Home > Coin Glossary

Coin Collecting Glossary

The who's who and what's what of coin collecting.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

- - G - -

Galvano

A copper shell made from a plaster relief model of a coin which is used to create master hubs. These galvanoes are made by a galvanic process of covering a plaster model with wax and then submersing it in an electrically charged bath of copper. The galvanoes or copper shells have been replaced by epoxy shells in the hub making process.

Gang Punch

Up until the early 20th century, most U.S. coins had dates hand-punched directly into working dies. Originally, each numeral of the date was hand-punched individually. Later, gang punches which contained all the numerals of a date in a single punch were employed. During the early part of the 20th century, dates were included as part of the hub removing the need to punch the date into each die.
See also - - Overdate, Repunched Date

Gold Dollar

A United States $1 gold coin minted from 1849 until 1889. Gold dollars were created as a response to the California Gold Rush. Gold dollars are grouped into three major types, the Liberty Head (1849-1854), Indian Head - Small Head (1854-1856), and the Indian Head - Large Head (1856-1889). Gold type collectors usually seek an example of each of the types.
Look-up values for this coin >>
See also - - Indian Head Gold Dollar, Liberty Head Gold Dollar

Graining

British term for reeded edge.
See also - - Reeded Edge

GSA Hoard

Definition coming soon.

Guinea

Definition coming soon.