Breen Numbers - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 6,725
KHald Valued Member United States 61 Posts	Posted 03/24/2011 1:55 pm I have inherited a coin collection from a relative. Several of the flips have 'Breen' numbers with various comments. What is a Breen number and how would it be used? Thanks. Report this Post to the Staff

mshev Valued Member United States 312 Posts	Posted 03/24/2011 2:31 pm Breen numbers are a way to designate the variety of the coin (multiple systems like this exist). "Variety" refers to the differences which can occur within coins of the same type/year (they can add a little more character to a coin - and some varieties are more rare than others). Report this Post to the Staff
biokemist6 Bedrock of the Community United States 12437 Posts	Posted 03/24/2011 2:35 pm Breen numbers come from Walter Breen, the author of Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins. Those numbers reference varieties found in that book. Unlike other varieties, Breen numbers do not cover just one denomination but all of them. This numbering system has largely fallen out of use with the advent of more specialized variety nomeclatures. Report this Post to the Staff
KHald Valued Member United States 61 Posts	Posted 03/24/2011 2:38 pm I see. Is there any cross reference or Breen listing avaiable anywhere? Report this Post to the Staff
Conder101 Bedrock of the Community United States 17884 Posts	Posted 03/24/2011 3:05 pm It depends on what the breen numbers are and what series you are speaking of. They could be from the Breen encyclopedia, but there are also different Breen numbers for Half Cents, early large cents, some early proofs, and gold coins. Report this Post to the Staff
ExoGuy Pillar of the Community United States 4415 Posts	Posted 03/24/2011 11:29 pm I humbly suggest that you check with whomever managed the estate; this, to perhaps locate the Breen book. It's no longer in print and now runs $150 or more for a copy. Your deceased relative likely owned that book. Report this Post to the Staff
aristashr New Member United States 1 Posts	Posted 11/12/2016 11:15 pm Hello. I apologize for coming to this site so late but I would like to know if there is available literature on more specialized nomenclature system to catalog medals and coins? Thanks in advance. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 6 / Views: 6,725

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