Definition

• Privymark.  Any authorized mark on a numismatic item that is not that of a mint, artist, engraver, or mintmaster in a letter or symbol. It was a "privilege" to be allowed to place this upon the item, hence the term. The custom was French, and the French word is different (q.v.). Privymark is a British equivalent for this term. Privymarks appeared on the Lord Baltimore coinage of 1658 for the colonies. It is one word, like mintmark.

  excerpted with permission from

  An Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology

  For Artists, Makers, Collectors and Curators

  COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY D. WAYNE JOHNSON

  Roger W. Burdette, Editor

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