NNP

Center Dot.  A typographical element, a point which separates words and elements in lettering; a stop in a long inscription or legend which acts as a punctuation mark. They are usually applied with a punch if the lettering is so created during hand engraving of the die, or modelled if pantographically reduced. It is not a boss formed from the leg of a compass used to lay out arcs on a die, this is a CENTER POINT (q.v.).

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