Variant Cover
A variant cover is an alternative cover for a comic book or magazine produced in lower quantities than the standard cover. Retailer-incentive variants (1:25, 1:50, 1:100) are particularly sought after because their print runs are tiny. See also: Test PrintTropical DialVAMVGAWATAAll Terms A–Z →
Error Coin
An error coin is a coin that left the mint with a manufacturing mistake — off-center strikes, double dies, wrong planchets, mules. Error coins are collected as a specialty and can be worth multiples of their face value depending on the rarity of the error. See also: CrossoverDeep GrooveDouble DieEtched HoloFirst EditionAll Terms A–Z →
Double Die
A double die (DDO obverse, DDR reverse) results when a coin die receives two slightly misaligned hub impressions during manufacture. The most famous example is the 1955 Lincoln cent doubled-die obverse. See also: CosplayCrossoverDeep GrooveError CoinEtched HoloAll Terms A–Z →
BGS Grading
BGS (Beckett Grading Services) is a third-party grading company best known for its sub-grade system, which assigns separate scores for centering, corners, edges, and surface in addition to the overall grade. A BGS Black Label 10 (perfect 10s in all four sub-grades) is among the rarest and most valuable certifications in trading cards. See also: […]
Chase Card
A chase card is an intentionally short-printed insert card pulled at a much lower rate than the base set. Chase cards drive secondary-market demand and are usually printed on premium stock with foil, refractor, or autograph treatments. See also: CenteringCentringCGC GradingCOACoin FlipAll Terms A–Z →
Deep Groove
Deep groove refers to a circular groove pressed into the record label area of early vinyl LPs, typically those manufactured in the United States between the late 1940s and the early 1960s. The groove is a manufacturing artefact of older pressing equipment. On many collectible LPs, deep-groove pressings indicate a first pressing and trade at […]
Gatefold
A gatefold sleeve is a record album cover that opens like a book, doubling the available cover artwork space and frequently containing additional inserts, lyrics, or photographs inside. Gatefolds were used heavily on 1960s and 1970s rock LPs and remain a common premium-edition format for modern reissues. Gatefold condition is graded separately from the record […]
Points of Issue
Points of issue are the small textual or physical details that distinguish a first edition first printing from later printings of the same book. Points may include specific typographical errors, paper colour, binding cloth shade, dust jacket flap text, advertisement pages at the rear, and number-line conventions on the copyright page. Reference bibliographies catalogue the […]
Price-Clipped
Price-clipped refers to a dust jacket whose price corner has been cut off, usually to disguise the original retail price when the book was given as a gift. A price-clipped dust jacket reduces the book’s collector value substantially, often by 30 to 50 percent or more on modern first editions. The original price corner is […]
Star Note
A star note is a US banknote with a star symbol replacing the last letter of the serial number. Star notes are issued by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing as replacements for damaged or misprinted notes during the production process. Because star notes are produced in smaller quantities than regular notes, they are often […]