United States MintConnecting America through Coins
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Connecting America through Coins
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What Is Bullion?

Bullion is precious metal such as gold, silver, platinum, or palladium shaped into a particular form for storage after testing for purity and weight. Examples of bullion include bars, ingots, and coins.

Bullion coins from the U.S. Mint are investment-grade coins that are valued by weight and fineness. Unlike commemorative or numismatic coins valued by limited mintage, rarity, condition, and age, bullion coins are purchased by investors seeking a simple and tangible means to own and invest in the gold, silver, platinum, and palladium markets.

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What Are Dies?

A die is a metal tool used to press a design onto a coin.

Dies are created from another type of metal stamp, the steel master hub. Dies are like a photo negative, displaying the design in reverse. When the dies stamp the coins or medals, the positive image transfers onto the blank.

Pictured: A positive-image hub (left) and negative-image die (right).

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What's the Difference Between a Blank and a Planchet?

A blank is the flat metal disc that is destined to become a coin. During step four of the coin making process, blanks go to the upsetting mill. The mill forms a rim around the edge of the blank to protect the final coin from wear and make it stackable.

This blank with a rim is now called a planchet. Some people continue to use blank as a general term for a coin before it’s struck.

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