin blanks.

RIM

- The raised outer margin surrounding the border and protecting the surfaces of the coin from undue wear.

RIM DIG, RIM GOUGE

- Refers to a deeper, usually more distracting form of surface abrasion, produced when the rim or edge of one coin made contact with the surface of another, such as would happen when coins were poured on top of each other into a mint bag.

RIM NICK

- Refers to any marks or cuts into the rim or edge of a coin, usually through contact with another coin.

ROLLING MILL

- converts large, bulky ingots into a thin planchet strip from which individual planchets are punched.

ROLLS

- A standard quantity of identical coins all of the same type and date.

ROYAL CANADIAN MINT

- Located in Ottawa with branch mints in Hull and Winnipeg. Has been named the Royal Canadian Mint since 1931 when it came under the full control of the Canadian Government. Prior to this and beginning in 1908 coins were still minted in Canada but the Mint was actually just the Ottawa Branch of the Royal Mint in London. Prior to 1908 all Canadian coins were minted at either the Royal Mint or the Birmingham (Heaton) Mint.

ROYAL MINT

- Located in London, England.

ROTATED DIE

- Dies are positioned and locked on a coining press by means of a key. When these keys come loose, rotation can occur resulting in the next coin being struck with the obverse and reverse dies rotated. Coins struck from rotated dies are errors.

RUB

- Reference to the very slightest of wear on a coin at its highest points of relief or where the lustre has been destroyed. Caused by light friction as in loose coin storage or even light circulation. Generally claimed only if can be detected visibly (ie not using magnification) and where the lustre is clearly broken. On toned coins that are generally dark, a very slight lighter tone at the high point does not necessarily mean the lustre has been broken; it may be a thinning of the transparent film that gives the perception of colour but not to the point where the lustre has been touched. See Thin Film Light Interference.

RUST

- In general terms, any film or coating on a metal due to oxidation. Most typically associated with the red and orange looking oxides of iron.

RUSTED DIES

- Dies which have become pitted through corrosion. The pits are transformed into tiny dots of metal on the coin, some of which are visible and others simply giving the coin a "fussy" look.

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